It’s August, which means back to school shopping! Many of you are probably going through your child’s closet to see what they’ve outgrown, worn out, or simply won’t wear any more. Don’t forget to do the same with their dance bag! It’s important to have the proper attire for dance according to the style, shoes that fit well, and any other needed accessories. So, what does your dancer need?
Preschool classes: Any dance attire that allows for free movement is fine for this age! Most girls wear a leotard with a short skirt (preferably already attached to the leotard) or a dance dress with tights and pink ballet shoes. Petite Dance wears tan jazz shoes.
Tap, Jazz, Pom & LTJ (Leaps, Turns, Jumps): Students may wear a leotard (or fitted tee or tank top) with fitted dance shorts and tan tights. Tap classes wear tap shoes, while all others wear jazz shoes. Pom class requires a set of all-white poms, which we have in our store.
Hip Hop: Wear comfortable non-baggy clothing with no-scuff all-black sneakers. Because of the floor work in hip hop, pants might be preferred over shorts to protect knees.
Ballet (all levels): Wear any color leotard and tights, with pink ballet shoes. Skirt or fitted dance shorts are optional. Long hair for ballet must be in a bun. A black cami-style leotard, pink tights, and pink ballet shoes will be required for our Spring Performance.
Acro: Clothing that stretches and moves is the most important! Wear a fitted tank and shorts or a leotard. No baggy clothing. Students are barefoot for class.
Boys: Boys in any class/style generally wear a non-baggy t-shirt and shorts that end at or above the knee, along with the appropriate footwear for that class/style.
Fit Check! Are your dancer’s toes curling up because their shoes are suddenly too small? Do their tights have runs and holes because they’re stretching to get them on? Have them try on last season’s dancewear at home to be sure!
This article was originally published in our August 2024 newsletter.