From the moment I first stepped into a dance studio at the tender age of 12, I was captivated by the world of jazz. Ballet and tap, while offered, seemed distant and, frankly, a bit intimidating, especially as the only boy venturing into those classes. My initial dance journey was casual, a few classes a week for fun, clad in a t-shirt, sweatpants, jazz shoes, and my regular boxers underneath – standard attire for a young boy exploring dance, or so I thought. The concept of a dance belt was completely foreign to me; its existence wasn’t even on my radar.
For years, I danced in blissful ignorance of proper dance attire. Eventually, curiosity and a desire to deepen my understanding of different dance forms led me to a beginner ballet class. Even amidst pliés and tendus, my uniform remained sweatpants and boxers. I was becoming more serious about dance, yet still unaware of the essential piece of gear that would soon become a staple in my dance bag.
The turning point arrived when I was 14, accepted into my first summer intensive – a ballet program. Suddenly, black tights and a dance belt were necessities. The trip to the local dancewear boutique with my mom is etched in my memory. Stepping into that store was an experience in itself – the overwhelming aroma of leather from countless Capezio shoes and a sea of pink leotards. My mom, bless her heart, announced to the sales clerk, perhaps a bit too loudly, “He needs tights and a dance belt.” Fourteen-year-old me internally cringed at the announcement.
Then came the introduction to the dance belt itself. My internal reaction? A silent scream. “It’s a thong?!” The sheer unfamiliarity and frankly, the unexpected design, were shocking. I vaguely recall a quick explanation from the sales clerk about avoiding underwear lines under tights. Trying it on in the store was out of the question for sanitary reasons, and with my small frame, size small seemed like a safe guess. So, I left the boutique with my tights and this mysterious, thong-like garment.
Back home, in the privacy of my locked bedroom, I faced the dance belt. My first attempt to put it on wasn’t exactly graceful, and my initial reaction wasn’t positive. “Who invented this thing?” and “What guy would willingly wear a thong?” were thoughts swirling in my teenage brain.
Despite my initial resistance, the reality of the summer program loomed. Dance belts were mandatory. And yes, for the record, I did buy more than one – essential for daily classes.
Surprisingly, wearing a dance belt became less daunting with each class. That initial awkwardness, the feeling of wearing something so… different, faded into the background. You quickly adapt and shift your focus to the demanding steps and corrections in ballet class. For male dancers, the dance belt is simply a part of the uniform, a necessary piece of equipment, much like pointe shoes are for ballerinas. It’s a rite of passage.
Since 2013, it’s been my mission to revolutionize the dance belt, to create a design that male dancers in the performing arts would genuinely appreciate. Through Dance Jox, I am proud to say that we’ve developed dance belts that are meeting and exceeding customer expectations.
