Academy Costume Care
While the fun and learning that has been happening in class is what your dancer will show off at the end of the year, their costume is what gives them a mega-boost of confidence on the recital stage! It’s important that your dancer LOOK their best in order to FEEL their best. Please follow the guidelines below to take good care of their costume(s).
COSTUME STORAGE
- Once their costume comes home, take it OUT of the bag and hang it up in a protected closet space. This is especially important if you have pets or curious children who might try to play with the costume!
asdf - Be mindful of the hangers you use. Hangers with cutouts for straps can catch on delicate fabrics like mesh. Smooth round plastic hangers or flocked hangers are the best bet.
asdfa - Be careful using pants hangers with clips, as many styles will leave marks on the waistband. A safer option is to fold pants over a hanger, and make sure that your garment bag has a closed bottom so that the pants can’t fall out.
asdf - If you would like to protect and/or ”hide” the costume, feel free to put a clean garbage bag over the hanger, but leave the bottom open so the fabric can breathe.
COSTUME ALTERATIONS
- Costumes will not come home with dancers until the fit is approved by the teacher as well as the parent. If your child’s costume needs minor alterations, you have two options:
asd - If you would like to do the alterations yourself, or there is a grandparent, friend, etc. who is willing to do them, great! Please make sure that the costume fits properly for Academy class pictures in early March so that your dancer looks their best.
asd - If you are not comfortable handling or outsourcing alterations, Ms. Tanya can do them for a small fee. Please email Tanya. Include your child’s name, their class, and the issue with the costume. She can meet with you at the studio to see the costume on your child and discuss options for ensuring a proper fit.
TRAVELING WITH COSTUMES
- Before each event (picture day, dress rehearsal, recital) use your checklist a few days in advance to make sure that you have all the pieces and that everything is in good condition. Check for damaged or stained tights!
asdf - Generally, dancers should arrive IN costume (except for their dance shoes). If your dancer has any accessories (poms, gloves, etc.), be sure to bring those as well, even if you’re not sure if they are using them!
asdf - If your dancer is in multiple performance classes and needs to change costumes, bring those additional costumes in garment bags. We highly recommend a garment back with a closed bottom to be sure nothing can fall off the hanger and be left behind. There are also reasonably priced garment bags with built-in pockets for accessories like tights, hairpieces, etc. which makes organization easy for you and your dancer!
asdf - Poms should be transported on a pom holder (the Worlds Team sells these) or in a plastic container. Make sure they do not get squished in travel! (This applies to the weekly back-and-forth to the studio as well – the better you take care of your poms, the longer they will last!)
asdf - Once home, get your costumes out of their bags and hang them up! Plastic is poison to certain costume fabrics.
asdf - Make sure that you have all costume accessories, and replenish basics (ponies, clips, hair nets, etc.) right away so you’re ready for the next event!
WASHING COSTUMES
- If you find a stain, treat it as soon as possible. Is there a lipstick mark on a light part of the costume? Spot wash only with a very mild soap (Dawn liquid dish soap works great) and work very gently. Be careful not to rub too much, especially on soft fabric. Rinse with cold water and blot with a towel. Lay flat to dry.
asdf - Stinky costumes can be hung out in the cold (like your garage, or even in a plastic bag in a chest freezer). The cold will often zap the pit smells right out of them. If you NEED to wash, be very careful to make sure the color does not run before you begin. Turn the costume inside out and hand wash with Dawn detergent. Again, rinsing in cold water. Lay on a towel and roll up then blot out as much moisture as possible before laying flat to dry.
asdf - Be careful to avoid getting ruffles wet – they will not look the same later. Flocked velvet is another fabric that should be avoided. Zap it with cold instead.
asdf - Any other pieces that CAN be washed (bras, tights, socks, etc) should also be hand washed if possible (and hang to dry). We suggest that you wash them right away and put them back with their costume pieces so they are ready to go for the next event!