Behind the Seams: What Goes into Creating Dance Concert Costumes

For many dance families, the excitement of concert season builds with every rehearsal, and when those stage lights finally hit, it’s the costumes that help transform our dancers into the characters, moods, and moments they’ve worked so hard to bring to life.

But what you see on stage (a perfectly fitted, themed, and stage-ready costume) is just the tip of the iceberg.

At Dance Habit, we pride ourselves on managing the entire costuming process in-house. This means that aside from dance shoes (which already form part of the class uniform), you don’t have to lift a finger.

To understand why costuming fees are structured the way they are, we want to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what really goes into getting your child concert-ready.

This Isn’t Just Ordering a Costume Online

While it might seem like costume planning is as simple as adding something to a cart and waiting for delivery, the reality is far more complex. Costuming begins months in advance and involves:

• Collaborating with teachers on their creative vision

• Researching dozens (if not hundreds) of options to suit theme, style, and movement needs

• Sourcing pieces that are not only visually appropriate but also safe and functional for dance. Not everything that sparkles works on a stage with lighting, sweat, and movement!

• Sizing dancers against individual brand charts (this process alone takes many many hours)

• Managing supplier stock levels and lead times (often requiring re-sizing or re-selecting from scratch)

• Navigating suppliers, shipping delays, currency conversion, and customs, where necessary

• Ordering costumes across multiple class levels and sizes

• Unboxing, checking, sorting, and organising hundreds of individual pieces

• Coordinating try-on days. Not just to check fit, but also to ensure dancers feel comfortable and confident in their costume well before concert day

And all of that is before we even begin any alterations!

Costumes Don’t Come Fitted - But We Make Sure They Fit

Every dancer deserves to look and feel great in their costume. That’s why we go beyond “standard size” orders to make sure every item is properly fitted and performance-ready.

We have a professional seamstress on our team (shout out to Jess!) who works over 100 hours during our Middle School concert season alone - adjusting, altering, and tailoring costumes for individual dancers.

This ensures:

• No uncomfortable straps or hems tripping dancers up on stage

• No last-minute visible pins or safety fixes

• No ill-fitting or age-inappropriate outfits

• No panic for caregivers

• We handle fittings, alterations, naming and steaming costumes before the big day to deliver a polished, cohesive look for your child’s moment in the spotlight.

Costume Planning That Prioritises Everyone

At Dance Habit, our costuming process is built on inclusivity and care. 

We consider:

• The age and development stage of each class when choosing styles and cuts

• Body confidence and modesty across growing and changing bodies

• Gender diversity and expression - ensuring no dancer feels out of place or uncomfortable in their costume

• Balancing group cohesion with individual comfort, so everyone feels like part of a team while still having their unique fit needs met

Some costumes also need small tweaks or extra embellishments to bring the full vision to life, which we do in-house, by hand.

We Make It Easy For You - On Purpose

All of this is done so that you don’t have to coordinate sizing, hunt down items, or stress about the fit. We’ve intentionally created an all-inclusive model that saves caregivers time, hassle, and last-minute chaos.

From measuring every single child (sometimes multiple times when stock or sizes change), to trying items on, naming costumes, organising accessories, and liaising with teachers and our professional seamstress, our goal is to create a system that works seamlessly.

Because let’s be honest: if every family had to manage their own costume sourcing, it would be chaotic, expensive, and stressful, and your dancer likely wouldn’t get the level of detail or care we can provide with a centralised system.

But Why Do Costumes Cost What They Do?

When you pay for a costume at our studio, you’re not just buying a garment. You’re supporting the hundreds of hours of planning, logistics, and craftsmanship behind it.

Your fee helps cover:

• Shipping and customs charges where necessary

• Currency conversion (since we often need to source from overseas to keep costs down)

• Professional seamstress hours equating close to three weeks of full time work

• Materials like thread, elastic, fastenings and accessories

• Steaming and garment prep

• Sorting and naming for ease of backstage changes

We work hard to strike a balance between quality, stage presence, and affordability, ensuring dancers shine on stage without caregivers feeling like they need to re-mortgage the house. We source thoughtfully, use local suppliers where budget permits, and pass on only what’s necessary to deliver a costume that’s well-fitted, age-appropriate, and performance-worthy.

Costume Try-On Days Are More Than Just Fitting

These exciting days are also:

• A chance for dancers to get familiar with their costume before concert day

• A space to identify any functional issues early (like zippers or scratchy seams)

• A moment of excitement where dancers start to feel their piece coming to life!

They’re not just practical. They’re also a part of the emotional lead-up to a big performance.

The Real Value: The Confidence and Joy On Stage

At the end of the day, we do this because we believe in the power of performance. We believe in giving every child the experience of stepping onto stage in a costume that feels special, celebrates their hard work, and helps bring their dance to life.

Not every studio will take this approach and that’s OK! But for us here at Dance Habit, costumes are more than fabric. They’re memories, magic, and pride all stitched together. And when your child walks on stage feeling confident, comfortable, and seen? That’s the reward we all work for.

Thank You for Trusting Us

We’re proud to take the load off families during concert season and are always working to keep the process smooth, efficient, and meaningful. It means our costuming system is an ever-evolving project, and one we tweak each year to continue innovating and improving.

Thank you for valuing the work that goes on behind the seams and for supporting our efforts to ensure those moments on stage are as special as they can be.

Concert season is upon us, and with it comes the magic, nerves, and excitement that every dancer looks forward to. We pour our time and hearts into making sure each child shines on stage in a costume that fits beautifully, feels great, and brings their performance to life. Let the magic begin!