Attire, Hair, & Jewelry

We welcome students of all gender identities and gender expressions. We recognize that traditional dance class dress codes function with a binary understanding of gender, and assign specific attire requirements to male-identifying and female-identifying dancers. All students at All That Dance are free to choose from any combination of the options listed for their class genre/level below. We have chosen these attire expectations with everyone’s safety and comfort as our top priority. If you have any questions, please ask your teacher. The following is a guide to appropriate clothing and hair for dance classes.

General requirements for all classes:

  • Attire: Please wear shoes to class (or bare feet as specified). Tights or socks without shoes are too slippery to dance safely. Please wear clothes that fit so teachers can see alignment and dancers are not distracted by their attire. Please wear shorts that come mid-thigh length. If shorter, please wear tights underneath. If wearing midriffs, please wear a leotard underneath. Students may also need athletic undergarments (e.g., sports bra, dance belt).

  • Hair: Please put long hair up in a ponytail, bun or hairstyle that allows for movement safely. Please pull short hair away from the face with barrettes or a headband. Teachers and staff members are happy to show dancers and caregivers how to put hair up for class.

  • Jewelry: Please leave jewelry at home. Large objects (hoop earrings, heavy bracelets) can be distracting and potentially dangerous when moving near classmates.

  • Fragrances/Lotions: Out of consideration for others and for the care of our floors, please avoid heavily scented products (body oil, lotion, perfume, etc). Deodorant or antiperspirant is encouraged.

  • Gum is not allowed inside the classroom. Please be sure to dispose of it before entering the studio.

Specific class requirements:

  • Parent & Tot: Leggings, shorts, t-shirts - any clothing that you and your dancer can move easily in. For tots, bare feet is best. No socks without grips or tights without ballet slippers. For adults, socks or bare feet and if any orthopedic issues, clean sneakers or dance shoes are welcome.

  • Creative Ballet & Ballet/Tap: Leotard and tights or shorts, leggings and a T-shirt. For Creative Ballet, bare feet or ballet shoes with elastic. For Ballet/Tap, ballet shoes with elastic and black tap shoes with tap ties or elastic straps. On ballet shoes, elastics will be double-knotted and cut for safety.

  • Tap: Any combination of a leotard, shirt, stretch pants, leggings, shorts, T-shirts, or tank tops. Shorts shorter than mid-thigh must be worn over tights. Please wear tap shoes, with a preference for taps fastened with screws; not heels (any color for class, black for performance). For younger students, please replace laces with elastic--see your dancer’s teacher for guidance. Level VI+ may be required to purchase heeled tap shoes.

  • Jazz: Leotard, fitted solid-colored T-shirt or tank top, tights, fitted pants or stretch pants/shorts. Shorts shorter than mid-thigh length must be worn over tights. Colors and patterns are welcome; attire with minimal to no mesh is preferred. Jazz shoes; not sneakers (any color for class, black for performance). Teen Jazz VII may be required to purchase tan character shoes.

  • Lyrical: Any style or color leotard and footless tights, jazz pants or shorts. Shorts shorter than mid-thigh must be worn over tights. Beginning Lyrical 9+, Teen Beginning Lyrical, Teen Lyrical I and Teen Lyrical II must wear half-sole lyrical footwear or “footundeez” (any color for class, skin tone for performance). Teen Lyrical III and up will dance barefoot.

  • Pop Styles: Any T-shirt or tank top (midriffs covered) and athletic pants (leggings, joggers, sweatpants). Shorts shorter than mid-thigh length must be worn over tights to protect from floor burns. Clean shoes designated for indoor use only are required to keep our floors clean and free from dirt.

  • Modern: Leotard or shirt that covers midriff (leotard may be worn underneath) and non-footed tights or athletic pants (like leggings or joggers.) Shorts shorter than mid-thigh length must be worn over tights to protect from floor burns. Bare feet.

  • Ballet:

    • Beginning Ballet (5+, 7+, 10+), Ballet I, Ballet II, Ballet III: Leotard of any color or a fitted solid colored T-shirt or tank top. Footed tights (pink or flesh tone of the dancer’s choosing), or fitted pants/shorts/leggings. Ballet shoes of a color chosen to coordinate with tights, leggings or pants. Skirts are optional.

    • Ballet IV-VII: Hair that is long enough should be tightly secured in a bun or comparable hairstyle. Leotard of any color or a fitted solid colored T-shirt or tank top. Footed tights (pink or flesh tone of the dancer’s choosing), or black leggings or footless tights. Ballet shoes of a color chosen to coordinate with tights, leggings or pants. Dance belt as necessary.

    • Teen Beginning, Teen Ballet I, and Teen Intermediate Ballet: Any of the above listed attire and shoe options. Dancers in these levels may also choose any other fitted clothing that allows the instructor to clearly see torso, knees, ankles and feet.

    • Pointe: Same as the above listed options for Ballet IV-VII, with the addition of demi-pointe or pointe shoes as appropriate (pink or flesh tone of the dancer’s choosing).