Why Do Ballerinas Wear Tights?

Why Do Ballerinas Wear Tights? In the art of ballet, the wearing of tight has its origination dated back to the 18th century.

Tight liberates the body of the ballerinas from the pain of having to wear heavy cumbersome outfits. The freedom of movement resulting from wearing the tight has paved the way for new dance techniques to be formed with an increased focus on the movement of the foot. 

In the past, wearing loose outfits hid too many errors and faults but with the evolution of the tight, mistakes could be easily spotted and corrected. Tights in one way or the other have been very useful to the ballerinas and this is where the question arises, are tights really that important and why do ballerinas wear them?

Contents

Reasons Ballerinas wear tights

To preserve modesty and aesthetics

The ballerinas wear tight for a uniform appearance and for the art and movement of the dancer to be felt by whoever is watching. In classical ballet, the females wear a pink pale tight while the males wear a black or light-colored tight to define their elegance and enhance the aesthetic beauty of the dance. 

For muscle flexibility

Ballet dance deals with the movement of the body and for a ballerina to move properly and freely, they need to wear the tight as it provides a mild compression of the muscle in the foot and legs to improve circulation of the blood and it helps the ballerinas feel their legs to move with the right muscle.

Coverage

They provide good coverage for the legs with the aim of improving discretion and modesty.

Keep them cool

They keep the legs warm and cool by absorbing perspiration from the feet to keep the ballerina warm and also absorbing heat to keep them cool.

Friction

They reduce friction and rubbing by allowing the legs to move more freely and smoothly past each other to create a professional and neat appearance.

Do male ballerinas wear tights?

Yes, they do. As a matter of fact, all male ballerinas wear tights. Engineered for excellent performance, the tight gives a comfortable fit that supports you during rehearsals and when you’re on stage.

The tights deliver support, warmth, flexibility, and breathability with inbuilt features like moisture-wicking technology and optimum performance.

They wear their tights over their leotards so transparency isn’t really an issue for them. The tights are worn for modesty as they allow the ballerina to show off and strengthen their movement. 

They also keep the legs of the male ballerinas warm. Female ballerinas are not the only ones that need warmth and as a matter of fact, the male needs them more since most of them are quite hairy. Ballet dance is a sweaty activity and for a male ballerina, you could lose a lot of muscles too. 

Another thing is most male ballerina’s legs are pretty bruised up, I mean they have a lot of scars due to hard work and injuries so most of them wear the tight to give their legs a smooth and clean look. 

Why do ballerinas wear tutus over their tights?

If you’ve seen a lot of ballerinas around, you must’ve noticed that most of them wear their tutus over their tights especially when they’re performing and this doesn’t go for just professionals, even the beginners and you must be wondering why they do so. There are different types of tutus and most of them are worn over a sports bra or a tight. 

It gives a secured coverage

The point is that it gives a more secure coverage. When you wear your tutus without the tight, they can basically ride up and show off more than intended so it’s better to just avoid the predicament altogether by wearing them over your tight.

Improves uniformity 

Apart from the dance class being the main reason for uniformity, the tutu over the tight enhances the beauty of the ballerinas and if you’ve ever been to the opera, you must’ve seen how eloquent and awesome the ballerinas look with their tutu over their tight while performing in unison.

Gesture/flexibility

They wear the tutu over their tight to highlight their dance gestures and to bring about flexibility in their movement. This combination provides great body movement along with the ability to prevent further pains from injuries immediately after they’re spotted.

What other outfits do ballerinas wear?

Ballerinas wear a lot of outfits and they have different dance wears. They have an iconic way of dressing with different fittings that are made to flatter and allow optimal movement.

The outfits are functional and each piece serves a specific purpose and a unique role in the body of the ballerina. The good thing is that most of these outfits are unisex which means they are made for males and females.

Leggings

They are worn by ballerinas to improve the range of improvement and enhance the lines of the dance and for the male, the leggings display the physique of their body. They highlight the elegant posture of the ballerinas.

Leotards

They provide coverage and warmth for the ballerina. The leotards come in different styles, designs, colors, and fabric types. 

Tutus

They add formality and structure to the dance while bringing the main focus to the leg movements. While most dancers wear tights with the tutus as it makes it easier for the tutor to see and correct the errors made by the ballerinas.

A wrap

This is more like a chiffon-wrapped skirt with a mesh top to add to the femininity of the female ballerina. They draw more attention to the legs of the dancer and they provide additional coverage to the upper thighs and hips.

The off-shoulder tops

These are regular tops worn by non-dancers but they are also one of the various outfits worn by ballerinas. They give the shoulders a breathing chance and they can be body fitting and also loose-fitting.

The bodysuit

They are similar to leotards and regular tops. They give a flattering and fitted look to also improve the body movement of the ballerina.

A wrap top

This is just like the wrap I mentioned above but the wrap top rests just above the hips and it makes the dancer look attractive and they also keep the body of the ballerina warm. 

Why do ballerinas wear tights over their leotards?

The tight comes in different convertible styles and a for a more professional look, most ballerinas wear them over the leotard. For the fact that the tights are skin-fitted, wearing them over the leotard could increase flexibility.

This combination provides better stability and traction on the dance floor. Most tights come with moisture-wicking technology to help erase sweat from the skin to prevent skin irritation and for a more excellent performance. 

In addition to the tight, most male ballerinas also wear a dance belt beneath the tight to ensure the outfit worn stays in place. 

What kind of tight should I buy as a ballerina?

Ballerinas wear a lot of tights so to prevent you from wearing the wrong one as a ballerina either professional or beginner, you can pick from the ones I recommended below. 

STELLE girls ultra-soft dance tight/ballet tight

Check Price

I’m recommending this tight because of its exceptional stretch and ultra-soft fabric. Apart from this feature, it promises to support and durability. You can get an amazing pair of this exceptional tight from Amazon. Below are the features of this tight.

Features

  • Fabric type: They are made with high-quality spandex (85% spandex and 15% nylon) which makes the tight super stretchy and skin fitted.
  • Size: They have various sizes which means they are not just for kids alone, they have sizes XXS, XS, S, and M. 
  • Durable: This tight gives a long-lasting impression and it promises exceptional durability for the wearer.

Pros

  • They have different colors
  • The waistband is very comfortable
  • It has a high elasticity system
  • It improves optimum performance
  • True to size

Cons

  • They will shrink if you put them in a dryer.

Capezio women’s hold and stretchy transition tight

Check Price

This tight is a semi-opaque tight that promises excellent support and durability. They are slip-resistant and run-resistant. This tight is similar to the first one I recommended but there’s just a slight difference in the feature. You can get a pair of this amazing tight from Amazon. Below are the features of this tight. 

Features

  • Material: They are made with 76% nylon and 24% spandex. They are opaque and they are suitable for all ballerinas which means the fitness of this tight does not vary.
  • Style: They have an elastic waistband and they are stretchy with a semi-opaque system which means they are not completely non-see-through.

Pros

  • A transition tight with different convertible styles
  • The fabric type is semi-opaque
  • They are comfortable
  •  They promise durability
  •  True to size

Cons

  • No warranty

Conclusion – Why Do Ballerinas Wear Tights?

With everything you’ve seen in this article, I presume you’ve gotten the information you need but to add to it, some tights are really soft and they could tear off even before you wear them completely. Kindly click on the link to check the price of the tight I recommended and you could also purchase them. Good luck.

Leave a Comment