Dressing for the flames

What to wear when fire is part of the act

One of the most common questions I get from new fire dancers – and even experienced performers dipping into costuming – is: what can I actually wear?

Fire costuming is one of those areas where creativity and safety have to exist in the same conversation. The good news: there is a lot of room to play. But there are a few things worth knowing before you fall in love with a fabric.

Natural fibres are your safest bet

When natural fabrics catch fire, they burn to ash. When synthetic fabrics catch fire, they melt – and melted plastic against skin causes severe burns that are in a completely different category of injury. This is the core reason natural fibres are so strongly recommended for fire performance costuming.

Natural fibres to look for include:

The most reliable way to know what you are working with is to check the label or fabric type – and if you are still unsure, do a burn test on discrete area or small scrap. If it melts into hard beads or drips, then it is synthetic and not ideal. If it burns to ash without melting, then it’s looking promising!

Rayon is worth a special mention. It is made from wood pulp and behaves more like a natural fibre than a synthetic one. Cotton-rayon blends in particular are often fine – the cotton content means the fabric will generally burn rather than melt. That said, rayon is very commonly blended with polyester too, so always check the label, and when in doubt, do a burn test before committing to a costume piece or fabric.

A WORD ON SYNTHETIC BODYSUITS

If you have spent any time watching professional fire performers, you will have noticed that many wear form-fitting synthetic bodysuits. It is worth talking about this honestly, because there is some nuance here.

There are genuine reasons why a skin-tight synthetic reduces risk compared to a loose synthetic garment – being form-fitting means less oxygen around the fabric, which makes it harder to ignite. Layering a natural fibre like cotton underneath adds another buffer. Performing a smaller, more contained fire show reduces exposure. And briefing your fire safety technician on what your costume is made from means everyone is aware and prepared if something does go wrong.

But reducing risk is not the same as eliminating it. No one plans to have an accident – no matter your experience. There is no getting around the fact that if something does go wrong, synthetic material will melt – and that will increase the severity of the injury. That is simply the nature of the material, whatever precautions are in place.

Many experienced performers know all of this and make their own informed choice – and that is their right.

My personal take:

I use a lot of fabric trim in my costuming – decorative details that are often synthetic. Burn tests have confirmed they don’t ignite easily, but they do melt. What I do is sew them onto a base of fire-safe natural fabric, so the synthetic is a small element layered over something that will not melt. For me, that feels like a low and manageable risk – but I want to be clear that it is still an increased risk compared to working with 100% natural fabrics throughout. However, when I perform my largest fire show, my entire costume is created from natural fibres. There have been times when I have burnt myself, and have been grateful that this was the case!

Where I land personally is that I would not wear a synthetic bodysuit for fire. Other performers feel differently – some are comfortable in full synthetic, others would consider even trim too much. There is a spectrum, and only you can decide where you sit on it. What matters is that you are informed, and understand the risks clearly before you make that call.

What I would add is this: if you are a teacher or someone newer artists look up to, it is worth being mindful of what you model. Someone watching you on stage or online may not know the context behind your costume choices, and may simply take a synthetic bodysuit as the norm.

At the end of the day, the question to ask yourself is whether the risk of material melting to your skin – even if that risk is low – is worth it to you.

Share what you know: educate, don’t hate

Our community has always been largely self-regulating, and I think that is something to be proud of. The knowledge that keeps fire performers safe – about fabrics, fuels, safety protocols, risk management – lives mostly within the community itself, passed between performers, teachers, and mentors. That shared knowledge is genuinely what keeps us safe, and it is also what gives us the freedom to practice our art with relatively little outside interference (though this varies country to country). The more we hold that standard ourselves, the better.

Which is why education matters for everyone – experienced performers and newcomers alike, though especially for those still building their knowledge in the fire community. Someone new to fire performance might not yet know why fabric choice matters, or what questions to ask. They are watching, learning, and forming their understanding of what is normal and what is safe. That is an opportunity, not a problem.

If you ever see something that concerns you from a safety perspective – online or at an event – the instinct to say something is a good one. How you say it matters too, though. Fire safety discourse online can sometimes tip into judgement, and a public callout rarely lands well, even when it comes from a genuine place of care. A private message, or a kind and considered comment, will almost always be better received. Lead with what you know, not with judgement. Most people, when approached with warmth, are genuinely open to learning.

We are a community. The safer we all are, the wilder we can all be!