Thursday, November 3, 2016

The Importance of Ballet Attire



Although some may think that proper ballet attire is merely traditional, there are actually many practical reasons that ballet instructors require a strict dress code. Ballet is widely accepted as  the foundation of all styles of dance, therefore the wearing of proper ballet attire should not be taken lightly. Wearing proper attire is not only beneficial for the dancer, but also a sign of respect for the instructor.

Ballet attire consists of a leotard, tights, ballet shoes, and for some, a ballet skirt, while the hair is to be up in a clean and secure bun. Most ballet instructors will require that the leotard is black and the tights and shoes pink. The idea behind the leotard and tights is that they are form fitting to show body lines easily and accurately. Body lines must be visible to the instructor so that he or she can correct each student's placement and ensure that technique is being practiced correctly. Baggy or loose clothing is a distraction from dancers' movements and can hide body placement and flexibility issues. The reason many instructors require their students to wear the designated colors pink and black is to provide a uniform look in class. Dancers can see their progress alongside that of their peers in an "apples to apples" comparison. 

Finally, dancers should wear their hair up in a bun for several reasons. Having the hair secure and off of the face eliminates distractions and creates a clean look. Securing the hair tightly ensures that the dancer will not need to touch or fix her hair during class, as the rigorous exercises of ballet could cause a more casual hairstyle to fall out. Finally, the bun is an excellent choice for ballet dancers, as it will not whip the dancer in the face like a ponytail would during turns and spotting exercises.


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