Class Dress Codes
Dress code includes footwear, clothing, and hair style requirements. Just like you wouldn’t arrive to baseball practice without a glove, or football practice without a helmet, you wouldn’t arrive to ballet without a bun, ballet slippers, or a leotard. It’s part of the discipline and something that is required.
Please read through each style below as the dress code varies by style. We do enforce our dress code. Teachers will give students a warning if they come out of dress code. Students will get 2 warnings. On the third dress code violation the teacher does have the option to have them sit until the dress code violation is fixed.
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Quick Tips
Where to buy?
Locally, you can visit Dance Theatre Shop in San Mateo. They are aware of our dress codes and you can get fitted in person. #SupportLocalBusinesses
You can also visit our online partner Dancewear Solutions and purchase leotards and other dance gear online and have it shipped directly to you if you prefer.
What if I have multiple classes in a day?
Most dress codes are similar outside of ballet. If you have ballet and another class on the same day, we recommend wearing your ballet dress code and layer up for other classes. If you have time in between classes, you can always change in our restrooms.
Footwear
It’s worth noting that while we try to have the footwear you need for class, match what we use on stage at recital, it doesn’t always work out that way. You may need to purchase a different color or different style of shoe for your costume vs. what you use in class. This is particularly true for Musical Theatre where the costume may be specific to your character. This also applies to hip hop, but may occur in other styles from time to time. We will know what your costume requirements will be by Dec/Jan each season.
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Ballet
FEMALE
Bottoms: Tights (skin tone). No tutus. Sheer skirts are okay. Teachers need to be able to see dancers lines.
Tops: Black leotard (levels 1 & 2) – Any color leotard (levels 3 and above)
Shoes: Leather/Canvas ballet slippers (skin tone) Please double knot to fit and cut off laces to avoid distractions. (Ask Teacher Josh For Help)
Hair: Must be in bun for class. If hair is too short for a bun, hair must be pulled away from face.
Recommended: Knee pads or paws are optional. Layers are recommended to prevent floor burn on knees/shoulders
Not Allowed: Jewelry
MALE
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Contemporary/Lyrical
Female
Bottoms: Any leggings, tights, bike shorts, capris or spandex are allowed. Color is your choice.
Tops: Dance attire. Color is your choice. Tank tops, leotards, and t-shirts. (Not too baggy please. We need to see alignment)
Shoes: Lyrical shoe (pictured) or barefoot
Hair: Pony tail or Bun
Recommended: Knee pads or paws are optional. Layers are recommended to prevent floor burn on knees/shoulders
Not Allowed: Jewelry
Male
Bottoms: Any leggings, tights, bike shorts, capris or spandex are allowed. Color is your choice.
Tops: Dance attire. Color is your choice. Tank tops, leotards, and t-shirts. (Not too baggy please. We need to see alignment)
Shoes: Lyrical shoe (pictured) or barefoot
Hair: Short or pulled away from face
Recommended: Knee pads or paws are optional. Layers are recommended to prevent floor burn on knees/shoulders
Not Allowed: Jewelry
Click the picture above to order online.
Jazz
FEMALE
Bottoms: Any color leggings or form fitting pants, or shorts
Tops: Tank top, leotard, or t-shirt
Shoes: Tan slip on jazz shoes
Hair: Hair pulled back. Pony tail or bun.
Not Allowed: Jewelry
MALE
Bottoms: Any color leggings or form fitting pants, or shorts
Tops: Tank top or t-shirt
Shoes: Tan slip on jazz shoes
Hair: Short or pulled away from face
Not Allowed: Jewelry
Click the picture above to order online.
Hip Hop
ALL DANCERS
Athletic, move-able clothing. We recommend wearing pants, joggers, sweats and/or bringing knee pads to class each week.
Footwear
Tennis shoes, vans, pumas, converse, or street shoes. ALL HIP HOP CLASSES will use white Nike Air-Force One’s for their recital costume. You can plan to wear them in class if you’d like, but they are not required for weekly classes. They will be required for recital.
Items that are popular now are hoodies, harem pants, leggings, sweats, capris, t-shirts, and tank tops. Feel free to wear any.
No skirts, dresses, or jeans please! No flip flops, bare feet, open toes, sandals, or crocs. If you are coming straight from school, it’s best to wear your dress code attire to school on dance days, or plan to change when you arrive. Dancers with long hair, please pull it back into a ponytail.
Click the picture above to order online.
Musical Theatre
FEMALE
Bottoms: Any color Leggings or Bike Shorts. NO DRESSES OR SKIRTS. If you are coming directly from school, please plan to change in the restrooms or ask the staff for a changing area.
Tops: Tank top, leotard, or t-shirt
Shoes: Tan slip on jazz shoes or barefoot
Hair: Hair pulled back. Pony tail or bun.
Not Allowed: Jewelry
MALE
Bottoms: Any color Leggings or Shorts
Tops: Tank top or t-shirt
Shoes: Tan slip on jazz shoes or barefoot
Hair: Short or pulled away from face
Not Allowed: Jewelry
Click the picture above to order online.
Tap
FEMALE
Bottoms: Any color leggings or black bike shorts
Tops: Tank top, t-shirt, or leotard.
Shoes: Black lace up tap shoes
Hair: Hair pulled back.
Not Allowed: Jewelry.
MALE
Bottoms: Black leggings or black bike shorts
Tops: Tank top or t-shirt.
Shoes: Black lace up tap shoes
Hair: Hair pulled back.
Not Allowed: Jewelry.
Tap Shoe Color: You may purchase black or tan. However we do make a color decision in Dec/Jan based on costumes for recital. You may be required to purchase an alternate color before recital come around. Just be aware of this.
Click the picture above to order online.
Technique Classes
FEMALE
Bottoms: Black leggings or Black Bike Shorts
Tops: Tank top, leotard, or t-shirt
Shoes: Tan slip on jazz shoes
Hair: Hair pulled back. Pony tail or bun.
Not Allowed: Jewelry
MALE
Bottoms: Black leggings or form fitting pants, or black shorts
Tops: Tank top or t-shirt
Shoes: Tan slip on jazz shoes
Hair: Short or pulled away from face
Not Allowed: Jewelry
Ballet Bun Tutorials
A dance class dress code is the equivalent of bringing a bat and glove to baseball practice or a football helmet to football practice. You wouldn’t come dressed in jeans to baseball, just like you wouldn’t come in shorts to ballet or without a bun. Please make sure your dancer arrives in correct dress code and correct hair for their respective classes. Ballet has the strictest dress codes. Please watch these videos if you need help making a ballet bun.