Paula:

You're intentions are good, but you posted them on the wrong site.

You might try posting this message on the male dance site (Click on the link [the male dancer] above.).

There are some guys there who are not serious about dance, so you can expect some silly responses.  

There's a guy who calls himself "DancingDoc" who seems to be very serious about problems guys have related to dancewear and other stuff.  He gave a really good response to a dance belt question from a young guy on the "Men in Dance" message board at www.danceart.com.  (Look there too, as they have a message board for Men In Dance, Guys Club (Teens) and a boy's club (under 13 years old).)

Tell your friend that tights are "functional" and allow him to move properly and are important for a teacher to see how his body is working, for proper placement.

Do his friends accept the fact that he dances?  If they accept that, than they should accept the "uniform" that male dancers wear.  They don't laugh at their friends who play football in what are properly called football-tights?  They don't laugh at wrestlers who basically wear leotards?  They don't laugh at guys who run cross-country in running tights? With the Olypics comming up, they don't laugh at these world-class athletes that wear tight fitting functional clothing?  So why should they think they can laugh at the male dancer's work-out wear?  It's just another set of custom sports-clothing.

Good luck convincing Glen!  BalletMaster