Nowadays, society has different ways to set some parameters to separate what it considers, the right behavior for females and males. In our society, females are allowed to wear colorful and bright wardropes, tights clothing, etc, and we men are supposed to wear dark and loose gartments.
For some reasons, that probably could be easily explained, some areas of our society, within the western culture, believe that ballet is not for men. Furthermore, they don't understand why a male should wear tights while reharsing, practicing or dancing. Not only this, but, if in the event that a man must wear this kind of clothing, should follow like a dress code: black tights, white t-shirts.
If this criteria for a male dancer is real, then leothards and/or unitards should not be worn by a man in ballet; and if the leothard is going to be used, should be used inside the tights.
WHAT A NONSENSE. As someone wrote in this forum before, my dancewear is like my workwear. I have been in ballet since 8 and now that I am 17, feel the same way. I am straight, had enjoyed the intimate company of many females and tights or leothards wearing have not affected me at all. I don´t have a fetish with this but don't judge others who have.
I wear, as I said before, different types, colors and fabrics of tights and leothards. I don't care if I wear high cut or thong leothards over tights neither if my leothards is white and my tights are tan (I do agree that traditionally in ballet, some colors have been used by females only, like pink). That is really no one else buissiness and I have the means (verbally or physically, I am 6 ft and weight 185, enough to make anyone understand that there should not be any doubt of my manhood because of me being in ballet). I even go to the gym, after my ballet classes, to lift weights, 4 times weekly, and though I keep my sweat shirt, I pull down my sweat pants and stay in my tights during the time I stay in the gym, and never heard any negative comments about this ( I should admitt that this practice has brought the attention of several good looking women in the gym and I had dated, so far, a lot of them).
Anyways, male dancers should not give that many thoughts to tights wearing and to make this career a productive one, should respect and love it and remember that keeping high moral standars while belonging to this art, will make the rest of the people understand that this is a profession like anyone else.
Thanks[/i]