Halloween is coming soon, and dancer costumes are always popular. In this post, I will explain some do's and don'ts to bear in mind when putting together a dancer costume.
*Note: I will be considering women's and girls' ballet, flamenco, and hip-hop costumes. They tend to very recognizable and popular. Some costume stores sell ready made costumes in "Ballerina," "Spanish Dancer," and "B-Girl" themes. I do not recommend these items because they do not look authentic, and most store bought costumes are poor quality and cheap-looking.
For ballet costumes, most people stick with a pink theme. Sometimes adults will go for white or black to get a "Black Swan" look. The basic parts of the look are a leotard, skirt or tutu, tights, and ballet shoes.
For little kids, it's very easy to go to a dancewear store or even a large retail store like Walmart and pick up a basic leo and tights. You can definitely find basic pull-on/faux wrap skirts at these places too. For a fuller tutu, try a dancewear store first, but be prepared to turn to the internet (like discountdance.com). I do not recommend getting tutus from costume stores, as they are usually poor quality and do not look like real ballet tutus.
For adults, you will have to go to a dancewear store or shop online for your items. Adult leotards usually run from $15 up to $100+ based on how fancy they are. For a costume, I recommend finding a plain cheap camisole strap leotard and decorating it with some glitter fabric paint or sequins for a more "stage" look. Authentic pancake tutus run around $50 from most retailers. You may try Ebay or another online source for a used option that may be cheaper. Again, I'd avoid the sparse tutus from costume stores, as they just don't look realistic.
When it comes to ballet shoes, consider your desired look first. It is usually not a god idea to wear your dance shoes outside because it ruins the soles. If you can buy a pair just for this costume (and they will never be worn in a dance studio), real ballet flat shoes are the most authentic looking (and comfy). For a cheaper option, you can look for the low quality pleather ballet shoes at Payless. If you can find a pair of ballet flats (street shoes) that look like actual ballet slippers, they may be a good option too (but they look less authentic). DO NOT under any circumstances try to purchase pointe shoes as part of your costume. If you are not trained in ballet and pointe, you could be seriously injured. It is also seriously disrespectful to hard working ballet dancers for you to throw on their special shoes without their extensive training. Pointe shoes also cost $50-$100 a pair. If you desire a pointe shoe look, you can get a pair of regular ballet technique shoes (about $20) and sew on ribbons in a manner similar to the way ballet dancers sew the ribbons on their pointe shoes. (There are tons of YouTube tutorials on how to do this. The workers at dancewear stores are usually happy to help you too.)
If you want a "class" look, do neutral makeup in pink and nude tones. For a "performance" look, go for stage makeup. Here's a link to a stage makeup tutorial on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yMoYjPoTKo&list=UUQ50C2eMawJg4vhrvFuzeMQ
*Note: I will be considering women's and girls' ballet, flamenco, and hip-hop costumes. They tend to very recognizable and popular. Some costume stores sell ready made costumes in "Ballerina," "Spanish Dancer," and "B-Girl" themes. I do not recommend these items because they do not look authentic, and most store bought costumes are poor quality and cheap-looking.
For ballet costumes, most people stick with a pink theme. Sometimes adults will go for white or black to get a "Black Swan" look. The basic parts of the look are a leotard, skirt or tutu, tights, and ballet shoes.
For little kids, it's very easy to go to a dancewear store or even a large retail store like Walmart and pick up a basic leo and tights. You can definitely find basic pull-on/faux wrap skirts at these places too. For a fuller tutu, try a dancewear store first, but be prepared to turn to the internet (like discountdance.com). I do not recommend getting tutus from costume stores, as they are usually poor quality and do not look like real ballet tutus.
For adults, you will have to go to a dancewear store or shop online for your items. Adult leotards usually run from $15 up to $100+ based on how fancy they are. For a costume, I recommend finding a plain cheap camisole strap leotard and decorating it with some glitter fabric paint or sequins for a more "stage" look. Authentic pancake tutus run around $50 from most retailers. You may try Ebay or another online source for a used option that may be cheaper. Again, I'd avoid the sparse tutus from costume stores, as they just don't look realistic.
When it comes to ballet shoes, consider your desired look first. It is usually not a god idea to wear your dance shoes outside because it ruins the soles. If you can buy a pair just for this costume (and they will never be worn in a dance studio), real ballet flat shoes are the most authentic looking (and comfy). For a cheaper option, you can look for the low quality pleather ballet shoes at Payless. If you can find a pair of ballet flats (street shoes) that look like actual ballet slippers, they may be a good option too (but they look less authentic). DO NOT under any circumstances try to purchase pointe shoes as part of your costume. If you are not trained in ballet and pointe, you could be seriously injured. It is also seriously disrespectful to hard working ballet dancers for you to throw on their special shoes without their extensive training. Pointe shoes also cost $50-$100 a pair. If you desire a pointe shoe look, you can get a pair of regular ballet technique shoes (about $20) and sew on ribbons in a manner similar to the way ballet dancers sew the ribbons on their pointe shoes. (There are tons of YouTube tutorials on how to do this. The workers at dancewear stores are usually happy to help you too.)
If you want a "class" look, do neutral makeup in pink and nude tones. For a "performance" look, go for stage makeup. Here's a link to a stage makeup tutorial on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yMoYjPoTKo&list=UUQ50C2eMawJg4vhrvFuzeMQ
Flamenco costumes are sassy and easy to put together. Head to your local dancewear store to get your supplies. For both adults and children, you will need a leotard (short or long sleeves), a long skirt (either circle or flamenco/ruffle), 2 inch heels with ankle straps, and some accessories. The color scheme is usually black and red.
I recommend getting a basic black leotard, then dressing it up a little with some red lace or fabric ruffles on the cuffs or collar.. You can create these accents with some remnants from a fabric store. You can go through a similar process with a skirt. Purchase a simple black circle skirt from the dancewear store and dress it up with some fabric ruffles. You can also just go for the flamenco skirt, but they are usually more expensive ($50+).
Usually flamenco dancers wear special shoes with nails tapped into the toe and heel (this makes them loud like tap shoes). You can buy flamenco shoes, but they can get pretty torn up if worn outside. I recommend getting a 2- inch character shoe, which is a basic pump with an ankle strap and hard leather sole. These shoes have the same look a a flamenco shoe, but the soles are ok for outdoor wear. Character shoes are still a $40-$50 investment, so if you need something even cheaper, just find any pump with a sturdy heel and pin, sew, or glue on an elastic strap at the ankle.
Your accessories can usually be found at dancewear stores, large retailers, or even costume stores. Finish up your look with fishnet tights, a fan or castanets, a choker and/or large stud earrings, and a huge hair flower. Try red lipstick too. And don't forget to say "Ole!"
Hip-hop costumes are super fun because they are more open-ended. Most hip-hop dancers wear chunky dance sneakers or short combat boots, pants, a top, and headwear like a hat or bandanna. Most of these items can be found anywhere, from dancewear stores to Walmart.
Don't feel the need to buy specific dance sneakers just for a costume. Do head to payless or another cheap shoe store to find an authentic looking shoe. Actual athletic shoes like Nikes and sneakers like Converse don't look quite right.
For the tops and bottoms, follow this rule. One should be baggy, the other should not. If you go for baggy pants like sweats or harem pants (look for them at a dancewear store or online at discountdance.com), choose a tighter top like a crop top. If you choose tighter pants like metallic leggings, go for a baggier sweatshirt.
Your headwear can be a bandana, trucker hat, beanie, or eve a fedora. Just make sure it complements the rest of your outfit. Try to add metallic and neon accents; they are super stylish.
Unless you are trained in hip-hop, don't unleash any crazy moves like break dancing or head spins. You could hurt yourself.
If you are going to be something else for Halloween (like a super hero) and you need an item like a leotard or tights, don't be afraid to go to your local dancewear store to find it. The staff should be happy to help you find what you are looking for. If you are not a dancer, make sure you are respectful when you go into the dancewear store. Try not to make any rude comments about the items you see. Yes, male ballet dancers wear tights, and leotards are wardrobe staples for many female dancers. Even if these items are unusual to you, they are very usual in the dance world.
I hope you got some fun ideas for your Halloween costume. What do you plan to be this year? Leave a comment below!
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