What to wear to dance class will heavily depend on which style of dance you are doing. As a general rule, wear clothing that flatters you, you can move comfortably in, and you are familiar with. Footwear and legwear choice are key.
The problem with dance clothes:
What clothes to wear can be a difficult choice in a new environment such as a dance studio. You may be concerned if people are watching you. Perhaps you might be self-conscious. You could be sweating as you warm up. And of course, you will need to move freely.
The choice of clothes is particularly important for dance classes. It has an impact on how good you feel about yourself. It can also impact how physically comfortable you are. There is also a certain amount of fitting in which can reduce self-consciousness.
There are also certain clothing tips and tricks within each dance genre that stylish dancers use.
You don’t want to show up to a low-key dance class as if you are a rockstar, that’s not cool. However, you also do not want to show up to a dance class looking like a mess.
It is this balance that this article seeks to address. Read on for useful experience-based tips on what you should wear to any dance class to be stylish and practical.
What to wear to ballet dance class:
Ballet dance clothes for men and women:
Ballet clothes are relatively straightforward. Given the specialized nature of ballet, clothing choice is limited to tights, leotards, and ballet shoes for men and women.
Tight-fitting clothes are important in ballet for checking posture and feet placement. However, sometimes slim-fitting track pants and singlets work well too.
What about if you are not comfortable wearing tight clothes? In this case, try wearing tights with a loose t-shirt which will tone down the severity of the look. Or you could wear track pants with a tight top.
If there are no ballet shops near you, you could try Yoga clothing due to its breathability and comfort.
For an in-depth guide to ballet footwear have a read of our article: A Complete Dance Shoe Guide.
Ballet dance clothes styling examples:
How do experienced dancers wear such clothes for ballet dance class? See the below video of the famous Russian Bolshoi Ballet Company in morning rehearsals.
What to wear to lyrical/contemporary dance class:
Lyrical/contemporary dance clothes for men:
Guys generally wear a singlet and track pants (possibly rolled up to the shin so feet placement can be seen).
Shoes are generally either ballet flats or foot thongs. Note that shoes need to be lightweight due to the acrobatic nature of contemporary/lyrical dances. Sometimes dancers go barefoot as well.
Lyrical/contemporary dance clothes for women:
Girls generally wear a singlet with booty shorts or tights with ballet flats or foot thongs. Note that contemporary dancers might wear knee guards if their routine is floor heavy.
Lyrical/contemporary dance clothes styling examples:
To see how experienced dancers wear such clothes for lyrical/contemporary dance class, see the below video.
What to wear to jazz dance class:
Jazz dance clothes for men:
Singlets and track pants or loose and long cotton shorts work well for guys. Dance shoes can be either sneakers or male jazz shoes.
Jazz dance clothes for women:
Singlets and tights or booty shorts will work fine. Girls may prefer to train in the shoes they may perform in which would usually be jazz shoes. For an in-depth guide to jazz shoes, see the article A Complete Dance Shoe Guide: The what, how, and when.
Jazz dance clothes styling examples:
How do experienced dancers wear such clothes for jazz dance class? Have a look at the below video. Note the common themes of singlets and tights.
What to wear to tap dance class:
Tap dance clothes for men and women:
Tap clothes don’t have to be particularly flexible or loose. The reason for this much of the foot movement is more of an everyday movement.
For both guys and girls, jeans are common, singlets, t-shirts, and flannels are also fine.
Tap dance clothes styling examples:
How do experienced dancers wear such clothes for tap dance class? Have a look at 0.22 of the following video of the infamous Tap Dogs:
What to wear to hip-hop dance class:
Hip-hop dance clothes for men and women:
Dressing for hip-hop can be somewhat tricky unless you dress like a baggy gangster every day. In contrast to something like ballet, hip-hop dancing requires loose-fitting clothes, especially pants or shorts.
This is more of a look that aligns with the style and meaning behind hip-hop rather than a practical purpose.
General style tips include trying and going for a combination of extroverted but also laid-back style. For example, a garish bold neon green Nike logo across a baggy singlet (the opposite of something like ballet).
Hip-hop dance pants/shorts:
Baggy/loose track pants are a staple of hip-hop as it helps to give dancers a grounded and laid-back look.
Wearing track pants can be difficult in warmer weather. However, many hip-hop dancers continue to wear track pants even on very warm days. This demonstrates the reliance and comfortability found in such dancewear for hip-hop.
If you wish to opt for a cooler option try for long baggy shorts (below the knee shorts). You can buy cheap baggy track pants and cut them below the knee so they become baggy shorts. You can also get them altered by your local tailor which will generally cost $40 AUD.
Another useful tip here is the number of track pant pairs you own. You may need to have a fresh pair for each class as in each class you will sweat a lot. So if you are going to 3 dance classes per week, get three sets of track pants.
Another note on track pants is to pay attention to crotch height. The lower the crotch, the more grounded you will appear. Other tips are to consider layering. If it’s cooler try wearing a loose flannel which won’t be too hot and also give you that carefree look.
Hip-hop dance hats/caps:
Flat brim caps can help to make you look ‘street’. Try for branded caps like Adidas or Nike.
Unless you are a confident dancer, it is advisable to not wear them backward. The reason for this is you risk looking as if you have ‘all the gear but no idea’.
Hip-hop dance shoes:
Try basketball shoes or Van shoes, or even Timbaland boots. A note here is that boots can be heavy and hard to move in. The key with hip-hop shoes is to try and make them chunky as this will help with the grounded look.
Hip-hop dance clothes styling examples:
How do experienced dancers wear such clothes for hip-hop dance class? Have a look at the video below which features John Silver. Silver has performed for artists such as Ne-Yo, Beyonce, Flo-Rida, and Jennifer Lopez.
What to wear to diva/burlesque/cabaret dance class:
Diva/burlesque/cabaret dance clothes for men:
Clothes vary for these classes. However, it is best to wear pants or shorts which have some stretch to them. The reason for this is that some moves can require flexibility.
Guys will generally wear long shorts (similar to hip hop) or track pants with a singlet or t-shirt. Shoes can be either the shoes you will wear when/if you perform. It’s a good idea to get used to how such shoes feel given the need for balance and poise.
If you are concerned about what to wear, it’s worth phoning the studio and enquiring as to what to wear.
Diva/burlesque/cabaret dance clothes for women:
Women will generally wear tights or short shorts with a t-shirt or singlet. To make the look more sensual, you can include some dance heels.
Wearing something which makes you feel sexy/empowered can encourage your mood to align with the dance.
If you are concerned about what to wear, it’s worth phoning the studio and enquiring as to what to wear.
Some days the dance class might be more casual with leggings and a t-shirt and ballet flats. Other times it might be more sensual and dressy and involve heels, leotards, and perhaps props.
It can be useful to also dress in similar clothing that you may be performing in. This might include long skirts, top hats, boots, etc. This will get you used to the feel of that type of clothing and how it moves with your body.
Diva/burlesque/cabaret dance clothes styling examples:
But how do experienced dancers wear such clothes for diva/burlesque/cabaret dance class? Have a look at the below video of footage from rehearsals for ‘Moulin Rouge The Musical’. This musical has won 10 Tony awards (a significant award for excellence in Broadway Theatre).
What to wear to ballroom (waltz, quickstep, jive, cha-cha, samba, foxtrot, tango, flamenco) dance classes:
Ballroom dance clothes for men:
For men, jeans and a singlet or well-fitting t-shirt with ballroom dance shoes will work just fine. An all-black outfit always looks stylish.
However, you might want to wear jeans that have some stretch to them. The reason for this is, as renowned Flamenco choreographer Dimitry Chaplin states:
‘The internal power of the dance for the man comes from the crotch region (as awkward as that sounds).’
In this respect, it’s good to have some flexibility within your core and hips. This includes clothing choice.
Ballroom dance clothes for women:
Class wear for women is generally leggings with a singlet or t-shirt and ballrooms heels. Some of the styles in ballroom do share similarities with ballet in that being able to check form is important. This is why some dances require more tight-fitting clothes and others do not.
Ballroom dance clothes styling examples:
But how do how experienced dancers wear such clothes for ballroom dance class? Have a look at 0.32 of the below video. Ith features top contenders for the highly competitive ‘So You Think You Can Dance Australia’ series:
What to wear to Latin social (salsa, bachata, zouk, kizomba) dance classes:
Latin social dance clothes for men:
Clothing choice is rife with poor choices in this type of class. The common mistakes that guys make when going to such a class are:
- Either being overdressed (trending more towards overdressing)
- Or underdressed.
Guys, try not to dress as if you are going on a formal date. Try and dress as if you are there to learn to dance. This is important.
Men’s Latin social shirts/jackets:
Good advice here is to avoid:
- Collared shirts
- Ties
- Blazers
- Dress shoes
- And formal boots.
Avoid the above at least until you become proficient at dancing.
Instead, opt for:
- A nice fitting clean new t-shirt (but please don’t tuck your shirt in)
- Or a tank singlet (don’t wear string singlets)
- Or perhaps a polo shirt, as they feel great to touch for the partner.
Men’s Latin social pants/shorts:
For pants, opt for some good-looking slim-fit jeans, jogger pants, or casual shorts (err on the side of longer shorts).
Men’s Latin social shoes:
For shoes, a great choice is low-cut plain white sneakers or a trendy branded sneaker (but not runners).
Professional Latin male dancers tend to wear just a t-shirt and jeans with Latin dance shoes (similar to ballroom shoes). However, if you are a beginner wearing professional shoes looks out of place given your skill level.
Men’s Latin social grooming:
#1. Grooming tip: The science:
One of the most important things for guys when doing partner dancers is to smell nice. A little known fact is that due to the nature of the poses in partner dancing, the static arm position holds places stress on the upper body.
Combine that with increased blood flow from the social interaction and you tend to sweat more in the armpits in partner dances than in a solo dance such as hip-hop.
#2. Grooming tip: Shower/deodorant:
A hot tip here is to shower just before you go to class and liberally apply fresh deodorant with good active ingredients. If you are in a rush you can avoid the shower and apply soap to your armpits and wipe clean with a hand towel.
A good practice is to layer deodorant by applying one layer, waiting 5 minutes, and then applying a second layer. If you are not sure which deodorant works well for you, then shop around and experiment.
The key here is NOT to apply deodorant over the top of the existing deodorant. The skin must be clean before you apply new deodorant. Also, trim your armpits as well using a trimming tool. This will allow the deodorant to soak into the skin, not the armpit hair.
#3. Grooming tip: Shirt types and body odor:
Another tip on smelling nice is to wear a clean, fresh, cotton shirt that isn’t too tight around the armpits. This will improve:
- Breathability
- Reduce how much you sweat
- Prevent your t-shirt from soaking up sweat and acting as a source of old body odor.
Some shirts, even after washing, will retain a smell of body odor in the armpits. So next time you are folding washing, smell your shirts and see which ones have a build of old body odor.
#4. Grooming tip: Colognes:
A final note is to apply fresh cologne after your shower. Noting that quality colognes tend to last longer than others. However, don’t overdo it, you don’t your partner to be gagging. A general rule for colognes is to spray 3 times. Good locations are twice under the ears and once on the back of the neck.
Latin social dance clothes for women:
Women’s Latin social shirts/tops:
Women generally wear a fitted t-shirt/singlet or sometimes a crop top.
Women’s Latin social pants/shorts:
Professional Latin female dancers might wear a sports bra with matching leggings. However, this can be overkill if you are just starting out.
A great choice for women is to wear leggings/tight jeans.
Women’s Latin social shoes:
Dancing heels or low-profile white sneakers will work well and look good. Keep in mind that dancing heels allow for easier turning and there are many turns for women in these dances.
Also, try and avoid runners and boots as these don’t really fit the laid-back nature of the dances.
Women’s Latin social grooming:
As was said for men, women need to make sure they smell nice given these are partner dances. So, have a read of the above grooming paragraph to get tips on this topic.
Things to avoid are string singlets. The reason for this it is offputting if the partner accidentally touches a wet armpit region (true story).
Latin dance clothes styling examples:
How do experienced dancers wear such clothes for Latin social dance classes? Have a look at the below video of renowned Latin dancers Kiko and Christina.
General tips for dance class clothes:
It can be daunting trying to decide what to wear to different dance classes. But, just remember that in the end dancing with rhythm and passion is the most important thing. HOWEVER, the person that is dressed stylishly for the occasion AND is dancing well will look and no doubt feel the best on the dancefloor.
So make some small tweaks to your wardrobe. And use this article as inspiration. As a result, you will look stylish and practical for each dance class. This will have flow-on effects to confidence and enjoyment and wanting to come back for more.