Dance and fashion have always influenced each other. As dance evolves over time, so do the outfits worn by dancers expressing themselves through movement and rhythm.
Different dance styles have marked the eras in which they became famous. From swing to mambo, cha cha to popping, disco to salsa, and electro to moonwalk, each trend reflects its time. Here are some of the key styles that define various dance methods.
Ballet
Ballet has its origins in the 15th Century, emerging from the Italian Renaissance before gaining popularity in France. It’s a highly technical form that has grown into its own refined art. Ballet performances are choreographed to classical music and fall under the category of concert dance. There are three main styles: classical, neoclassical, and contemporary.
Dancers typically wear tutus, elegant dresses, tunics, masks, tights, and pointe shoes, all designed for easy movement. The ballerina’s attire combines feminine elegance and grace with masculine strength and freedom.
Ballroom Dancing
Ballroom dance refers to a variety of partner dances, a term that dates back to 16th-century France. It has developed into two main styles: International and American. Popular dances here include the waltz, tango, foxtrot, pasodoble, bolero, and samba. Ballroom dancing has become a competitive sport with global contests, especially popular through televised events featuring celebrities and professionals.
Female dancers in ballroom typically wear glamorous dresses, while men often opt for formal attire like tailcoats, waistcoats, and bowties.
Tap Dancing
Tap dance is all about creating rhythm and sound as dancers strike the floor with tap shoes. It’s often part of musical theater, focusing on rhythm and group formations. Tap dance draws influences from styles like flamenco and classical dance, with Broadway or jazz elements mixed in. The shoes are crucial, often fitted with metal plates to amplify sound. Performers might don top hats and tails for a classic look.
Contemporary Dance
Contemporary dance gained popularity in the US and Europe in the mid-20th century, drawing from classical ballet, jazz, and modern artistic influences. It’s known for its expressive, fluid style that does not adhere to fixed rules, yet balances this with discipline and poise.
Dancers usually wear loose-fitting clothing and often perform barefoot. The rest of the attire varies based on the story, theme, and creative vision of the dancers and choreographers.
Modern Dance Styles
From the latter 20th century into the new millennium, new dance styles emerged alongside trends in rock, disco, punk, and rave music. House dance, originating in underground clubs in New York and Chicago, draws influences from jazz, Latin, soul, funk, and R&B, focusing on freedom, improvisation, and feeling the music.
Hip-hop began in the 1970s and gained fame in places like the US, France, and the UK, impacting street fashion significantly. An athletic dance form, breakdancing, arose in New York’s Bronx during the 1970s and 80s. It combines choreographed or improvisational moves with athletic prowess to soul, breakbeat, hip-hop, and funk music.
Fashion and Dance
While certain dance styles have traditional attire, fashion plays a crucial role in how dancers express themselves. More than anything, the choice of outfit is about conveying the dancer’s emotions, comfort, and freedom of movement. The styles and expressions developed through dance often influence everyday and street fashion in various personalized ways.