What dance teachers wear can really set the tone for class. Not only does apparel play a major part in the functionality of the job, it also goes a long way towards inspiring and empowering new generations.
A teacher can also influence the dancewear choices of their students through leading by example. Sharing wardrobe tips—like how to keep your tap shoes from causing blisters or what to wear to an audition to make you stand out—is all part of a dancer’s education. Here, DRN spoke to four instructors from different dance styles about what they wear to class, why it works for them, and how retailers can meet the needs of dance educators everywhere.
Gemma Beasley
Creative director of Connect Dance Project
Stamford, CT
What styles of dance do you teach? I teach multiple genres, but mainly ballet and “technique” (leaps and turns).
Do you have any favorite styles or classes to teach? My favorite style to teach is probably contemporary, but I love technique-based classes, too!
Do you wear different items of clothing for the different styles of dance that you’re teaching? I definitely lean towards something less form-fitting for contemporary—I love my lululemon dance-studio pants. For ballet classes, I like matching leggings and top sets.
What are your favorite dance or activewear brands? It’s always changing, but I currently love Adanola. It’s a British brand that’s making its way to the U.S. It’s the perfect blend of comfortable and flattering, but somewhat stylish. It makes me feel put-together.
What is your top footwear choice for teaching? I’m a socks girl! I wear Nike Dri-FIT socks because they aren’t slippery.
Felipe Galganni
Tap teacher, choreographer, drag artist
New York, NY
Where do you teach? I teach tap at Steps on Broadway, run my own classes at Ripley-Grier, and offer private lessons both online and in person.
What are your go-to dancewear pieces or outfits when leading class? Lately, I’ve been into crop tops and comfy pants for easy movement. Since I teach mostly adults, I really believe that if I’m comfortable in my outfit, they’ll see that and feel good in what they wear too. I love rocking colorful clothes, and I hope it inspires my students to express themselves and feel confident in their own style.
Do you have any “nonnegotiables” in your teaching wardrobe? I need to wear socks with my tap shoes. When I’m teaching, especially if I have back-to-back classes, my feet can get sweaty, and socks really help keep everything comfortable for hours.
Where do you shop for your dancewear? I purchase my tap shoes from Dancing Fair, who I’ve built a strong relationship with over the years. They understand my preferences perfectly. I prefer my shoes to have a certain structure, and they are always very kind to me and my students. For tap heels, I go to LaDuca.
How important is functionality versus fashion in your teaching attire? Fashion plays a huge role when you’re heading to class. What you wear can really boost your confidence while dancing. Tap dance is all about expressing your personality and identity. We’re not aiming for everyone to look the same; it’s about discovering your unique style. Feeling good in your outfit is key. Of course you don’t want to wear something that makes it tough to move, like lifting your leg. But finding your own style is super-important and adds to the fun of it all.
Anne-Marie Browning
Dance teacher at Connect Dance Project
Stamford, CT
What styles of dance do you teach? I teach contemporary and jazz at CDP. Previously, I’ve also taught ballet.
Can you describe your go-to outfit for teaching? I always wear a lot of layers because it gets sweaty teaching. I will start out in something comfy, and underneath I always wear something tight-fitting, like a leotard. My go-to pants are from Athleta. They have really cute, baggy outerwear, and the quality is really good. I’m more into quality over quantity, and am likely to spend more on higher-quality items that last longer.
What are some of your favorite pieces? I used to work at Aerie in college and I fell in love with their outerwear. I have a really cute, off-the-shoulder white sweater that I love. It’s thin, but it keeps me warm. I love layering that. Aerie is also really good for oversized T-shirts. I usually wear a long-sleeve shirt under a baggy tee, and I wrap those around my waist when I get hot.
What shoes do you wear when you teach? When I’m teaching musical theater or jazz, LaDucas are always fun. For other classes, I really like the Apolla brand of compression socks. They are also great for recovering. After a long day of teaching, I will sometimes wear them to bed. Protecting your feet is key.
What items do you struggle the most to find? It’s hard to find something unique and fun. There are not a lot of prints and patterns with personality for dancewear. I like to wear swimwear sometimes instead of a leotard. Swimsuits make a great leotard base, and they are good to sweat in because they were made to get wet.
Rob Brower
Owner of Storytellers Dance Academy
Monroe, NC
What style of dance do you teach? I teach tap, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, ballet, and musical theater. The style that I teach the most often is tap.
Can you describe your go-to outfit for a typical day teaching dance? I’m usually wearing a T-shirt—often one branded for our studio—gym shorts, and sweatpants.
Are there any brands that you gravitate towards? With my attire for teaching, I do gravitate towards Adidas, lululemon (my favorite sweatpants are from there), and the athletic section from Old Navy. For tap shoes, I traditionally use either Miller & Ben Triple Threat shoes or Jason Samuels Smith from Bloch.
Libby Basile is a former editor for Dance Retailer News and a specialty-retail storeowner based in Cheshire, CT.