When you’re young, tights are often reserved only for special occasions, but when you enter the world of dance, everything changes! Girls have no idea how many various types of tights they will need before they start dancing. This might be a bit intimidating for parents. The regular dress tights that you buy at the supermarket and professional tights meant for dancers are not the same.
Although regular tights might get you through a beginner’s ballet class, this won’t be the case as you get older and start taking more classes. Additionally, most studios already have a particular type or shade that they like for classes and performances, so you should always check with the instructor beforehand. Keep reading to find out more about the different dance tights that you should carry at all times in your duffel bag.
What are the Different Types of Dance Tights?
Fishnet Tights
If you’re looking for practical tights that will boost your performance and aesthetic, opt for dance fishnet tights available in many colours! They’re perfect for Broadway, Tap, and Cabernet dance. They look amazing paired with the right costume and they’re quite durable. These tights appear more natural and mix better with your skin, compared to classic dance tights.
Because of the way they’re constructed, it seems like dance fishnets draw you in more. It looks more attractive when the small linked zigzags are tugging in different directions rather than having one large flexible piece of cloth. Fishnets don’t produce any sheen, so they’re less of a distraction for the dancer and the audience.
They’re seamless, and yet they offer you protection and boost your confidence on the stage. Professional fishnet tights differ in quality from the basic fishnets you will find in stores. They’re durable, tough, and wiry to prevent snags.
Classic Footed Tights
Classic footed tights are often the norm for the world outside of dance. The term “Footed” pretty much explains itself – they cover your entire feet and legs. These tights are great for Calisthenics, Aerobics, and modern dance styles. They’re an acceptable choice if you don’t require any outfit or shoe changes during your practice or performance.
Stirrup Tights
Stirrups are a kind of tights that you typically only see on dancers. They feature an elastic bottom that’s similar to that of classic tights, but it stops at the centre of the foot, leaving the toes and ankle uncovered. The stirrups lengthen the legs and are mostly worn by dancers who perform barefoot. They stay in position thanks to the opening at the heel. Stirrups look quite gorgeous and they’re also comfortable to wear! You will find both dance fishnet tights as well as classic tights with this construction.
Footless/Ankle Tights
Footless or ankle is another self-explanatory type of tights. These are excellent if you want to dance barefoot or in shoes without any covers, such as toe undies. They often include an elastic band at the bottom to prevent them from riding up the leg.
Convertible
Without a doubt, dancers wind up purchasing pairs like this one most frequently. In contrast to footed tights, convertible tights contain a little opening on the bottom of each foot. Why would you want to wear tights with an intentional opening at the heel though? Due to the ease of switching from footed to footless tights, convertible tights have become the standard in ballet and other dance forms. They help you quickly switch into a different pair of shoes or quickly adjust to pointe shoe pads.
Body Tights
The last kind of dance tights are the body tights – and they do exactly what they sound like—they essentially cover the whole body, excluding the arms, neck, and face. When you wear certain costumes, body tights create a seamless appearance and hide certain details, such as the waistband.
How to Choose the Perfect Dance Tights?
Selecting the right pair of dance tights is always challenging. After selecting your preferred type of tights, you need to consider their colour, size, and material:
- Colour: The dancewear section typically doesn’t include tights in neon pink or green. In most cases, dancers wear tights in soft pink, black, and a range of tan colours. Usually, unless your skin tone is noticeably different, a pair of tan fishnet tights dance with you is perfect for every step of the way.
- Material: Tights come in a variety of fabrics, and not all of them offer the comfort that you need whether you’re practicing or performing on stage. Nylon and spandex are popular materials that offer stretchiness and comfort, so look for these materials when shopping!
- Size: Tights are often divided into two primary size groups, along with dancewear – adult and child tights. Of course, these are further divided into S, M, L, and so on from there. Before taking your pick, I suggest looking carefully into a size chart to select the perfect fit for you.
Professional tights are essential for any dance enthusiast. Compared to the ordinary counterparts, they’re significantly more durable and resilient. However, as with the rest of your dancewear, make sure that you take proper care of your dance tights to make the most out of them!