Are you looking for the best dance warm up clothing to stay warm in and out of the dance studio? Then check out this amazing guide to the best dance warm up clothes.
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Choosing the right dance warm up clothing is absolutely essential year round, but even more so in the winter months. Dance warm ups keep your body warm and help prevent injury. This is because cold muscles are more prone to tears. And along with a proper dance warm up routine, your best way to prevent injury is by keeping your body warm with some great dance warm up clothes.
This post will help you learn all about the best dance warm up clothing, dance warm up clothes, dance warm up outfits, how to choose the best dance warm up clothing, and more to keep you warm in and out of the dance studio.
You’ll even find some of the best dance warm up clothing recommendations for all types of dance genres!
This post is all about dance warm up clothes
Dance Warm Up Clothing
Table of Contents
- The Essential Layers
- Dance Warm Up Clothing by Dance Genre
- What to Look for: Dance Warm Up Clothing Shopping Guide
Core Content: The Essential Layers
When it comes to choosing the best dance warm up clothing being able to layer is KEY. There are lots of different pieces to choose with dance warm up clothing.
This section will give you details on all the different layers of dance warm up clothing along with some of my personal dance warm up clothing recommendations.
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Top Layers
This part of the section will go over the dance warm up clothing layers that you wear on top. These include things like sweaters, wraps, jackets, and vests.
Wraps and Cardigans
Wraps and cardigans are great dance warm up options when you need a lighter layer for ballet class or you need to see the lines of your body better without having to sacrifice your warmth.
There are lots of great wraps and cardigans out there and you might already have some in your collection.
Here are some of my favorite options you can add to your collection
This ballet wrap from Bloch is so soft and warming for in and out of the dance studio. Plus it looks so stylish for your collection of outfits for ballet class!
Knit ballet shrugs are the BEST warm up clothing pieces for ballet class because they keep your lines in tact and don’t hinder any movement. This shrug from Capezio perfectly shows that!
LOVE LOVE LOVE this wrap top from Bloch. And it comes in pink with leg warmers to match? Talk about an amazing dance warm up outfit!
Sweaters and Hoodies
Sweaters and hoodies are a great top layer in hip hop, jazz, modern, and contemporary dance classes that allow you to have a little movement with your clothing.
Be sure to choose something that doesn’t get in your way too much and isn’t too over sized when picking out these dance warm ups.
Here are some dance sweaters and hoodies I recommend!
The Scuba Hoodie from Lululemon is a great dance hoodie to add to your collection of warm up clothing for dance class. Its the perfect length and not too baggy, perfect for a jazz or contemporary class in the cooler months.
This isn’t my first time sharing this amazing dance hoodie from Bloch but I had to include it in this post because it is just that amazing!
Heat Retention Jackets
I LOVE a good heat retention, ripstop, or nylon dance warm up jacket. While they might not necessarily be something you wear to warm up in, they are great for trapping heat after a warm up before a performance.
They are an essential warm up for dance competitions and just about any dance performance when you have a long time between warming up and performing.
Check out some of these warm up jackets for dancers
Track jackets like these make amazing dance warm up outfits because they trap in the heat and keep you warm through rehearsal.
I LOVE velvet material because it is super trendy and keeps you warm throughout your dance warm up class! This type of jacket can easily be layered with another upper body warm up essential or worn on its own. Its also super stylish for outside of the dance studio.
You can’t go wrong with a thermal track jacket like this one to keep you warm when working hard in the dance studio.
Vests
I saved one of my personal favorites for last because I LOVE a good dance warm up vest. Vests will keep your core warm in a cold theatre and help you get warm FAST.
I used to always bring a vest to rehearsal and performance warm ups at the theatre and I swear it was the warmest I’ve ever felt.
Here are some of the best dance warm up vests I recommend
I LOVE this vest from Aerie, puffer vests are perfect for in and out of the dance studio when you need to keep warm.
If you really want to stay and get warm, a fleece vest is a great way to go. I love this option from Free People Movement because it has snaps making it easy to put on and take off.
Reminder that your warm up vests don’t have to be super fancy to keep you warm. I love this super stylish vest from Target!
Bottom Layers
This section will go over the dance warm up clothing layers that keep your legs warm. It will go over the best dance warm up pants, dance warm up shorts, and more.
Ripstop Pants (Trash Bag Pants)
Ripstop or trash bag pants are an iconic piece of dance warm up clothing for a very good reason. That’s because they trap in heat to get and keep you warm in and out of the dance studio.
If you want to guarantee that your body is still warm by show time I highly recommend adding a pair of ripstop pants to your dance warm up collection.
Here are some amazing ripstop dance pants that come highly recommended:
These classic trash bag pants are perfect for keeping your muscles warm in the dance studio or backstage. And the best part is the gorgeous colors they come in.
You can’t go wrong with a classic black rip stop pants, especially when it comes to these from Capezio.
Knit Shorts and Roll-Top Shorts
Roll top dance shorts are great because they can be worn over leggings, tights, or directly over a leotard. They keep the glutes and hip flexors warm without hindering movement.
They are perfect when trash bag pants are too much but you still want to keep warm.
Here are some great warm up dance shorts you’ll LOVE:
If you want the heat trapping quality of rip stop pants but not for the whole leg, these rip stop shorts are perfect for you.
Keep your muscles warm and your lines clear with these adorable shorts from Bloch. You can even grab a matching sweater!
Warm Up Leggings
If ripstop pants are too overwhelming but you still want to get and keep the whole leg warm, I recommend going with some warm up leggings.
There are lots of different styles of leggings that make great dance warm ups including fleece lined leggings, thermal leggings, and long underwear.
Here are a few warm up leggings that I recommend for dancers:
I love how easily you can roll the top of these pants if they get in your way.
These leggings give you the warmth of your cozy winter sweater while staying put during dance classes to keep you warm this winter.
Rompers and Jumpsuits
The final part of this section is for the dancers that don’t want to be overwhelmed by too many different layers or warm up pieces and want it all done with one piece of clothing. Well luckily, warm up jumpsuits and rompers exist just for you!
Here are some great warm up jumpsuits and rompers I recommend:
This knit warm up jumpsuit is perfect for staying warm and just relaxing between rehearsals!
I love that this warm up romper is great for when it’s cold and warm out. It was even designed by dancers from ABT!
I swear this is another perfect one for just hanging around the house because it is so cozy and soft. You definitely can’t go wrong with velvet!
Footwear & Accessories
The final essential part of dance warm up clothing is of course footwear! It’s hard to dance with cold feet.
This section will go over dance warm up clothing items that keep your feet and ankles warm including socks, booties, and leg warmers.
Warm-Up Booties
Warm up booties are designed specifically to trap the heat in your feet after a warm up class. They can fit over top of ballet or pointe shoes, keeping your feet from getting cold.
Here are some amazing warm up booties for dancers:
This post would not be complete without the original warm up booties from Bloch. These warm-up booties were designed by BLOCH Stars and former American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancers Irina Dvorovenko and Max Beloserkovsky.
If you want some more flair with you dance warm up booties, Bloch also offers them in a variety of designs and colors to match your personal style!
Leg Warmers
Leg warmers are an essential classic look that will target the Achilles tendon and calves keeping your legs warm. You can choose a variety of different lengths including ankle, calf, knee, and thigh high.
Here are some great leg warmers I highly recommend:
I love that these leg warmers come in different colors and have a pattern!
It wouldn’t be right if I skipped these leg warmers when I’ve already shared the matching jumpsuit and sweater!
Warm Up Socks
Sometimes the basic dance shoes are not going to cut it when the floor is cold in the dance studio. That’s why choosing some great warm up socks can be a life saver when it comes to getting and staying warm.
Socks will keep your toes warm in between class and rehearsal or before a dance performance. I personally would prefer to sometimes do a ballet barre or start a dance warm up class with socks instead of my dance shoes. This is because I could work on articulating my feet better to properly warm up before having to put ballet or pointe shoes on.
Check out some of the socks I recommend for dance warm ups:
You can’t go wrong with some stylish dance socks like these from Bloch to keep your feet warm and dance without slipping.
These happen to be some of my favorite socks from Target that I guarantee you will not regret buying for in and out of the dance studio.
Warm-Up Clothing by Dance Style
Now it’s time to check out some amazing warm up clothing options for each different type of dance class. This section will help you choose the best dance warm up clothing for ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and even tap class.
Warm Up Clothing for Ballet Dancers
For ballet warm up clothing, Focus on knitwear, stirrup leggings, and snug-fitting layers that maintain visible lines.
You don’t want to have overly baggy clothing and you want your lines to be clear while still staying warm.
One of the best warm up clothing looks for ballet class might include
- Leotard + tights as a bottom layer
- Leg warmers
- Knit shorts or a romper
- Wrap sweater or cardigan
Warm Up Clothes for Jazz & Contemporary Dancers
For your jazz or contemporary dance classes, focus on cropped tops, soft knit pants, and fitted layers that allow for floor work and high extensions.
Best warm up outfit for jazz and contemporary dance class
- Unitard/Leotard
- Roll-Down Shorts
- Cropped Sweater
Warm Up Outfits for Hip-Hop and Tap Dancers
When it comes to ballet and tap class, you already have some more freedom of what to wear. For warm ups, focus on tracksuits, joggers, and oversized layers that align with the aesthetic but still trap heat.
Best look for staying warm in tap and hip-hop class
- Joggers
- Oversized Tee
- Puffer/Bomber Jacket.
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Dance Warm Up Clothing Shopping Guide: What to Look for
Now as you start to look for the best dance warm up clothing, you might need a quick and easy guide to what your best options are.
This section will go over what to look for when shopping for dance warm up clothing including fabrics, fits, and quality.
Material Matters
Choosing the right material for your dance warm up outfits is crucial if you want to get and stay warm during the winter months. You also want to be able to move efficiently in your dance classes.
The types of materials you want to look for include:
- Knit (Acrylic, Cotton, Wool blends)
- For soft, breathable warmth dance warm up clothing that lets you keep moving efficiently.
- Ripstop Nylon
- For focused heat/sweating. Clothing that comes in nylon blend fabrics will help trap in the heat and keep you warm after a good warm up class.
- Bamboo/Sustainable Fabrics
- These have become trendy and for good reason. Not only are they super soft and comfy, they are also sustainable and good for the environment.
- Fleece/Thermal Linings
- Finally, for extreme cold you want something that traps in the heat and keeps you warm.
Fit and Functionality
Finally, you need to prioritize the fit and functionality of your dance warm up clothing. Choose items that are easy to remove and where your form can also be seen in the dance studio.
Lots of fitted options exist out there along with items that can easily be taken off with a zipper, snap buttons, or elastic.
Before You Go
I hope you found the best dance warm up clothing for all your dance warm up needs this winter!
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This post was all about dance warm up clothing
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