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 (21–30)

Korean idol style

K-pop idols are known for their flawlessly synchronized, cool dance performances.

If you want to dance like they do, the key is choosing tight-fitting outfits that accentuate your body lines.

Bold, slightly flashy designs are also recommended.

For women, although it raises the level of difficulty, opting for higher heels will bring you closer to that K-pop idol look.

Additionally, coordinating the overall style of your outfits as a group will help you convey the dance’s world and concept more deeply and clearly.

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Yosakoi-style kimono

Yosakoi events are held in various regions, starting with the Yosakoi Festival in Kochi Prefecture.

How about taking inspiration from the vibrant costumes used in these yosakoi performances? There are many different styles of yosakoi costumes, so even choosing which design to reference sounds fun already.

Many are designed with dance performance in mind, so despite how they look, they’re surprisingly easy to move in—another major feature.

While paying attention to the shape of the costume, think about where and how you’ll add decorative elements!

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kappamaki

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arranged sailor uniform

How about livening up your school festival stage with colorful sailor-style outfits, like those worn by magical-girl squads or idol groups? Since dance performances are the star program of school festivals, try customizing the colors and shapes instead of wearing ordinary sailor uniforms! Vibrant sailor-style costumes are sure to stand out on stage like in anime or among idols.

Be sure to prepare accessories to match each member’s color, such as hair ornaments and other small items.

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nikki

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gaucho pants

These are pants characterized by a design that flares toward the ankles, making them suitable for everyday fashion as well.

That flaring design is a key point for dance costumes: the movement of the flared part emphasizes dynamism when you move.

Since this item is also used in casual fashion, how you style the upper-body costume becomes important to make the overall look read as a dance outfit.

How about experimenting with combinations of fashion pieces and accessories, taking into account the balance with the music you’ll be using?

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kappamaki

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cheer

Cheerleading’s lively, energetic dance is its big draw.

If you’re doing a cheer-style routine for the school festival, why not make the costumes fully cheer-inspired too? Cheer routines have sharp contrasts, sometimes with a touch of acrobatics.

They’re also all about teamwork, showing crisp, synchronized movements with your teammates.

That’s why you’ll want a tight, easy-to-move-in cheer outfit that won’t get in the way of the dance.

Pair a neatly tied ponytail with a bright smile, and perform with a bold, strikingly colored cheer costume that instantly brightens the stage—deliver energy and power to everyone watching.

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nikki

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uniform

If you want to match outfits as a group but don’t have the time or budget to spend, I recommend boldly using your school uniforms as costumes.

It can be nice to add a few dance-friendly tweaks, like swapping out just the ribbon, tie, or shoes.

Even if you normally go to school in regular clothes, choosing a uniform-style outfit on purpose can create a different vibe from your usual look.

It’s a perfect costume choice for a fresh, youthful dance.

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momo@raitaa

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Japanese idol style

If you’re going to dance to a popular girls’ idol group number, how about colorful outfits that everyone associates with women’s idol groups? Think check patterns or pleated skirts—if you coordinate costumes that hit those key points and step onto the stage, it’s sure to boost the excitement instantly! Add a vest, pair it with a ribbon or tie at the neckline, and style your hair in an idol-inspired way; dance like that and the crowd will definitely go wild.

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nikki

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