Dancewear for “that time of the month”

Do you normally wear a leo and tights or bra tap and bootie shorts to dance class?  Are you at a loss for what to wear to the studio when you are on your period?  In this post, I will offer some advice on what dancewear and feminine products to use so you can look, feel, and dance your best.

1.  Use tampons.  They are the cleanest products to use since they keep menstrual blood inside your body.  If you have to wear a leotard and tights to class and you don’t have the option of adding warm ups like pants or shorts over top, you really don’t have any other choice.  Tampons that are advertised as “sport” are specifically designed not to leak, so they may be a good choice for dance class.  (If you are unable to use tampons for any reason, talk to your teacher or the studio owner about what you can do to stay covered and in dress code.  Most teachers will allow you to break dress code and wear warm ups once a month rather than leave you with the embarrassment of trying to dance with a maxipad showing through your tights.) 

2.  If your period is heavy and you are afraid your tampon may leak even if it is “sport” or extra absorbant, you may wear discrete underwear with a pantyliner under your leotard and tights (or other dancewear).  Choose a seamless no-show thong that matches your skin color and use a thong-style pantyliner.  If you are allowed, wear warm-ups like shorts over your dancewear for added security and coverage.  You may also choose to wear black tights or dark colors if you are allowed (so any potential leaks won’t show).  If you do leak and it’s visible, put on a skirt, warm up shorts or pants, or tie a sweater around your waist.  If you are not usually allowed to wear warm-ups, tell your teacher what happened.  Most teachers will be sympathetic.

3.  If you feel bloated or have skin sensitivity during your period, choose dancewear that is looser or softer.  Cotton leotards usually feel good on the skin.  Wrap skirts and knit shorts don’t dig around the tummy .  Capezio makes low-rise convertible tights if you would like to wear something that doesn’t go up as high on the waist.  Darker colors and slim silhouettes can make you look thinner, so pick black leggings if you aren’t looking forward to seeing yourself in the mirror all class.

4.  If you have cramps, keeping warm can minimize them.  Wear knit warm-ups, especially shorts, pants and sweaters that cover your tummy.  Make sure to fill your water bottle with room-temperature water instead of cold water, which can “shock” your system and make your cramps worse.

5.  One last note about periods and dance:  If you are performing in a white costume (think Swan Lake), it’s a good idea to put in a tampon even if you are not having your period.  It’s your responsibility as a dancer to protect the costumes, and as luck would have it, a performance of Swan Lake is the perfect time for a little surprise spotting.