Dance Costumes

From first recital tutus to sharp jazz cuts, find costumes built for the style of dance you're stepping into.

How do I know which costume style suits the routine, not just the dancer?

Genre dictates cut and movement more than colour or sequins do. Ballet routines call for costumes built to move with pointe and extension work, so browse the Ballet range specifically rather than the full catalogue.

Jazz and tap costumes are usually built shorter and more fitted for sharp, percussive movement. The Jazz and Tap ranges are separated out for this reason.

Lyrical and contemporary routines need fabric with flow and give. Structured tutu-style pieces will fight the choreography rather than support it, so the Lyrical and Contemporary range is built with that movement in mind.

Do I need a full new costume every season, or can I refresh what I already have?

A full costume isn't always necessary if the base piece still fits and the routine is just changing in tone. A Bloch Tutu Overlay or Bloch Sequin Bodice Motifs can update an existing costume's look for a fraction of the cost of buying new.

This route works best when the base costume is still the right length and fit. An overlay won't fix a costume that's genuinely been outgrown.

The Tutu Overlays & Motifs range is the place to start if this is the plan.

Child versus ladies sizing, how different are the fits actually?

These aren't just scaled versions of the same pattern. Proportions differ, not just measurements. A Bloch Emica Sweetheart Tutu Dress Child is cut for a child's torso length and shorter bodice, not a shrunk adult pattern.

For a dancer moving from child to ladies sizing, don't assume the next size up in the child range is the equivalent. Check the ladies range separately since the fit block changes.

The sizing charts are worth checking per product rather than assuming consistency across brands. Bloch and Capezio don't necessarily size the same way.

Is a tutu dress the same as a tutu skirt with a separate top?

No, and the difference affects both fit and how the costume photographs on stage. A tutu dress like the Capezio Ruffle Yoke Tutu Dress Child is one piece, with bodice and skirt built as a single garment, which holds its shape more predictably under stage lighting and movement.

A separate skirt, like the Capezio Romantic Tutu Skirt Adult, pairs with a leotard of your choosing, which gives more flexibility if you're mixing and matching across a costume wardrobe rather than buying one fixed look.