Choosing the Latin Dance Dress Style for Maximum Audience Impact
We have heard the phrase “dress to impress” often enough, but nowhere else is it more important than on the dance floor, where top caliber dancers strut their stuff in front of hawk-eyed judges and highly electrified audiences. The competition practically begins as soon as the dancers walk out in their fabulous Latin dance dresses. It’s no wonder competition dancers take pains putting together just the right outfit for the occasion.
To put together the perfect Latin dance dress ensemble that will make her stand out on the floor, a dancer should have a keen understanding of the following:
• Her own body – her height, weight, body shape, length of her neck and legs, her coloring (delicately pale or deliciously tanned);
• Her dancing skills – which of the 5 Latin dances is her strongest and her weakest;
• Style – find a Latin dance dress designed to work well with all 5 dances;
• Fabrics and decorations – choose fabrics that move as called for in the choreography, with decorations in the right spots visible to the audience from up to 10 meters away;
• Colors and patterns – choose safe colors that don’t clash with the mood of each dance without being boring. Use nicely-sized patterns that are recognizable from a distance
• Her own personal comfort while wearing the dress – a dancer should feel confident that she will be able to execute her routines perfectly without fear of a wardrobe malfunction.
• Her dancing partner – the choice of Latin dance dress is as much the woman’s decision as it is her partner’s. He has to feel confident about what she’s wearing and the way it will impact the audience in order to boldly lead her to a great performance.
Somehow she has to intelligently work it out so that a balance is achieved between all these factors. It’s no easy task, and will often take weeks of preparation but a well-chosen Latin dance dress will speak volumes about a dance couple’s dedication to their craft. Competition judges and crowds who frequent these dance events appreciate looking at well-dressed couples and anticipate their performance with much excitement.
Latin Dance Dress Styles
Fringe – this is the most common/popular style for Latin dance dresses as it gives maximum emphasis to the dancer’s body movements. A Latin dance dress with fringes attached in all the right places will suit all body types.
Draped – this requires very soft and stretchy material, so that the drapes will comfortably hug the body, looking natural and classy without needing too many embellishments.
Empire Waist – this is a recent trend that has grown very popular, especially for petite dancers because it creates the illusion of length.
Patterned – Animal prints are always in style, hinting at the confidence of the dancers wearing them. Other popular prints are florals and abstracts.
Feathers and Fur – Feathers have enjoyed a good comeback in the Latin dancewear scene. They give an overall feel of chic and class to the entire costume.