Dance is an incredible activity for kids, but let’s be honest, it can also be costly. One of the most significant costs each season? The costumes. If you have a child who dances, you know exactly what I mean. I’ve spent over $1,000 on recital and competition costumes in some years. After 11 years of dance and anywhere from four to twelve routines each season, our house is overflowing with sparkles, tulle, and sequins packed away in bins and closets. It gets overwhelming fast.
With costumes typically costing anywhere from $60 to $100 a piece, most of them only worn once, it can feel wasteful to let them sit in storage bins. But before you start tossing them out or letting them collect dust, here are six fun and practical ways to repurpose and reuse those old dance costumes.
Use the Costume Again
It might sound obvious, but it’s often overlooked. Talk to your studio owner or dance instructor to see if a costume can be reused for a solo, duo, trio, or small group routine the following year. My daughter’s very first solo was done in her ballet costume from the year before, and several of her pieces this year are being reused next season. If you’re investing that much money into one outfit, it’s smart to make the most of it with a second performance opportunity.
Turn Dance Costumes Into Halloween Costumes
Another favorite way we’ve repurposed old costumes is for Halloween. After spending hundreds or, let’s be real, sometimes thousands of dollars on dancewear each season, the last thing I want to do is spend even more cash on a store-bought costume. Luckily, dance costumes make incredible Halloween looks.
A light purple lyrical costume became Rapunzel. A monster-themed jazz outfit turned into a cute but spooky trick-or-treating costume. A flapper-style tap outfit became a 1920s party girl. We’ve even turned a simple ballet costume into a zombie ballerina or a creepy broken doll. It’s all about getting creative with what you already have on hand.
Add Them to the Dress-Up Bin
Dress-up bins are another great use for old recital costumes. Adding costumes to their play collection is a no-brainer if you have younger siblings or little kids around the house. My daughter’s old princess, ballerina, and jazz outfits became instant hits in our playroom.
And let’s be honest, they’re usually better quality than those overpriced dress-up clothes from the toy store. Plus, it saves you money in the long run by giving your kids something new to explore without buying more.
Sell Your Old Dance Costumes
If you’re looking to clear some space and make a little money back, selling old costumes is a smart move. There are many Facebook groups and resale pages where parents and dancers buy and sell gently used costumes, often for about half the original price.
Some people list them on eBay or check with local consignment stores specializing in kids’ items. If your studio hosts competitions or showcases, consider organizing a costume resale table as a fundraiser for your team — it’s a win-win for everyone.
Donate Dance Costumes to a Good Cause
Donating your child’s old dance costumes is another meaningful option. Preschools, daycare centers, mom’s day out programs, and local schools would love to add them to their dress-up areas. You can also contact high school drama departments or community theater groups that may need costumes for their productions.
If you want to give back in a big way, check out nonprofits like Dance Fairies, which accepts donations of gently used costumes and dancewear to share the love of dance with kids who might not otherwise have access.
Save the Special Ones
You don’t need to keep every costume, but holding onto a few meaningful ones, like a first recital costume, a solo outfit, a senior-year piece, or a custom design, is a sweet way to preserve memories. A popular option is creating a shadow box with the costume and dance shoes.
Another thoughtful keepsake idea is turning favorite costumes into a dance-themed quilt. This makes a great graduation gift for a high school or college senior and keeps their dance journey close to their heart.
While there is no perfect answer for what to do with old dance costumes, there are plenty of ways to keep them out of storage bins and make the most of the money you’ve already spent. Whether you’re getting creative with Halloween, helping other kids discover the joy of dance, or simply holding onto a few for sentimental reasons, repurposing dance costumes can be practical, meaningful, and fun.
How do you reuse or recycle old dance costumes? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments!
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