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