Iconic Dance Costumes That Changed History

When Martha Graham ditched corsets for stretchy jersey fabric, she reshaped modern dance.

Beyoncé’s leotards brought stage costumes into mainstream fashion. And tutus? They once shocked audiences by revealing ballerinas’ ankles. Costumes don’t just clothe dancers — they shift culture, too.

In the late 1800s, dancer Isadora Duncan had grown apart from the formal, constrictive dress of classical ballet. She began her quest for self-expression and to become more comfortable in what she takes class in. Eventually, she chose a simple, flowy, Grecian-style tunic and danced barefoot.

Her attire and more "natural" way of dancing shocked the dance world at the time. It helped established modern dance as a major art form, revolutionizing at the time. Her style influenced later generations of dancers and artists who sought to break away from traditional ballet aesthetic.