Dance belt

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article does not cite any references or sources. (February 2008) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

A dance belt is a functional name for a thong jock, an undergarment which is often worn by male ballet dancers because various choreographic moves would otherwise produce unfortunate visual distractions, discomfort or even injury.

The dance belt is worn to lift the genitalia away from potentially damaging or undesirable movement of the legs. It resembles a thong and is usually worn in a color similar to that of the dancer's skin. This makes it nearly invisible under tights and a leotard. It is also designed so that the elastic rests in depressed areas of the body, so that it does not show up as raised lines.

Though most dance belts are thongs, some manufacturers produce full seat dance belts. These dance belts are, however, less aesthetically pleasing as they cause lines to appear when worn under tights.

Some figure skaters, trapeze artists and equestrians also wear dance belts, for reasons that, similarly, include both safety and aesthetics.