This fellow showed up at a Hallowe'en dance in a home-made octopus costume.
He had molded papier maché around a beach ball then deflated the ball. In the resulting light shell, he had cut holes for eyes, and a hole at the bottom for his head to go in. He'd glued eight paper streamers around the bottom for tentacles, and painted it all up. For something he'd whipped up the night before the dance, he figured it looked pretty good.
However, once at the dance, he quickly discovered the costume's limits.
- No mouth: When he wanted to take a drink...he couldn't!
- No action: If a girl wanted to lay her head against his shoulder in a slow dance, she couldn't!
- Limited visibility: He kept bumping into things, and his shins took a beating.
- Limited mobility: While dancing, he and his partners got tangled in the streamers (as one girl was heard to say, "We keep tripping over his testicles.").
The octopus outfit came off after about half an hour.
Okay, so it was the author at 16. People learn over the years, okay? Here are a few thoughts after decades of dance costume experience.
Criteria for Hallowe'en Dance Costumes
The primary criterion for a Hallowe'en dance costume is of course that you have to be able to dance in it.
- Partners must be able to maintain proper position (closed, promenade, outside right, and so on)
- The costume must permit a proper frame
- Full range of leg movement must be possible
- Body movement should not be unduely restricted.
Next, and more important to some, a Hallowe'en costume has to be comfortable
- You have to be able to sit in it
- Need to be able to eat and drink
- The costume must not be too heavy to wear for long periods
- It must not be too hot for lively dances
- Brief and revealing costumes may be too cool for an air-conditioned dance hall or studio
To avoid octopus-type mistakes, be sure to try it out first. Make it well ahead to allow for refits, adjustments, or redesigns. Be sure to take a few practice dances with your usual partner and if possible with a few others as well.
Couple Costumes for Hallowe'en Dances
Couple costumes are always a popular choice – but again subject to all the criteria above. Most costume houses have an excellent selection ranging from as low as $30 USD each, but home made costumes also a choice.
Here are a few good ones spotted at various dances over the years
- Burger King and Dairy Queen – Black outfits with foam "buns" front and back, one painted green on the inside and one yellow. Plastic crowns for decoration. The buns can't be too thick or they will interfere with dance position.
- Chocolate bars – Brown shirt for both, brown slacks for him and skirt for her.. He had "Almond Joy" printed on the front and "I've Got Nuts" on back; hers said "Mounds" on the front and "I Don't" on back.
- Cow and farmer – The homemade baggy cow costume was white with black spots and sported a stuffed pink flannel udder. The farmer had coveralls, flannel shirt, and straw hat. The cow admitted that her costume was a bit warm for polkas.
- Raggedy Anne and Andy (always popular) give color and character while allowing free movement.
- Cinderella and Prince Charming – Elegance is key, and this costume set is particularly suited for a ballroom dance party.
- Samba/Salsa Flair – combine a Carmen Miranda type costume with a man's Latin outfit (easily improvised, or commercially available)
- Bavarian Couple – Although the couple spotted on the dance floor wore authentic souvenir costumes from a trip to Germany, commercial costume replicas make this an easy choice, and lederhosen with knee socks are comfortable even in a cool dance hall.
Dance studios, community halls, and house parties are common locales for a Hallowe'en dance. Plan a costume that is comfortable, permits proper dance position and frame, and offers freedom of movement.
Thomas Alan Gray - Tom has been writing for over 30 years; curiosity leads him to dig into a wide variety of topics.
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