Have you been thinking about creating your own custom dance studio uniforms but not sure where to begin?
Michele Pink from Red Oak Teamwear is also a dance studio owner and shares her expert tips for designing your own studio uniforms below. This includes what to look for when speaking to potential suppliers to ensure you get the best quality apparel for training and competitions.
As a dance studio owner, I know how important it is for your students to represent your legacy in the best light possible. That’s why when you’re out at a competition, your uniforms are so important.
Why Does Your Studio Need a Uniform?
Having a uniform, helps to set your dance school/studio apart and helps you stand out from the crowd. It signifies your brand, creates identity, a sense of belonging, and is a great form of advertising.
A uniform will also help your students to “switch on” into competition mode and to mentally prepare for what’s ahead of them for the day. As a dance studio owner, a uniform helps ensure that your students will arrive looking neat and well dressed. As well as placing all your students on a level playing field, which is important if they are competing together as a team.
It helps make life easier for parents, as a uniform will eliminate any last-minute melt downs about what to wear on the morning of a competition when nerves and anxiety levels are already high.
Any form of dance requires discipline, uniforms help to signify the discipline required to become the best you can be, it also helps them to realise they are part of something bigger than just themselves.
Behaviour at competitions is important, how you conduct yourself in the dressing room, on the stage, in the theatre, in the foyer, sportsmanship, losing graciously etc. Wearing a uniform helps students to think twice before acting as they are not only representing themselves but also representing the school.
What to Look for in Your Dance Studio Uniform
There are a few key things to look for in your dance studio uniform that I’ve personally learnt from experience.
Firstly, is the ability to show off your brand, having your logo embroidered on a garment is all well and good, but being able to use the entire area of the fabric as a canvas is ideal.
Sublimation printing allows you to print designs across the entire uniform is the best way to make sure your club stands out. Also, sublimation printing allows you to customise each uniform with the students name and reduce lost or mixed up property.
Secondly, when choosing a design, you want to make sure it compliments your chosen colours but is also complimentary to all your students – large, thin, small, male or female. This is why having the help of a supplier with experienced in-house designers is critical to ensuring your uniforms are ones your students will love to wear.
Lastly, the quality of the uniform will affect both the comfort of your students, and the longevity of the garments. High quality materials are such as lycra is so important to ensure that the uniforms are:
- Well fitting
- Breathable
- Opaque (not see-through)
- Comfortable
Luckily, Red Oak Teamwear offers all these things, along with great customer service, if you’d like to get in touch with us about team uniforms for your club, simply call us on 1300 734 708 or enquire online here.
What Should Your Competition Uniform Include?
Many competitions start early in the morning which often means a very early start for hair and make-up. With competitions often held during the colder months, I recommend including a warm jacket as part of your uniform. Zip jackets are ideal as they allow girls to easily get their uniforms on and off without ruining hair and make-up.
Along with the jacket, I also recommend Full Length Leggings, a crop (for when the dancers are warmed up and their jackets are too hot) and a polo or t-shirts for teachers, parents and helpers.
Another great addition is a branded dance bag, in your studio colours and design, to finish off the full look.
Red Oak sublimated dance bags are a great size for every dancer for both training and competitions. Having individual names printed on them also allows for items not to get lost or misplaced.
Dance Training Uniforms
I’d recommend having separate uniforms for competitions and training, as over time, especially if your students train more than once a week, their uniforms will wear and you want to keep your competition uniforms looking new a slick for as long as possible.
Therefore, offering a dance uniform for training can be a great addition for your studio. This might include leggings- full length or 7/8th, crops, bummers, fitted tank singlets and activewear jackets. It still offers all the benefits of a competition uniform however it is more practical for training requirements.
Importantly it allows all students to be on a level playing field and avoids some students coming to class in bright colours and designs which can be very distracting for the coach.
Simple, classic designs often work best for the training gear, they can assist with teaching and reduces safety concerns such as students wearing floppy tops or jumpers that can fall over their heads when upside down or get caught on other students or props during rehearsals.
Dance Studio Uniforms
We hope this blog will be useful to your club in finding a suitable uniform.
If you’re interested in ordering uniforms for your dance school, you can view our range of dancewear here, or you can contact our team at Red Oak Teamwear on 1300 734 708 or enquire online here.
Red Oak Teamwear is Australia’s leading supplier of custom sportswear and accessories. We offer a personalised service and take the time to listen to and understand your needs. We use premium materials and only partner with the world’s best suppliers.
If you’re got a brief in mind, we’re ready for the challenge! Don’t know where to start? We’re here to help! Call us on 1300 734 708 or enquire online here.