How to Create Contemporary Dance Clothing
Contemporary dance was originally conceived as a rebellion against the stiff and often rigid movements of more structured dance forms such as ballet. Contemporary dancers employ improvisational movements that are largely free-styled as opposed to preplanned to the rhythmic musical sounds of drums and guitars. Creating contemporary dance clothing requires an understanding of the dance genre, flowing fabrics and a quality sewing pattern.
- Understand the contemporary dance genre. Contemporary dance is centered around a dancer's ability to feel the music and move in a natural manner to the beat. Moods are central to the contemporary dance genre since dancers always seek to convey their feelings to the audience, whether they be happy, sad, angry or any other emotion. Many contemporary dancers will wear street clothes if they want to channel the rebellious nature of the art form, while others utilize garments that allow the maximum range of motion as they dance.
- Purchase flowing fabrics. Restricting fabrics such as acrylic and polyester should definitely be avoided when creating contemporary dance clothing because they limit the mobility of a dancer's performance. Aim for fabrics that easily acquiesce to the slightest of movements, such as silk, chiffon, tulle, and stretch lace. If you are assembling apparel for a contemporary dance street performance, utilize spandex blends to create jeans that will not confine a dancer's body.
- Obtain a quality sewing pattern. The sewing pattern you choose is very important since it ultimately determines the type of attire you will have as a finished product. Peruse pattern catalogs for ideas and use your favorite online search engine to find specialty websites that cater entirely to the dance community. After assimilating an acceptable number of concepts, choose a quality sewing pattern that will complement the dancer's body and assist them as they move.