Evolution of Dancewear

Although the majority of people consider dancing as a hobby and not a sport, many discussions have concluded that dance is in fact part of Physical Education and must be included in the P.E, curriculum at school. Dancing is evolving, especially in the majority of Europe and the USA, and has proven to be a successful hobby and pass time. Dancing encourages children to take part in a fun, yet active sport. Many teenage girls are encouraged to take part in ballet and have thrived, in opposition to other sports like basketball, where they have no interest in no matter the encouragement and push they are given. Even boys enjoy dancing break dance for instance, and more and more boys participate in dance classes. This upturn in dance has also pushed the dance wear industry to its peak, as each dance requires special attire.

Children seek a way to express themselves, and dancing lessons is one of the most popular solutions. Just by taking a walk on the street you will witness children dancing on the pavements in sneakers, tracksuits, sweatbands and legwarmers. It is a fact that dance wear has received immense attention and popularity. Dancers are no longer seen wearing gym knickers and trainers, a whole new industry has evolved!

Dancewear has evolved significantly over the passage of time. The industry has been influenced by the many new dance forms that have surfaced over the years, but also according to each dance performed dancers need to be dressed in comfort as to allow ease in their movements. Although many features have changed over time, some remain the same or rather similar. For instance, when viewing ballet garments in the 1800s, although the skirts were significantly longer and the shoes were made of satin, the focus on designing graceful attire remains. Male ballet dance wear has more similarities than differences. For instance in the past male ballet dancers also wore tights and long sleeved shirts, as the majority still wear today. In the middle of the 1800s a notable designer named, La Sylphide August Bournonville, designed ballet shoes for men with a V-shaped vamp in order to give the illusion the foot was longer. These are still worn in our times. The romantic tutu also surfaced around the same epoch, and although it has evolved incredibly, whenever you think of ballet, you immediately think of romantic tutu skirts.

Jazz wear gained immense popularity during the late 1800s when the dance form initially surfaced. A variety of dancewear was used, more experimental and adventurous designs emerged, in contrast to ballet garments. Through time, designers focused on practical clothing which accentuated the dancer’s body. Finally, Modern dance dancewear also known as Contemporary dancewear evolved through time. Initially, the dancewear worn resembled ballet tutus and tights, but as time progressed the need to wear something more comfortable that does not restrict the dancer’s movements surfaced. Baggy clothing became a new thing, which is still visible today.

Each dance form is accompanied with its own dancewear. Dancewear is especially designed to aid the dancer in their movements. Famed designer Elena Papanikolaou lives by this trend. She designs dancewear according to each dancer’s needs and style. All her dancewear is handmade, thus making sure each garment is unique.