Expert: Eden Atencio - 10/10/2007

Question
I am going to be performing soon and I have no idea what to wear underneath my dresses. I want to wear pantyhose but I am not so comfortable with my shoes with pantyhouse on. I don't feel as balanced as I am with out them. Also, do I wear boyshorts underneath? One of my dresses is sheer in my midsection and goes down pretty low. I am afraid that my pantyhose and any type of brief will show through the dress. OH yeah how do I make sure my breasts don't go popping out during a lift or something?

Answer
Great question Michelle!

Dressing for performance is so important. The key is that your wardrobe be both attractive AND functional. I have seen many a rhinestone bikini top go flying during a routine. Don't let that be you!

Here are some tricks of the trade to help you in your wardrobing:

-Wear what you are most comfortable dancing in. Most ballroom dancers do not wear pantyhose, for the exact reason you pointed out above. Instead they use spray tans, self tanning creams and body glitter to achieve the same effect.

-Yes, you must keep "the girls" in place and as stationary as possible. Depending on the cut of the dress, you can go with a regular bra, but in your case with the sheerness of the dress you may want to consider a fleshtone body suit. This would solve both the top and bottom coverage issues. Also, double sided wardrobe tape can be found online and at dance stores. I highly recommend it for those itty bitty halter tops.

-"Dance pants" are important, but again this depends on the style of dance, and your personal comfort. When I perform Swing I like to make my undergarments part of the show, so I choose colorful full coverage "granny panties" to keep with the carefree swing era look. If I am performing Tango, I will choose a neutral or black body suit to keep long leg lines and a sleek look.

Capezio, Bloch, and other dance companies sell tons of to solve wardrobe issues. Go to your local store or check them out online.

Good luck, and remember to have dress rehearsals to troubleshoot any last minute wardrobe issues!