| The first thing you'll want to realize when | | | | - Ask the instructor of the dance studio what |
| signing up yourself or your child for ballet | | | | types of shirts they will require you to |
| or dance lessons is nearly all dance studios | | | | wear. Some teachers will only allow |
| have a dress code. Many of them are strictly | | | | long-sleeved shirts in their studios. Other |
| enforced. One woman even prevents students | | | | instructors are more lax on their rules and |
| from participating in the class if they are | | | | allow long or short-sleeved t-shirts. A lot |
| not just dressed properly. They must sit on | | | | of male dancers also prefer to wear |
| the side and watch from the side instead. | | | | formfitting tanks to class. |
| | | | |
| The right attire for ballet is necessary to | | | | - Get control of your hair before you enter |
| mastering the poise and graceful forms | | | | the studio. If an instructor finds your hair |
| required in this demanding form of art. The | | | | to be distracting, they may refuse to train |
| way you dress for class is determined by the | | | | you until you do something about it. If you |
| setting in which you dance and by the wishes | | | | have long hair, pull it back to the nape of |
| of your dance instructor. You'll find that | | | | the neck and put it in a ponytail. |
| most of the students actually like following | | | | |
| a dress code. It gives them a sense of unity | | | | Women |
| with their fellow dance students, almost like | | | | |
| a team. It also gives them a feel of | | | | - Ask your instructor if you are required to |
| professionalism. | | | | wear sleeved or sleeveless leotards. Buy a |
| | | | leotard that is constructed using side darts, |
| A young ballet dancer wearing a dance leotard | | | | front and back. It will fit you better. |
| for the first time can feel even more | | | | |
| self-confident that they can do it. Here is a | | | | - Choose a pair of pink tights for practices |
| list of some of the more common dress codes | | | | and another for the performance. The tights |
| dance studios will enforce. | | | | just like your leotard should fit properly |
| | | | and not too tight or too baggy. |
| Men | | | | |
| | | | - Go shopping for a pair of pink leather |
| - Here's the best piece of advice you'll ever | | | | ballet slippers. You'll find a lot of dancers |
| get: buy a dance belt. Many of the top ballet | | | | begin with leather shoes before advancing to |
| studios require their male dancers to wear | | | | satin toe shoes as they move further along in |
| tights with the shirts tucked in. This is why | | | | their training. |
| a dance belt is a necessity. It also acts in | | | | |
| the same regards as a jockstrap. | | | | - You may want to think about buying a nice |
| | | | hooded sweatshirt or cover-up for outside the |
| - Buy a pair of black tights. If your school | | | | studio. Ballet specialty shops sell |
| requires you to wear socks, buy some footless | | | | coordinating wrap-around skirts and ballet |
| tights. | | | | sweaters at to help keep you warm before and |
| | | | after your class. |
| - Try to find a good pair of black leather | | | | |
| ballet slippers for your feet. You'll want | | | | - Just like with the men, control your hair. |
| them to fit snugly but not be too tight. They | | | | Put it up in a tight and secure bun at the |
| will cause blisters if they are the incorrect | | | | back of your head. If you have longer hair, |
| size. | | | | arrange it higher on your head, while shorter |
| | | | hair can be pulled back to the nape. |