Choosing the Right Shirt Size

• If a shirt is too short and barely tucks in the pants, then even the slightest movement -- let alone dancing -- can get it untucked. A dance shirt must be at least 4 inches below the belt when the dancer holds his arms high. This ensures that even during awkward dancing movements, the shirt stays within the pants. However, part of the shirt is inevitably drawn out of the pants and remains as a small "lifebelt" around the dancer's waist.
  
  

Tucking the Shirt Correctly

• A usual reason a shirt gets easily untucked is because the dancer has tucked it in the wrong way. A dancer should never put on the trousers first and then try to tuck in the shirt. On the contrary, he should wear the shirt first and pull it downward, so that it embraces his torso. He then should put on the pants carefully to ensure they don't touch the shirt as he lifts them toward his waist.
  
  

Belt Height and Tightness

• The tighter the belt is around the dancer's waist, the more difficult it is for the shirt to slip out of the pants. However, this does not mean that he must wear the belt as tight as it gets, as this can make him feel uncomfortable, affecting his performance. To try the belt's tightness, the dancer should raise his arms: If the shirt slips out easily, he needs to snug the belt tighter. Another precautionary measure a dancer can take is to wear the pants an inch higher, especially when the shirt is too short.
  
  

Shirt Stays

• Shirt stays are a type of suspenders having one end that grasps the bottom of the shirt while the other end either attaches to the socks or goes around the foot. The purpose of shirt stays is to keep the shirt tucked when you are constantly on the move but you need a neat appearance. It is a very useful accessory for dancers, as not only does it prevent the shirt from getting untucked, but it also saves dancers from the small "lifebelt" of partially untucked shirts.