As a ballet teacher, I truly want my students to feel comfortable and confident when they come to class. They are all such individuals, and I am not one to squash any sort of creativity.
But I also need to be able to clearly see their bodies in order to be an effective teacher. Baggy clothes, long skirts, pants/legwarmers hanging down over feet, and dark tights make it very difficult for me to clearly see the alignment and positioning that is crucial to ballet instruction.
I always ask my students to help me by sticking to my dress code (this applies to my students in Ballet 1 and up). When I have explained the "why" of it, they seem to appreciate that the dress code is to their own benefit, and not just a set of arbitrary, "uptight" rules.
Here's what I like to see:
Girls: solid colored leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes, and optional - a short, sheer ballet skirt
Boys: black or gray fitted pants or tights, a well fitting t-shirt, black or white ballet shoes
Note: If ballet shoes have drawstrings, they need to be double-knotted, trimmed, and tucked in so they don't continually come undone during class
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Does my leo have to be black?
A. No - any color is fine, as long as it is not a crazy, bright pattern.
Q. Why won't you let me wear shorts instead of a skirt?
A. Well... I am so tempted to just give in on this one. Tradition, I suppose. But I will say, it makes your legs look shorter, which you really don't want as a dancer.
Q. Why can't I wear black tights (girls)?
A. It is so much harder for me to see how you are using your legs when you wear black. I can help you utilize your muscles better when I can see them!
Q. Why does my hair have to be in a bun? What's wrong with a ponytail?
A. Chaines, pirouettes, fouettes. Your hair will whack you in the face if it is not really secure!
Q. Why can't I wear my favorite "tutu" or long flowy skirts to class?
A. Long skirts make it nearly impossible for me to tell if your knees are straight or bent. I can't tell what is going on with your lower body much at all. Short "tutu" skirts are distracting for the most part. Save the fancy skirts for the stage.
Are you a ballet teacher? I'd love to hear your thoughts on dress code "why's." Do you allow booty shorts? Why or why not?
Are you a student? Have a question that I didn't answer? Ask away in the comments.