Many troupes like to dress their members in lyrical dance costumes especially during dance recitals. The reason for this is that the dresses they adorn are specially designed in way that the form and movement of the dancers is well accentuated. These dresses are not too elaborate and are quite plain in most cases but they are available in a number of colors. The idea of the costume is to enhance the performance of the dancer and not overshadow it so though they are colourful they usually have very little detail work done on it. The costumes have to be created taking into consideration the movement of the dancer and the kind of role you want the costume to play in the production.
Each dance performance must have a costume made such that it accentuates the dance and the dancer so the focus must be kept on that. If you are designing the dance recital costumes for a jazz production they need to be shorter dresses that can accentuate the dancer’s legs. The movements in a jazz production are sexy and precise and a shorter dress will highlight that. These costumes can be enhanced using sequins and glitter, be in a halter dress style and you can even use fishnet stockings to give it a sexy edge. For dance costumes for competition in the ballet productions the dresses are usually longer. The style is maintained such that the dress can give the impression that the upper body of the dancer is elongated and the length of the skirt helps to flair up the movements. These are usually made in serene pastel shades with ribbons and taffeta to add grace to the dancer’s movements.
In the case of imperative dance forms the focus is centred on the contours of the dancer’s body and since the dance is a minimalistic art form the costumes mirrors that. To make the costume really pop you should use fabric paint or markers, outlining the contours of the body especially around the stomach and arms region. Even using glitter can help make the contours more pronounced. When choosing the costumes for your production remember one important factor that each dancer’s body is different and even though the dance tells the story the costumes add the details so you must get a costume that enhances each dancer depending on his or her body type. The colors and sparkles on the costume usually state the mood of the show so you need to give that some thought as well.
