Recommended costumes for the dance stage at the school festival

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

Have those of you dancing at the school festival decided on your costumes yet?

Costumes are what make the dance you’ve worked so hard to practice look even more dazzling.

Wearing a special outfit that matches the song and theme—different from your practice wear—will help you perform even better on stage!

In this article, we’ll introduce recommended costumes for dance performances at school festivals.

We’ve gathered full outfit ideas as well as items that are perfect for mixing and matching just parts of your costume.

Use this as a reference when choosing your dance costume!

Recommended costumes for the cultural festival dance stage (1–10)

stadium jacket

@wego_niigata
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♪ Original Song – SMILE – Sumire

Change the impression with your coordination! Here are some ideas for styling a varsity jacket.

“Sukajan” is short for stadium jumper, and it generally refers to outerwear worn by members of college or high school sports teams in the United States.

In Japan, too, you often see it as a stylish item.

Even with the same varsity jacket, the vibe changes depending on the size, length, design, and color.

These ideas are perfect for teams who want both unity and individuality!

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Street

https://www.tiktok.com/@kurumikanagawa/video/7254957528910515458

Pairs great with items like caps! Here are some street-style outfit ideas.

These are especially recommended if your choreography uses caps or hats as a highlight.

While street style has no strict definition—since it shifts with the times and trends—it often features casual pieces like oversized T-shirts and pants.

Try coordinating your costume freely and mix and match as you like.

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denim

https://www.tiktok.com/@hyemss17/video/7340290465478053122

Let’s coordinate to match the song’s concept! Here are some ideas for denim styles.

When you think of denim items, many people probably imagine pants first, right? But there are also plenty of options like jackets, bustiers, shirts, and skirts.

By matching the fabric material, you can create a cohesive look while still expressing each person’s individuality.

Give it a try and incorporate denim into your outfit!

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Recommended costumes for the cultural festival dance stage (11–20)

traditional costume

https://www.tiktok.com/@hui.yen8/video/7429276364357799174

Let’s match it to the musical style and staging! Here are some ideas for traditional costumes.

When it comes to Japan’s traditional attire, the kimono comes to mind.

Around the world there are many kinds of traditional clothing, all of them charming and wonderful.

For example, the Chinese cheongsam (qipao) and the Korean hanbok vary widely depending on each country’s cultural background and traditions.

How about incorporating them as dance stage costumes, with respect for each culture? Choreography tailored to the outfits would be another highlight, too.

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magical girl

https://www.tiktok.com/@aoba_hikaru/video/7417445953004653832

A softly fluffed, voluminous skirt is so cute! Here are some magical girl ideas.

A magical girl refers to a heroine in anime and manga who is characterized by using special abilities or magic.

These heroines often wear adorable outfits, and many people have probably admired them at some point.

This time, let’s put on outfits with fluffy skirts and designs like a magical girl and put on a dance performance.

It would pair perfectly with cute choreography and melodies.

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Pirates Girl

https://www.tiktok.com/@meee.ili/video/7419840258801552648

How about livening up your school festival by dressing as a Pirates Girl in a pirate costume? Female pirates are popular in movies and TV anime, right? Be sure to choose outfits that highlight pirate features, like bandanas and corsets.

Joining a stage performance or a costume contest is great, but a cosplay café also sounds fun.

How about it as your class’s attraction? Since pirate outfits aren’t something you can wear in everyday life, we hope everyone who dresses up really enjoys it.

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Nakajima Junko

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suit

If you want to aim for surprise and a high wow factor on the dance stage, how about outfitting your team in suits? Wearing cool suits—especially when performing popular K-pop numbers—will make your dancing look even more stylish.

You can match everyone in the same tone or go with different colors.

You could also choose anything from sleek, fitted styles to more relaxed, street-inspired looks.

Pick the option that best fits the vibe of your performance, such as for a school festival.

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nikki