Is it too sexy? Dancewear, costumes, and lingerie

This issue often comes up with competition and recital costumes.  Are they “age appropriate”?  Are certain item categories or specific items too sexy for the family-friendly stage?  Often this is a question that is best answered through careful consideration by the dancer, teacher, and parent.  Some people are comfortable with an 8-year-old in a bra top, and others are not.  Even though this issue is very subjective, there are a few general rules governing what is appropriate as dancewear.

A common guideline for competition dancers is “if it looks like it came from Victoria’s Secret, it’s not appropriate for the stage.”  I find this a really good way to explain to some parents the major differences between dancewear and lingerie.  Dancewear, like children’s swimwear, is meant to keep the wearer covered up, at least in the private areas.  Dance bra tops do not have separate cups, so they can’t slip and reveal anything.  Bootie shorts have an inseam of at least 2 or 3 inches, while “boy short” underwear hardly has an inseam at all.  Dance briefs come up past the hip bones, while standard underwear usually does not.  It isn’t much fabric that makes the difference between underwear and dancewear, but that small bit of fabric makes the biggest difference.

It is also a general practice to wear tights under any bottoms shorter than mid-thigh length.  Nude or fishnet tights can provide light coverage that makes a revealing outfit more appropriate.  If the color of the tights blends with the dancer’s skin tone (which it should), the audience should be able to tell the dancer is covered (stage lights reflect differently on tights and bare skin).

Stick to using mostly dancewear pieces to create your costume.  They are made to be fairly modest and stay in place when you move.  If you use any streetwear pieces, follow these guidelines:

Separate cup bras should not be worn unless it is under a tight top that obscures most cleavage and prevents “spillover.”  Sheer or fishnet tops are sometimes ok—it really depends on the dancer’s body type and confidence.  Sometimes a “too sexy” look can be fixed by substituting a sports bra for a separate-cup bra or an opaque top for a see-through one.

Wear dance briefs or bootie shorts and tights under all skirts, dresses, or otherwise loose bottoms.

Wear a tight dance bra, nude leotard, or bodytight under any loose tops.

Do not wear shoes that are not specifically dance shoes.  If you want to wear heels for a jazz or ballroom solo, wear character or ballroom shoes, NOT streetwear high heels.

As a final thought, if you are looking for lingerie items (for a dance/drag/burlesque/etc. performance or otherwise), the dancewear store is not the place to look.  Dance stores do not carry items like thongs or full mesh leotards.  Specialty lingerie retailers will have more of what you are looking for.