If you’ve ever walked into a dancewear store with a young male dancer in tow, only to be met with rows of pink tutus, glitter, and leotards, you’re not alone.
Aleisha Cossettini knows the feeling well. As the proud dance mum of Cooper Cossettini, winner of the Create The Way choreography competition, she’s spent years navigating a world where boys’ dance fashion often feels like an afterthought. It’s been a journey filled with both inspiration and frustration.
We sat down with Aleisha to talk all things style, identity, and why what your dancer wears isn’t just about the clothes, it’s about confidence, self-expression, and being seen.
Starting Out in Style: “Same, same.”
Aleisha laughs as she recalls how Cooper’s first costume try-ons would often take less time than his warm-up. “It was black pants, white top, maybe a singlet if he was lucky. Meanwhile, the girls would be handed outfit after outfit. For the boys, it was just one package.” It was clear from the start that variety wasn’t part of the male dancewear vocabulary.
For Cooper’s very first solo, Aleisha had to get creative. “I made it myself, black pants with blue sequins, a matching top, even a cap to add some flair. Just trying to jazz him up a little.”
The Wardrobe Struggle Was Real
Shopping for boys’ dancewear wasn’t just hard, it was almost impossible. “You’d walk into a dance shop and there’d be leotards, tutus, every accessory under the sun. And then one sad rack with maybe a pair of black shorts and a T-shirt for the boys.”
Functional gear? Stretchy fabrics? That was even harder. “So many pants would fit him standing, but as soon as he moved, it literally split,” Aleisha remembers. “Finding materials that moved with him was a nightmare.”
Most of Cooper’s gear came from general stores, Kmart, Target, Best & Less. “We’d make do. Sometimes I had to modify girls’ pieces or DIY outfits from scratch.”
From Little Kid to Big Style Energy
As Cooper grew, so did his sense of style, and his voice in what he wore. “He came home one day and said, ‘Mum, stop dressing me in tight clothes. I have to wear baggy clothes.’” From there, everything changed. Fitted tees turned into oversized trackies and XXL shirts. “Everything was hanging off him but that was the look. That was his look.”
And he owned it. “He started picking his own clothes, choosing pieces that matched what he saw in his head. He’d say, ‘Mum, I’ve got the style. I know the image.’ That confidence showed up in how he moved, how he performed.”
Style Meets Function
Now, comfort, stretch and durability are non-negotiables in Cooper’s wardrobe. “What he wears depends on what he’s doing,” Aleisha explains. “For rehearsals, it’s all about comfort. For auditions, it’s fitted pants with stretch and a tight singlet that shows his body line. He’s intentional now, it’s not just clothes, it’s the look he wants to project.”
On Gender, Representation and Feeling Seen
Aleisha is clear, the dancewear industry still heavily caters to girls. “It always felt like the boys were forgotten. The girls got choices, and the boys? They just got handed something.”
Would it have made a difference if more male-specific or unisex pieces existed when Cooper was younger? “Absolutely. Having stylish, functional choices would’ve made a huge impact, not just practically, but in how seen and supported the boys felt.”
Upstage World Moments
Cooper recently wore our new Upstage World Exposed Elastic Parachute pants on stage at the 2025 Light the Way Dance Convention. The pants are a unique sustainable Lyocell fabric which has a stretch and Aleisha was impressed. “The fit, the stretch, it worked with him, not against him. No more split pants!”
Why the Right Outfit Matters
Aleisha has seen firsthand how the right outfit can lift a dancer’s energy. “There’s a moment that sticks in my mind, he walked out in an outfit he loved, and he just lit up. His posture changed. His confidence kicked in. That’s what dance fashion should do.”
Looking Ahead
Aleisha hopes the future of dance fashion brings more visibility and options for boys. “We need more versatile, expressive, cool pieces for boys—stuff that moves, lasts, and makes them feel proud.”
At Upstage World, we couldn’t agree more. That’s why we’re committed to creating dancewear that celebrates every dancer, pieces that are sustainable, built for movement, made to last, and designed to empower. Whether it’s in class, on stage, or just being a kid with big dreams, we’ve got your back. Because feeling seen starts with being styled right.