Real Men's Dancewear - Ballet Wear for Men

Male ballet dancers have never been as well served by men's dancewear suppliers as female dancers. From researching my male dance friends, it seems that finding basic things like a comfortable, supportive dance belt or a unitard that doesn't disappear up your ... is not nearly as straightforward as it should be!

Let's start with the fundamentals, shall we?

Full-bottom dance belt

This style is for those of you who don't like that uncomfortable bit of floss at the back - but I have only one word for you: VPL. Ladies are well acquainted with the dreaded Visible Panty Line, and a full-bottomed dance belt is likely to give you one - not a good look in tights.

Some men may also have trouble getting the sizing right in this style - if you have big glutes, the back coverage simply won't be adequate in your normal waist size. Why manufacturers make these things for the average man's butt rather than a muscled dancer's shape, I have no idea!

For those reasons, I recommend a thong-back dance belt.  Of course, you'd buy the full style if you're dancing contemporary and using it as a costume - but then, order at least one size larger.

Thong-style dance belt

A thong may not be the most comfortable thing in the world, but under tights it's the most practical.

If you like a cotton belt, Capezio's quilt front dance belt is a good option, as the addition of lycra will help it keep its shape and provide support for longer.

However, for the ultimate in comfort, you should also consider the M Stevens dance belt.

M Stevens is becoming a by-word for comfort in the balletwear world, but when it comes to men's dance belts, there is a possible snag. Everyone who buys one of these dance belts reports how amazing it feels, as though you're wearing nothing at all. Unfortunately, some men find the support is lacking. Whether that applies to you depends on what you're used to (and perhaps on your size, but that's a discussion I'm not getting into...).

For every man who says this dance belt isn't supportive, you'll find someone who reckons it is. One dedicated user solves the problem by wearing two at once - so if you like the idea of wearing what feels like a second skin, that may be a solution!

When it comes to unitards, M Stevens is once again the brand that's causing a buzz. The skin-tight fit, lightness and comfort are excellent. Their "Milliskin" unitard is ideal for use as a costume because of the ease of dying - just make sure to use RIT liquid fabric dye and follow the instructions carefully.

The only slightly annoying thing about M Stevens unitards is that they're sold as a "unisex" style, and it only comes in three ladies' sizes, so you need to order accordingly.

For class, the cotton/poly fabric in Allen's unitard makes it cooler than pure synthetic material and it will absorb sweat, while the generous spandex content keeps it in shape.

There's a real lack of decent men's leotards. The only slim fitting, comfortable one I'm aware of is this men's cap sleeve leotard by Allen's Bodywear which has a thong back.

Other than that, you'll have to resort to "unisex" leotards, which are often just ladies' leotards re-labelled.   While men can get away with wearing women's unitards, female leotards are often too skimpy around the butt and crotch even in the largest size.

Tights are an easier option, and available in suspender, footed, and footless varieties from several manufacturers specifically for men.

Speaking of tights, here's what some members of the Anaheim Ballet have to say about them...