In the early 1900s, American dancer Isadora Duncan dared to perform barefoot. By the 1940s, performance wear was largely influenced by the arrival of Broadway shows and prevalence of dance on the big screen. By the 21st century, dancers had their choice of styles and functional ensembles to wear on stage, each specifically designed to allow freedom of movement and enhance the visual effect of a performance. No matter what you choose to wear, help us celebrate the joy of dance by youth dancers wearing a costume to class October 25-30 for Wear A Costume Week at Turning Pointe!
The 1700s
Dancers in the 17th century typically performed in heeled shoes, with long, heavy costumes that resembled elaborate court ensembles — complete with large wigs and jewels. Dancers wore leather masks that concealed all facial expressions, and were made to portray comedy or tragedy, depending on the character. Toward the end of the century, dance costumes became less ornate and more functional, complete with the invention of tights in 1790.
The 1800s
During the “Century of the Waltz,” dance costumes underwent a number of changes, including the emergence of the leotard, first made famous by French acrobat Jules Léotard (1838–1870). French ballerina Marie Camargo shortened skirts to calf-height and traded heeled shoes for soft leather slippers before toe boxes were added for pointe work around 1820. French ballerina Marie Sallé took the stage in a simple, light tunic dress without a mask, and closer-fitting bloomers and pants were introduced throughout Europe to showcase the mastery of intricate dance steps. By the late 1800s, dance costumes looked less like traditional party suits, transitioning instead to a lighter style that more closely resembled Grecian robes.
The 1900s
By the 19th century, French choreographer Jean-Georges Noverre had successfully eliminated leather masks in favor of harmonizing every detail of a costume with the whole production. Corseted ensembles were a thing of the past, and, thanks to Duncan, bare feet and modern dance style was popularized. The roaring 20s brought about large, embellished costumes, while the 30s saw the the rise of the movie industry, requiring visually pleasing costumes for films that featured not just ballet, but jazz, ballroom and tap. The 1940s welcomed the arrival of Broadway while swing dancing took American culture by storm, followed by the 50s, 60s and 70s, which brought about shorter skirts, large disco collars and flared pants, and the platter tutu as the most standard traditional costume for ballet. The 80s were highlighted by the introduction of dance accessories such as leg warmers and sweatbands, while the 90s saw costumes largely inspired by pop culture and the entertainment industry.
The 2000s
Following the path of the previous decade, dance costumes continued to mirror the fashion trends of the times, with softer, more modern skirts replacing larger, stiff tutus, and the emergence of reality television shows like Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance? and ABC’s Dancing With The Stars breaking down stereotypes and inspiring many to add personal touches to performance wear. Today, dancers have their choice of costumes, with specific silhouettes created for each style of dance. A modern dance costume looks different from a jazz costume, which looks different from a Waltz costume, which looks different from a tango costume. Costumes can be completely original, or even look to the costumes of previous centuries for inspiration.
Throughout history, dance costumes have been influenced by fashion, functionality and even dance itself. While the purpose and design of costumes has evolved over time, dancing remains a timeless practice, performed throughout history as an act of worship and celebration of the arts.