Classroom Attire

General Weekly Dress Code

Step By Step Dance Studio is proud to provide a classroom environment that encourages confidence, discipline, and proper dance technique.

Why a Dress Code?

Dress code has traditionally been an important part of Step By Step’s classroom policies. During and following COVID, we relaxed some of these expectations. This season, we are returning to greater consistency in the classroom.

A dance dress code is much like a uniform. Proper attire allows teachers to see alignment and technique, helps dancers move safely and freely, minimizes distractions, and creates a classroom environment where students arrive feeling prepared and ready to dance.

We understand that dancers grow quickly and that it may take the first several weeks of the season for students to settle into the appropriate class. Students may continue wearing their current dance shoes during the beginning of the season.

All dancers should have the required attire, tights, and specific shoes for their class by the end of October, once students have settled into the appropriate class.

Dress code requirements vary by age and dance style. Please refer to the class listings below for the specific attire, tights, and shoes required for your dancer’s class.

All dancewear should fit properly and allow for unrestricted movement. T-shirts, sweatshirts, and other loose-fitting tops are not permitted in classes requiring fitted dancewear. Properly fitted dancewear allows instructors to see body placement, posture, and alignment and helps dancers move without loose clothing getting in the way.

For dancers wearing black leotards, a good rule of thumb is to have one short-sleeve black leotard and one long-sleeve black leotard in your dancer’s wardrobe. A long-sleeve leotard is a great option for colder dance days without needing to add a sweatshirt or other loose layer.

Hair

Hair should be tightly secured and completely away from the dancer’s face for every class. Ponytails, buns, braids, or another secure style are appropriate depending on the dancer’s hair type and length.

Secured hair allows the instructor to clearly see the dancer’s face, neck, head placement, and alignment. It also keeps hair from becoming a distraction or interfering with turns and movement.

As dancers get older, we encourage them to begin learning how to manage their own dance hair. Practice on non-dance days! Even younger dancers can begin learning how to make a ponytail, use an elastic, or secure loose pieces.

Medium to long hair must be securely tied back and away from the face. Hair must be worn in a bun for all Teen Ballet, Pre-Pointe, and Pointe classes.

Dance Day Tip: Consider sending your dancer to school with their hair already in a ponytail, bun, braid, or another securely tied-back style. That’s one less thing to manage during the after-school rush! Please purchase extra hair elastics and keep them in your dancer’s dance bag at all times.

Jewelry & Watches

Jewelry and watches should remain at home or safely inside the dancer’s dance bag during class.

Tights Are Part of the Uniform

When tights are listed as required for a class, they are part of the dancer’s uniform. Dance shorts and leggings do not replace required tights. When shorts or leggings are worn, the required tights should still be worn underneath.

Dance Shoes

Dance shoes should be worn only inside the studio to help protect our dance floors. Dance shoes should never be worn outdoors.

For safety, dancers may not participate in class wearing only socks or footed tights. The appropriate dance shoes must be worn for every class.

New Shoes — Please Wait to Label!

Please do not write your dancer’s name in new dance shoes until the shoes have been checked and approved. Bring new shoes to class so an instructor can confirm the correct style, color, and fit.

Please keep all receipts and original packaging until the shoes have been checked and approved.

Once the shoes have been approved, please clearly label the inside of both shoes with your dancer’s first and last name. Dance shoes often look identical and are easily mixed up!

Please label all dance shoes, outerwear, and personal belongings. Step By Step Dance Studio is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

Performance Tights & Shoes

Throughout the season, dancers may wear different tights or shoes during weekly classes than they will for performances. Certain classes require specific brands, colors, and styles of tights and shoes to ensure a uniform appearance on stage.

To help families spread out expenses, some recital-specific items may be purchased later in the season. Please review your dancer’s class requirements below for complete details regarding recital tights, shoes, and any additional performance attire.

Tiny Tots & Sprouts

Dance Attire: Any solid-colored leotard is welcome. We recommend pink or light blue, but any solid color is acceptable. A solid-colored camisole dress with an attached ballet skirt is also acceptable. Separate ballet skirts, tutus, and tulle skirts are not permitted as part of the classroom dress code.

Tights: Capezio Child Transition Tights – Ballet Pink (Style #1916C).

Shoes: Capezio Hanami Ballet Shoe – Light Pink (Style #2037C).

Kinderdance

Tap • Jazz • Hip Hop

Dance Attire: Any solid-colored leotard is welcome. We recommend pink or light blue, but any solid color is acceptable. A solid-colored camisole dress with an attached ballet skirt is also acceptable. Separate ballet skirts, tutus, and tulle skirts are not permitted as part of the classroom dress code.

Tights: Capezio Child Transition Tights – Skin Tone (Style #1916C).

Tap Shoes: Capezio Mary Jane – Caramel (Style #3800).

Jazz Shoes: Capezio Slip-On Jazz Shoe – Caramel, Hazelnut, or Light Suntan (Style #B80) to coordinate with the dancer’s skin tone tights.

Hip Hop Shoes: Supportive athletic sneaker designated for dance class. A recital sneaker will be required later in the season.

Ballet & Hip Hop Combo

Dance Attire: Solid black leotard in any style. A separate solid black ballet skirt or solid black dance shorts of an appropriate length may also be worn.

Tights: Capezio Child Transition Tights – Skin Tone (Style #1916C). Ballet Pink Capezio Child Transition Tights (Style #1916C) will also be required for recital.

Ballet Shoes: Capezio Hanami Ballet Shoe – Light Pink (Style #2037C).

Hip Hop Shoes: Supportive athletic sneaker designated for dance class. A recital sneaker will be required later in the season.

Tap & Jazz Combo 1 & 2

Dance Attire: Solid black leotard in any style. Solid black dance shorts of an appropriate length or solid black leggings may also be worn.

Tights: Capezio Child Transition Tights – Skin Tone (Style #1916C).

Tap I & II Shoes: Capezio Mary Jane – Caramel (Style #3800). Students who already own last season’s tap shoes may continue wearing them until they outgrow them. However, all dancers will need the Capezio 3800 Tap Shoe by recital.

Tap III & IV Shoes: Capezio Cadence Tap Shoe – Black (Style #CG19).

Jazz Shoes: Capezio E-Series Jazz Slip-On – Caramel (Style #EJ2). Caramel or Skin Tone to coordinate with the dancer’s skin tone tights.

Ballet • Pre-Pointe • Pointe

Dance Attire: Solid black leotard in any style. A separate solid black ballet skirt or solid black dance shorts of an appropriate length may also be worn. Solid black ballet sweaters and black leg warmers are welcome but are not required.

Tights: Capezio Transition Tights – Skin Tone (Style #1916). Ballet Pink Capezio Transition Tights (Style #1916) will also be required for recital.

Ballet Shoes: Capezio Hanami Ballet Shoe – Light Pink (Style #2037W).