Pants or skirts for standard lesson or practice?

[smile_a_bit]

Seems to me, wearing pants allows the coach to see more clearly the leg action and position for standard followers. Skirts and dresses hide the knees and calf. After all, whenever I see the rare video of a world class follower wearing pants I love it! So much to see. But now and then I get the urge to wear pretty skirts that can enhance the movement.

So does it really matter for lessons? What do you think? And if you are a teacher, what do you prefer? Maybe to your professional eye it doesn't matter.

(responses not limited to ladies, also interested in leader p.o.v.)

 

[DL]

The thing I cared most about (in this regard) when I was actively dancing standard was that my partner's clothes ought not to restrict the movement of her legs. A skirt too tight to permit a full stride, however aesthetically appealing it might be by any other measure, was an annoying impediment to dancing by the measure I cared most about. Beyond that I was probably too focused on technical improvement during practices and lessons to pay much attention to such choices.

 

[love it all]

I prefer to wear skirts that are knee length or shorter, so the knees and legs are visible to the coach. If I'm wearing pants, I choose close fitting pants, rather than baggy pants, so the knee/leg action is clearer to the coach.

 

[FancyFeet]

I generally wear long full practice skirts for standard lessons and always do for coachings. Doing this gives me the feel of a competition dress so I am not thrown off by having it wrap around my legs, get caught on my shoes, etc. I also feel like appropriate attire is a sign of respect for the teacher. (I'd be cool with wearing the actual dance practice pants that some have at least some of the time, but no one makes off-the-rack ones that fit and I haven't gotten around to making a pair.) Trust me, they know if I'm doing something wonky with my legs even when they are covered by a skirt

For latin, I'll take lessons in leggings or a skirt/dress, depending on how I feel that day.

For practice - which means solo work - I'm usually in pants or leggings. It lets me see my leg action and switch styles without changing outfits.

 

[j_alexandra]

For much of the time, close fitting pants. For the weeks running up to competition, I wear a practice gown made like a standard gown, but with no decoration.