Practical Modern Dance Wardrobe

If your modern dance curriculum includes aspects like floorwork, contact improv, or acro or yoga-inspired elements, you might notice that many dancewear items marketed to modern/contemporary dancers fall short when it comes to functionality.  Bra tops and bootie shorts look cute (and they’re often good for auditions or performances where you want the lines of your body to be visible), but they leave your body vulnerable to floorburn.  Similarly, drapey shirts and loose pants give a nice vibe, but are impractical and even dangerous when they flap over your eyes or get caught under your partner’s body.  Here’s a list of some tried and true pieces that really do the job for modern dance.

1.       Cycling shorts

I wear cycling shorts all the time—casually, in the gym, and in the studio.  They tend to have a modest inseam of 4 to 6 inches in women’s styles (longer in men’s), and they don’t ride up to start looking more like briefs than shorts.  Because they’re tight to the leg, there’s no gaping or possibility of flashing your friends while doing a fan kick (this is a problem with basketball-style and looser running shorts).

2.       Tight-fitting workout tanks

Racerback tanks made of stretchy sports bra-like material are a lot more practical than bra tops.  Most are long enough to cling to the hips, and this combined with comfortable snugness results in a garment that rarely rides up past the waist, even during floorwork and partnering. 

3.       Long-sleeved leotards

When contact with the floor and other people is at its greatest, it’s best to cover as much of your body as possible with close-fitting clothing.  Long-sleeved full-back leotards like the Yumiko Jessica (with sleeves) are your best bet for no ride-up and easy glide against the floor and other dancers.

4.       Leggings

Athletic leggings are perfect sliding across the floor when you’re working on choreography that has you on your knees and shins.  You’re also guaranteed not to have pants sliding up to your knees during a handstand or dragging cuffs that get stepped on.

5.       Bombas Socks

Some choreography is meant to be done barefoot, but when it’s allowable, wearing socks will protect your feet from floorburn (which hurts a lot and is especially prone to happen on the tops of feet and near the ankle bone).  However, a lot of socks aren’t tight enough on narrow feet, and they end up riding down and even slipping off while dancing.  Bombas socks are engineered to never slip down (they really work) and stay tight to the foot.  They also come in a low athletic cut, a quarter cut, and a crew so you can choose the height that works best for you.

6.       Scrunchies

90s fashion may still be trending, but these thick, soft hair ties are much more than just accessories.  If you are doing contact improve that involves lifts and rolls with a partner, it is dangerous to have hair loose or in a ponytail.  Your hair can get under a partner’s body, which puts strain on your scalp, head, and neck.  Long hair should bebunned for modern, and it’s best to choose a super-high or low bun so you can comfortably place your head on the ground without balancing on your bun.  Bobby pins are not spectacular for partnering and floorwork because they can slip out or stab you when you’re moving, so fashioning a bun with a big, soft scrunchie is a really good option.