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Dance Like REAL MEN in Masculine Boys Costumes - Design Tips!

Satin Stitches | Apr 01, 2008 | there are 0 comments 0
Look Ma, I'm dancing in a Fuchsia Jacket!

Look Ma, I'm dancing in a Fuchsia Jacket!

Whenever competitive dance studios are responsible for costuming, the inevitable question that comes up is How do we make our boy dancers look masculine?  In my blog from last week, I talked about high school show choir and how much fun it is to costume these talented amateur singer-dancers. We also occasionally have the opportunity to work with male figure skaters and ballroom dancers, and entertainers such as Elvis impersonators, magicians and wrestlers!

As a mother of two boys who grew up around the costume business, if they had been involved in dance, I would not have wanted them to look feminine either.  In fact, when my son accompanied me on one of my many treks to a local fabric store, he asked me if I would make him a pair of basketball shorts out of a very flashy silver lame, that he saw in the store, his request made me a bit nervous.  At the very least, it certainly raised my eyebrows.  But my son is built like a front lineman, so I figured that, well, if he really wants to make a statement on the basketball court, I was just the mom to make that happen!

After all, it was me who asked this same little boy, before he had any concept of boy or girl colors, what color fuzzy, footed pajamas he wanted, and promptly bought him the hot pink and red ones, which he requested!  When you are a masculine looking boy or man, you can carry off the nontraditional colors or styles and still look masculine.  My son has always looked like the football front lineman that he then became, in high school.  He looks masculine in everything.  Boys also need a heavy dose of attitude and swagger to wear anything, and still look masculine.

But the right clothes will help or hinder.  The color, the cut, the fit, the workmanship, the fabric and the details will make or break a masculine boys dance costume.

 

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tags Teacher, Enthusiast, Parent, Studio, Costume Design, Costumes, Men's Costuming (all tags)

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