The lights come up, the iconic theme song begins and all of a sudden we see the sparkle. Every week on “Dancing with the Stars,” we watch celebrities transform before our eyes. We analyze their footwork, wait for the judges’ scores, and debate whether their latest performance deserved a 10. But before a celebrity even takes their first step, there is something else helping tell the story: the costume.
As someone who grew up dancing, I have always been fascinated by how much a costume can change or add to a performance. On “Dancing with the Stars,” costumes are far more than rhinestones and sequins. They help communicate character, emphasize movement, and bring an entire performance to life. In fact, I think the costume department deserves a Mirrorball of its own.
The costume also has to dance
In order for a costume to be right for a dance, it has to meet a multitude of surprisingly difficult requirements. It has to look amazing under bright stage lights while also allowing the dancer to move, spin, kick, jump, and, in some cases — especially with ballroom — get thrown into the air. In this instance, we also have to take into consideration the dozens of cameras surrounding them.
Having grown up dancing, one of the first things I notice is whether a costume actually works with the choreography or style of dance. Take for instance the Samba, it comes with the heavily fringed pants or skirt that shimmers in the light and is meant to emphasize the small hip movements and spins that a Samba heavily relies on.
The best costumes don’t distract from the dancing, rather they make it easier to see.
More than just rhinestones
Of course, no “Dancing with the Stars” costume would be complete without over 5,000 rhinestones.
But the sparkle actually serves a purpose. Sequins and crystals catch the stage lighting, making movement more noticeable from a distance. Fringe swings with the dancer, adding another layer of movement to the choreography. Feathers, flowing fabric, and metallic materials can all create different visual effects.
Even color can change how we interpret a performance. Red can make a routine feel passionate or intense; take Ariana Madix’s red tango dress which added a layer of fire power to the routine ultimately scoring her a 21/30 for her debut night of Season 32.
Softer colors create a more vulnerable atmosphere like in the stunning light mauve long gown worn by Bindi Irwin in Week nine of Season 21 for a Viennese Waltz. This allowed for her multitude of turns to be accentuated giving the routine a more dramatic feel which very much worked in her advantage earning her a 30/30.
In other words, the costume is communicating with us before the dancer even starts moving.
The story is told by the costume
One of the most interesting things about “Dancing with the Stars” is that celebrities aren’t always simply dancing as themselves. A routine might turn them into a character or tell a story about an important moment in their lives.
The costume is what helps create that transformation.
A perfect example of this is a contemporary piece performed by Iman Shumpert and Daniella Karagach in Season 30, inspired by the film “Us.” The pair was adorned in red jumpsuits, which immediately gave off an eerie and unsettling vibe that they were two versions of the same person. Within this, it already perpetuates the story without them having to do a single step.
The costume doesn’t just tell us what the dancer is wearing. It tells us who they’re supposed to be and why.
And then, of course, there are the costume reveals.
The music builds. A jacket comes off, a skirt unfolds, and suddenly the performance feels completely different. Such as in Alix Earle’s Season 34 Freestyle routine, where she sheds her long dramatic skirt for a short and fringed one, shifting the tone of the dance from intense and sensual to energetic.
At that point, the costume has become choreography.
The mirrorball test
So what makes a costume worthy of a Mirrorball?
For me, it comes down to four things: Does it fit the dance? Does it allow the dancer to move? Does it contribute to the story? And, most importantly, is it memorable?
A great “Dancing with the Stars” costume can make us understand a character, notice a movement, or feel an emotion without saying a single word. That’s a pretty impressive job for something covered in rhinestones.
We tend to remember the celebrities who held up the Mirrorball at the end of the season, but the people behind the scenes deserve some credit, too. Celebrities may be competing for the Mirrorball, but after all the sequins, storytelling, and spectacular reveals, I think the costume department has certainly earned one.
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