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On My Mind
Words from the publisher
Where did they go? You remember them—those things people used
to call “tights.” Most girls wore them onstage or in class to
give them a clean line and to keep their butts, thighs, and
other body parts from jiggling. They seem to have become a
thing of the past, or close to it.
Dance and tights were synonymous for centuries; it’s only been
over the last decade that they really started to disappear.
Coincidentally, it was about that time that private-sector
schools began embracing modern and contemporary dance in their
curriculums. That’s a good thing—the result has been stronger,
more technically proficient dancers, and those better-prepared
dancers are seeking higher-ed programs and professional lives
in dance. I applaud the teachers and schools who have taken
this route.
The problem is that the trend has become so prevalent that
we’re even seeing tap dancers wearing booty shorts without
tights, and I don’t think that’s a good thing! Personally,
when I see a group of tap-dancing girls turn upstage, tapping
away with their derrieres to the audience, my eyes are not
focused on their feet and I’m not listening to the sounds they
are making. Instead, I’m noticing all that extra “action” and
how uncomfortable I feel for myself as well as the dancers.
All I can do is wonder why someone didn’t speak up—not the
kids, nor the teachers, nor the parents. I ask myself,
“Doesn’t this make them as uncomfortable as it does me?”
The issue isn’t limited to the tappers—I see it in musical
theater too. There is no question in my mind that a
10-year-old who is dancing to “Shine It On” should be wearing
tights. So should the senior dancers who are performing a
Fosse number. After all, you went all the way with the
choreography and you got the style and the movement down; the
white gloves and the isolations are working better than you
expected. And then the dancers hit the stage without tights.
Would Bob Fosse have made that choice with all those
isolations and sharp choreography? I don’t think so. Add the
fact that many dancers are bigger than those of previous
generations and the “case of the disappearing tights”
dumbfounds me even more.
I do appreciate the no-tights look for most modern or
contemporary pieces and I think it is appropriate. But I also
think that choreographers need to consider more carefully the
times when tights are appropriate. From my perspective,
there’s a simple way to make that judgment: If the dancers go
upstage and there is a lot of jiggling going on, then that’s a
number where they should wear tights!
The subject of choice in costuming leads me to this issue’s
theme: recitals! Costuming is an important—and huge—part of
producing a show, and we’ve got the topic covered. In our
pages this month you can learn what costume companies say in
response to questions from school owners, weigh the pros and
cons of building your own costume inventory, and go backstage
at San Francisco Ballet to see how complex costuming a
full-length classical ballet can be. And what goes hand in
hand with costumes? Makeup, of course—and we’ve got a story
that shows you how to do it like a pro. This issue’s recital
content doesn’t end there, so jump right in. You’ll find
ideas, inspiration, and practical how-tos that will make your
next recital your best ever. Enjoy!
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