General Attire Requirements:
When coming to class or leaving, students are expected to dress modestly. Dance students should never wear just their leotards and tights outside, but should always wear a cover-up, such as a shirt and pants and/skirt or dress.
DANCE SHOES should not be worn outside since this damages your shoes and our dance flooring. Please check tap shoes weekly for loose nails and screws. We have screw drivers available if needed.
A note on dance shoes: buy them at a dance supply store or a shoe store that sells ABT brand. Those sold elsewhere are not the proper quality of leather to allow the correct development of the foot or feel of the floor.
To remove scuff marks on shoes a little nail polish remover works great (so does Avon Skin-so-soft). Don’t use TOO much nail polish remover or the color may completely come off the shoe leather.
TIGHTS should be purchased at a Dance Supply Store only. A lot of research goes into the making of dance tights and all dancewear companies go to great pains to design breathable crotches of material that is healthier than regular underwear. They are made to wear next to the skin in place of underwear so a leotard can be worn over them for maximum comfort (no bunching or wedgies!) and beauty of line. Let them know if your child has sensitive skin and they can provide brands that are softer.
Now to the matter of what should be worn under those tights. The answer is NOTHING! No one should see a child’s underwear in a dance class or on stage and it is important to start children off right understanding the difference between their dance attire and their regular clothes. Older girls who may need to wear something additional may purchase dance briefs in flesh tones that are undetectable under leotards. In jazz classes please be sure your child understands they must wear tights and a leotard under their jazz pants. Every Watch Day we seem to end up with someone who is wearing shorts with only tights and a T-shirt. This is not appropriate! Bare midriffs are also not in our dress code!
Be sure you have the designated attire (as per your teacher) for each class and that your hair is properly secured away from the face so it does not fall down. No headbands or scrunchies – they do not stay in place. All students taking 1 or more hours of ballet per week must have hair in a bun or other classical style close to the head secured using bobby pins, rubber bands and a hair net or bun-holder, secure barrettes, etc! Boys see “Boy’s Attire” below.
Dance students must not wear watches, rings, necklaces, bracelets, or large or dangling earrings in class.
All items brought into class should be marked with student’s name including shoes, leotards, dance bags, etc.
Combination Classes: (Tap/Ballet ages 4-8)
Girls wear a black leotard, theatrical pink tights (footed), pink ballet slippers and black patent leather tap shoes. Tie ballet slipper strings in double knot, cut ends to 1 ½” and tuck in so they don’t show. Secure to top of inside of shoe with a piece of masking tape. Take ribbon ties out of tap shoes and replace with ½” wide black braided elastic adjusted to child’s comfort. Tie in a double knot and cut ends to 1”. A short dance skirt (mid-thigh or shorter) may be worn of 1-2 layers chiffon or leotard material in black. No tutus or ruffles please. Leotards with skirt attached may be worn if they meet the above criteria. Flowers, bows, or barrettes may be worn in the hair if they are secure and children won’t pull them out.
Ballet Classes:
Girls wear a black leotard, theatrical pink tights and pink ballet slippers in canvas or soft leather, split-sole or full sole. Elastic must be sewn to child’s comfort just below ankle bones, strings adjusted tightly enough so shoes do not gape at sides, but loosely enough so they do not put pressure on Achille’s tendons. A short chiffon skirt may be worn. NO leg-warmers or T-shirts may be worn unless the instructor allows and then only for warm-up and must be removed after barre work or whenever the teacher requests so that proper line and placement of body may be seen. New pointe students see director for info on shoes.
Boy’s Attire: (Ballet & Tap)
Boys should wear white T-shirts, sweat pants or dance pants in gray, white, or black. A dance belt to wear under pants can be purchased online or at any dance supply store.
Ballet- white ballet slippers with white socks
Tap- black tap oxfords with black or white socks
Jazz- gray or black split sole jazz shoes w/matching socks
Other Dance Classes:
Check with your instructor regarding the proper shoes and attire for your particular class.
Dance Supply Stores:
http://www.covingtondanceandmore.com
http://www.discountdance.com