Dancewear, like dance, has rapidly evolved throughout history, with countless new trends and garments.
Throughout history innovators, designers and manufacturers have had to move quickly with the times and fashions. New technology has also played a part in influencing what dancers wear and how they dress.
As the years progressed, our attitudes towards the human body and sex in general changed and became more liberal – in other words we became a lot less rigid during the 1900s!
Check out our timeline to see just how much dancewear has changed over the years. You’d be surprised – leg warmers have not been around forever!
Dancewear on pointe in the 1800s
Ballet is recognised the world over as one of the most famous and well-known forms of dance. The delicate style became immensely popular during the 1800s, with the French and Russians playing a big part in its development.
In terms of dancewear, ballerinas wore long corsets, tutu skirts and pointe shoes, much like today. The way ballerinas dressed reflected the styles and fashions of the time but were often restricting.
In the late 1800s, a trapeze artist by the name of James Leotard popularised a garment that gave dancers greater comfort and allowed for easier manoeuvrability. The leotard has remained an essential piece of dancewear ever since.
Check out all the different kinds of leotards that are used for dancing here.
Extravagance in dance - Early 1900s dancewear
During the early 1900s dancewear and dancers began to shun movement-restricting wear in favour of looser and more comfortable outfits. This was mainly thanks to an American dancer and choreographer, named Isadora Duncan.
Duncan ditched traditional ballet and dancewear for draped tunics, gowns and wait for it… bare feet!
Around the same time a new bigger, bolder and glamorous shift in dancewear was to happen. Dancewear became more extravagant and raunchier, with feathers and glitter reflecting the party atmosphere of the time.
Glitz and Glamour - dancing in the 1930s – 40s
Dancewear continued in a similar vein throughout this time. Dance became more popularised in films and musicals, including Swing Time and Top Hat. It wasn’t just ballet being shown in the theatres and on Broadway.
Elegance and sophistication were the order of the day back then, with long dresses, evening gowns and heels triumphing on dance floors around the world.
Doing the 1950s hand jive
During the 50s, Rock n Roll triumphed, with dancehalls jiving to the sound of Elvis and Little Richard. Cocktail dresses and mini-skirts, like the ones seen in Grease, began to reflect the youth revolution.
The Swinging Sixties
The Sixties saw the dresses tighten and get even shorter, reflecting the huge cultural shift of the time. Dancewear began to focus on the legs and accentuated the female body more. Lycra (invented not long before WWII) and spandex (1940s) was incorporated into dancewear.
1970s D.I.S.C.O Dancing
Fashions began to shift once again in the sexy Seventies with jumpsuits and long flowing dresses with bell-bottoms reflecting the smooth sound of Disco, leotards also made a welcome return.
1980s - Leotards and Legwarmers
Who hasn’t watched Dirty Dancing? Many would argue that the 80s was the era we’d rather forget when it comes to fashion. The same can’t be said of dancewear, however. Vests, leotards and leg warmers, used to keep dancers muscles warm during rehearsals, were the fashion of the time. Dancing retained its sexiness and Patrick Swayze was in his prime.
Hip Hop Influences - 1990s-2000s
The 1990s is remembered in dancewear terms for being a real mish-mash of influences
The leotards and leg warmers seen in Irene Cara’s ‘Flashdance What A Feeling’ could be found alongside more relaxed and baggy streetwear, including tracksuits, t-shirts and trainers, reflecting the popularity of Hip-Hop, breakdancing and street dance.
Amongst popular wears around this time were the parachute pants, as made famous by MC Hammer – perhaps you owned a pair?
Check out our Urban and Street Wear section for more ideas
Present Day and Future
Nowadays dance is as popular and accessible as it has ever been. TV shows like Strictly Come Dancing have brought back the magic of ballroom dancing with its glitzy costumes and outfits.
Contemporary ballet dancers and groups, such as Michael Clark Company, have also re-imagined and redesigned the way in which we see ballet and the clothes ballerinas wear. These days you don’t have to don a tutu to be a ballerina -although the pointe shoes still play a big part!
In the modern day, there’s no hard and fast rule or trend when it comes to dancewear. It’s also hard to say how dancers will dress in the future.
We are already seeing top-level sportswear technology making its way into dancewear. Many of the newer fabrics are designed to help maintain the dancers body temperature and have the added benefit of wicking perspiration away from the body. This technology is now standard in specialist dancewear such as leotards.
Take a look at our ‘Just Arrived’ section to see the latest trends in dancewear.
