It’s showtime!

This eBook will walk you through everything you need to know to ensure you have one of your best performances to date. Whether you are amping up for a single show, a whole weekend of performing, or a competition, this guide will give you the tools you need to prepare for you big show.

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You have been rehearsing this piece for months. You know you can nail the choreography. There is only one thing stopping you: you can’t stop pulling up your shirt. The costumes look great if you weren’t dancing but the second you start to move, those straps start sliding down. So annoying! Every dancer has been in a situation similar to this one. Let’s go over a few ways we can prevent a wardrobe malfunction from happening on stage.

Above all, your costumes should fit properly. Period. This is going to be the number one way to prevent a wardrobe disaster on stage. Choreographers, teachers, and costume designers should always know how to properly measure dancers in order to calculate the right size. If you are sending in measurements for a custom costume, you might be surprised how much a difference an inch can make. If you are taking measurements for your dancers, learn the basics of where you should measure waist, hips, inseam, etc.

Once dancers receive costumes, test them out. Is there really enough fabric to cover you in a tilt? Do the straps have too much give when you jump up and down? Are you stretching the seams anywhere? These questions are critical when being fitted for a costume.

While fit is important, the overall quality of the costume and its fabric is also essential to preventing a wardrobe malfunction. When looking for costumes, read reviews and see if there is a general consensus on the quality of the company. Once you get your costumes, also look for proper stretch and thickness of the fabric. After ensuring your costume fits and moves with you, try to see if it is see-through in a certain light. Do any of the buttons or zippers seem faulty when you try on the costume? Does the fabric feel a little too stretchy or cheap? If the answer to any of these is yes, that’s a telltale sign that a wardrobe malfunction is in your future.

Let’s say that you have your costume fitted and it’s …. okay. Everything fits but maybe you are still a little concerned about a strap slipping or your pants falling. First, try to get a new costume! Don’t compromise your performance if you feel at all uncomfortable. Trying to dance while worrying about your top falling down is not fun! However, sometimes accidents happen, and that’s just show business. Maybe it’s too late to place a new order or maybe you ripped a strap the morning of your performance. In these last minute events, always have a few sewing materials on hand. If you know how to sew pointe shoes, you can definitely figure out how to fix a small tear, replace an elastic, or reinforce a bra strap. Some items you might want to have on hand are safety pins, elastic, scissors, thread, and a needle. 

If you do get stuck with a costume you don’t fully trust, you might also want to think about undergarments. Dance costumes that don’t fully support dancers are the WORST but unfortunately, they are a reality with other costume brands. If this happens to you, try a sports bra with nude-color straps. While there are many dance bras out there that have clear straps, don’t opt for those because they reflect light on stage. You can also consider a nude leotard, nude briefs, or a seamless underwear if you are nervous about fuller coverage. 

Remember, having a quality costume that actually fits is going to be the best way to prevent a wardrobe malfunction on stage. If that is not available to you or if your costume gets damaged, consider these tips about wearing undergarments or using an emergency sewing kit. If you are a choreographer, your dancers are going to thank you for costumes that they can trust! If you are a dancer, never be afraid to speak up if you have concerns about something you are supposed to wear on a stage! 

If your life revolves around dance, it probably takes up a good chunk of your closet too. You might have a costume bin, box, or drawer that is collecting dust somewhere in your house. But before you throw out those old costumes to make room for new ones, hold on just a sec! Here are some ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle your old costumes instead of throwing them in the trash! Not only will these ideas save you and your parents money, but they will also prevent your garment from ending up in a landfill.

Reuse for another performance

Who says you can only wear a costume once?? If it still fits and it makes you feel confident, then why not wear it for another competition or performance. If your costume closet is starting to fill up, see what pieces you can revive for another show. You can even have a few of your favorites on rotation for competitions. This will save you money and save

Give away to another dancer

Maybe it’s a great costume but it just doesn’t fit anymore. Give it to a friend at your studio! Do you know someone who could pull it off just as well as you did? Boost their confidence a little for their next solo and tell them you think they would look amazing in it! Even if you don’t want to let them have it forever, set up a swap with a friend so you can borrow costumes from each other instead of buying new.

Wear during class

If you don’t want to wear your costume again on the stage, just wear it for class! (As long as your studio doesn’t have a strict dress code) It doesn’t have to be the entire costume, of course, you can mix and match! If you costume included a great skirt, top, or accessory, pair that with what you would normally where to class and you got yourself a new class outfit!

Wear outside of class

Pull costume pieces for everyday wear! If you can pull it off, include costume pieces in your regular wardrobe. Why not?! Maybe your last costume included some comfortable leggings or a really fun jacket. If it works, go ahead and wear it out and about!

Have a photoshoot

Reimagine your costume bin as as a photoshoot bin. Grab some friends and have a dance photoshoot using your costumes to create artistic looks. Have fun with it! Maybe you have a gorgeous tulle skirt or metallic mesh pants that are too beautiful to be sitting in a box. Let the world see those beautiful garments and show off your photography skills while you’re at it! Try some nature shots in the park or at a beach, the possibilities are endless.

Use for a Halloween costume!

It’s never too early to start looking for next year’s Halloween costume. Don’t bother going to a costume store, just look through some old costumes. Get creative based on what you have. If you really can’t think of anything, you could always be a dancer for Halloween!

College audition season is HERE! This is a one of a kind resource for dancers looking at college programs, their parents, and teachers. Get access to this webinar now and hear our discussion with current college students on the college audition process.

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When choreographing a piece for a show or a competition, you know that your choreography and your dancer’s technique should speak for itself. This is absolutely true. However, I think we can all admit that what a dancer wears on stage can help or hinder the overall performance. You might have a clear vision of what you want your dancers to wear or maybe costuming isn’t your forte. How can you choose costumes for your choreography strategically to best support the piece and your dancers? You want your dancers to stand out but you also don’t want them to distract from the piece. Here are some things to keep in mind when going through the process of selecting the right dance costume:

Dance Genre

The first factor of your piece that might determine costumes would be the genre. When you think of ballet, jazz, tap, modern, or hip-hop, you think of what costumes you would typically find in each style. Unless your artistic vision involves a dramatic juxtaposition, you probably wouldn’t find a ballerina dressed the same as a hip-hop dancer. Other than genre, think about the scale of classical to neoclassical, or traditional to contemporary. Where does your choreography stand within those categories? Being as specific as possible with how you describe the style of your piece might help you narrow down your costume search and select something that goes with the movement appropriately.

Mood

Something else that might help you determine what costumes to use would be the mood and tone that you are going for. While your choreography might be jazz, think about how you want to make the audience feel. Is it comical, sassy, somber, dramatic, fun, or something else entirely? While your choreography should speak for itself to an extent, think about how costumes can further convey an emotion or confuse your audience. 

Consider the Concept

Next, think about the concept of the piece. Is the costume essential to describing the concept or a story that the piece is depicting? As the choreographer, you might have an intentional artistic vision but if you don’t, the best way to consider the concept is to listen to what the music is about! You might be looking for a costume that shows your dancers as specific characters such as sailors, aliens, or sylphs. You might be looking for a specific feel to the costume such as futuristic, retro, or scary.

Consider the choreography

Let’s talk about the actual choreo of your piece. Getting more specific than just the genre of the piece, what are some of the choreographic themes? For example, your routine might include languid, flowing movements. Play into that softness to create a matching aesthetic. Choose a costume that shows off the fluidity of the movement and adds texture to the choreography. If the piece has explosive or even acrobatic movements, you might want to consider flexible yet form-fitting clothing that shows off your dancers’ lines yet also keeps them safe from a piece of fabric getting in their way.

Furthermore, be sure to think about how the costume will move on the dancer throughout the piece. Think about the risk of the costume exposing the dancer in any way. For example, if a piece involves a number of tilts, be sure there won’t be a wardrobe malfunction! Your dancers will thank you! 

Consider the setting

Next, think about where your dancers will be performing. Small versus large spaces might change how your audience views details of the costumes on stage. Lighting will also play a huge role in how the audience views your costumes. Think about how the light will reflect on the costumes. Will you have the ability to change the color of the light? Have you made sure that your costumes are not see-through in certain lights??? If your piece will be performed al fresco, think about the weather and don’t forget about footwear!

Consider Your Dancers

For your piece, be sure to think about the needs of your dancers. No matter what costume you choose, it MUST fit your dancers properly and make them feel secure. Otherwise, you risk the integrity of the choreography or a wardrobe malfunction if your dancers aren’t comfortable. Always ask your dancers if they feel comfortable with what they are wearing. It is essential that your dancers find the costumes physically comfortable but also that they feel comfortable showing a certain amount of skin. If you don’t have strong preferences for what you want your dancers to wear, ask them what they want! Afterall, you dancers are more likely to perform their best when they are wearing costumes that they feel confident and secure in. 

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Fall is quickly approaching! As we get back from our intensives, camps, and vacations, it’s time to get pumped for another year of dance! Jumping back into our home studio schedules is exciting but let’s stop and reconsider some of our habits in order to form new ones. Before that first week of classes, what are some goals you want to achieve and what are some resolutions that the entire dance community might benefit from?

This Fall might look a little different than the Fall of 2020. Last year, classes probably had strict COVID guidelines or might have been held over zoom entirely. Compared to a year ago, your studio may slowly be easing back into classes and performances that resemble ‘normal’. However, as the pandemic is still ongoing, we must remain adaptable as restrictions might change again. Approaching that normal sounds great, but what are some things we want to remain a thing of the past? Here are a few ideas on what those resolutions might look like as we transition into this new dance world. 

Let go of toxic competitiveness

Through the midst of taking dance classes over zoom, you probably wished you were in studio with your classmates. We all missed each other. We never thought we would have to adjust to a world where we wouldn’t be able to feel each other’s energy in a studio. We never thought we would miss being able to chat in the dressing rooms or cheer each other on going across the floor. In a way, we NEED each other. 

As we head back to the studios, let’s remember that we are a part of the dance community and we are in this together. Whatever drama and negativity we had against one another, let’s leave it at the door. The dance world does not need more toxic competitiveness; we need more support from each other. Let’s agree to let go of that anger that surrounds the cast list and dance studio politics. Let’s build each other up and remember when we weren’t able to tell each other how they killed that combo or nailed that triple pirouette.

Be kind to yourself

Even in a normal year, returning to the studio after just a few weeks off is difficult. Within the past months of “unprecedented times,” you probably experienced challenges with dance. Maybe you hated dancing virtually, or you had to miss out on summer intensives for financial reasons. Whatever your situation was, you most likely felt that you were missing out on your training. While the dance FOMO is real, don’t worry, lots of people are in the same boat as you. 

As you get back into your studio, don’t be too hard on yourself. You might feel the need to take as many classes as possible to ‘catch up,’ but be warned, don’t fall victim to injury or burnout. In the first few weeks of class, you don’t want to overdo it. Listen to your body and be kind to yourself. Be sure to fuel your body with the foods you need and get enough rest. If we have learned anything about ourselves as dancers over the past few months, it’s that we are resilient! You will get back into the swing of things in no time.

Learn a new style

Rather than keeping the same routine as you usually do, try mixing it up! Challenge yourself to learn a new style or take a new class. Tap, hip hop, ballroom, anything! Maybe your studio offers a style you have never tried before, or perhaps you can take one class a week at a different studio. You never know how much learning a new style can help you overall dancing and help you become a more well-rounded artist. 

Find JOY within dance

Now that you are back in the studio let’s have FUN. As dancers, we sometimes get caught up in the sport of dance. We tend to focus on the competition or preparing for the next performance, but we sometimes forget why we do it – because we love it. Let’s find joy within dance. We all know that dance is challenging and can sometimes be grueling but let’s find ways to make growth fun and prevent burnout.

Feel your best with some new dance clothes

Stepping back into the studio with a new leo is the best feeling. If you haven’t bought any new dancewear in a while, maybe it’s time to treat yourself! Feeling comfortable while expressing your unique style is a game-changer when it comes to dance. If you don’t want to buy anything new, do a clothes swap with your dance friends and give old dance clothes a new life! 

Summer is here and you know what that means. Dance intensive season! With COVID on the decline, and vaccinations now available to most people over 12, you might be getting excited to dance this summer not on Zoom! Whatever your plans are this summer, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. There’s a lot that needs to be done before we can hit the studios. Here’s a couple of tips on how to best prepare for your summer dance intensive. 

Set Goals 

Before you go, think about what you want to get out of your summer intensive. Maybe it’s something specific like nailing that triple pirouette en pointe or maybe it’s something along the lines of improving your modern floor work. Perhaps you are excited to dive into a new dance style such as Gaga or Hip Hop. Or maybe your intention is to find joy and artistry through dance. Whatever the case may be, write it down! Tell others and speak your goals into reality!

A great tool to use for goal-setting is a journal. If you are serious about reaching these goals, create SMARTER ones (Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Risky, Timebound, Exciting, Relevant). Start journaling a few weeks before you start classes to document your goals and your mindset as you begin your intensive. Use this journal to keep track of corrections from your instructors and take notes during any lectures. You can even use this to write down choreography!

Prepare Your Body 

With many intensives, you may be dancing a lot more than you are used to at your home studio. In the weeks leading up to your program, you will want to maintain your dance stamina and address any injuries. If your home studio has already ended classes for the year, consider staying in shape with some cross-training. Maintaining stamina and strength before your intensive will allow you to jump into classes faster and also prevent injury.

If you are concerned about an injury, make sure that you properly rehabilitate it. Whether you are recovering from an injured rotator cuff, or are dealing with chronic tendonitis, consider how your intense dance schedule will impact those problems if you don’t take care of yourself. Come up with a plan with your doctor or physical therapist to treat your injury before and during your intensive. Many dance intensives have an on-site physical therapist or a partnership with a physical therapy center in the area. Talk to your intensive coordinator to find out more and make a plan to take care of your body. 

Do Your Research

To get a better idea of what the next few weeks will look like, do your research! If there is a company associated with the intensive, what style do they typically work in? What rep have they recently performed? If it’s a local intensive, try taking an open class before your program starts to familiarize yourself with the teaching style. If taking a class is not available to you, look up the company and teachers on instagram to get a feel for their style and personality. 
Before you pack, you will want to know all the details about your program. Find out your class schedule and how many days a week you will take each style. Will there be placement auditions once you arrive? Will you have to take classes in a style that you are unfamiliar with? Will you be performing? All of these questions will impact how you pack for your intensive. You don’t want to be left without the proper dance shoes or not enough leotards!

While dance intensives usually have, well, intense schedules, programs also make time for fun. Many intensives offer fun activities to do on the weekends like sight-seeing or a pool day. If this is the case, don’t forget your swimsuit!

The Logistics 

Above all, you want to make sure that the logistics of your intensive are handled before you arrive. It might seem simple but make sure you have properly registered for your program. Being accepted does not automatically hold your place in the program, so pay your deposits and fees before you lose your spot! 
Next, you will want to consider housing and travel. If this intensive is not local to you, work with the intensive coordinator to secure housing. If housing is not offered, reach out to your network to find a sublease or short-term housing. This process could take a while if you have a specific budget or move-in dates so start as early as you can.

While we have reached the tailend of COVID, you still might want to consider any COVID restrictions. Check to make sure your dance program or flight doesn’t require any COVID testing before you arrive.

Check the dress code

Our next tip is to know the dress code! Dance programs such as classical ballet intensives might have strict guidelines on everything from leotard and tights color to nail polish. If your program has a lot of modern classes, consider packing long-sleeve shirts and knee pads. If you are attending a more commercial intensive, do some research to find out what dancers typically wear during the program, but be sure to incorporate your own unique style into your dancewear!

In the dance world, you never know who is watching. That’s why it’s best to approach every class with your best foot forward. Following dress codes, while feeling comfortable and stylish are so important when it comes to your performance. Don’t let uncomfortable dance clothes put a damper on your confidence in class!

Kizzi Dancewear costumes have life beyond the stage. See what’s in your costume drawer and pack some old pieces for a fresh look at your dance intensive! Here are some examples of looks that are great for the stage and for class.