Dance Class Costume. Discuss.

I’m thinking about not attending my dance class recital.

On the way to Starbucks with Kelly, Mike and Jon this week, I told them the story of how I don’t want to go because no one I know will be there.

The reason no one I know will be there is because I won't let anyone go. The costume is too ridiculous.

Kelly said she was surprised that I would worry what others thought of the costume. Her opinion was that I should own the look, no matter how heinous, and attend the recital.

Jon said the costume is just an excuse for not wanting to dance in the recital in the first place.

Mike said if the costume makes me uncomfortable, and clearly it does, then I shouldn’t go it if I don't want to.

It’s not bad enough that I danced at the Florence Mall wearing mariboo around my neck. That I can live with. Mostly because I was also wearing black pants and a long-sleeved shirt, and even though it had mariboo pinned around the scoop neck, it wasn’t too horrible.

But this. This awful, black, velvet body suit with the shiny pumpkin orange upper, not to mention the diamond studs, it’s just so bad. So very bad.

The capper is that for tap (of which there are two dances), we’ll be wearing an equally terrible black velvet fringed skirt. For hip hop, there are black velvet pants.

I’ve tried it on, and yes, it does look that bad.

The problem with dance classes is that the costumes haven’t progressed since I first started. In the third grade.

It’s not that I’m so vain that I can’t allow my friends to see me in it, it’s just that I’m not in the third grade anymore.

Initially I thought I’d dance in the recital, wear the outfit and just not invite anyone. But that’s no fun. I at least want someone I know to see the moves that months of dance class has got me.

But at what cost? At what cost I ask you.