Dress Code 2025-26

At The Ballet & Dance Center we ask our dancers to follow the dress code outlined below, there are several reasons for this:
 
 - It allows teachers to easily check for proper alignment, body positioning and technique. It also allows both the teachers and the students to better understand how their bodies move and to identify what muscle groups are involved in their movements.
 - For younger dancers it greatly helps reduce distraction in class. There are many dancewear options available, but they can also be elaborately decorated or possibly inappropriate, following dress code helps to eliminate these options.
 - When we prepare costume choices for our performance(s), we often use our dress code items as the base of that costume, for example a skirt and other accessories are added to a dress code leotard.
 - A dress code also helps create a sense of community among our dancers.asks for very specific hair

Please also notice that the dress code below has very specific request for hair. Please visit Why Do Dancers Wear Buns for more information.

Additionally, it is very important that students have clothing on over their dance attire when they come and go from the studio. Although we strive for our dancers to feel comfortable and confident in their dance attire, it is still attire that is appropriate only for class not the world outside.  In the warm months throwing on a simply dress or a t-shirt with shorts or a skirt is advised and during the colder month’s sweats are a great option. Keeping feet warm and dry should also be a priority. The safety of our lovely dancers is a top priority for us and we feel strongly that being properly covered is one way to help keep them safe and healthy.

Dress Code by Level

 Creative Movement, Pre-Ballet & Levels I-IV Female Identifying Dancers:


Creative Movement
Leotard - pink short sleeved
Tights - pink footed  
Shoes - pink full sole leather ballet slippers

For our littllest dancers we do not require a bun, we know that can be difficult for all involved. However, for safety, we ask that a dancer's hair be pulled away from their face into a ponytail or if too short for a ponytail please use bobby pins, hair clips or a headband to hold hair back. When our students are turning, leaping and enjoying their movements in class it is best for them to clealry see what is around them, we don't want their hair to cover their eyes.

Pre-Ballet
Leotard - black short sleeved
Tights - pink footed  
Shoes - pink full sole leather ballet slippers
Hair in a bun

Level I & II
Leotard - black short sleeved
Tights - pink footed
Shoes - pink full sole leather ballet slippers - patent leather black ribbon tie over elastic tap shoes - black split sole slip-on boot jazz shoes

Hair in a bun.

Level III & IV
Leotard - black short sleeved
Tights - pink transition/convertible style
Shoes - pink full sole leather ballet slippers - patent leather black ribbon tie over elastic tap shoes - black split sole slip-on boot jazz shoes

Hair in a bun.

*We have some gently used tap and jazz shoes in youth sizes that can be borrowed. On the 1st day of class families can check to see if we have any that fit their dancer(s).
 


Creative Movement, Pre-Ballet & Levels I-IV Male Identifying Dancers:


Ballet - plain white or black fitted t-shirt and black shorts or straight fitted to the ankle dance pants, leggings or tights

Tap & Jazz - any color plain fitted t-shirt and black shorts or dance pants

Shoes 
- black full sole leather ballet slippers
- black full sole oxford tap shoes
- black split sole slip-on boot jazz shoes

Hair neat and pulled back away from face.
 


Level A-D Female Identifing Dancers:


Ballet - black camisole style leotard. Also needed is a skin tone camisole style undergarment leotard to wear under costumes during performances. Transition/convertible syle in a color that best matches the dancer's natural skin tone or a color in which they feel the most comfortable. Tights and shoes should match in color. Hair in a bun.

Tap, Jazz & Modern - core level dancers are required to wear a leotard, however it can be any color (including black) and black pants/leggings are encouraged. Hair pulled back from face in such a way that turns can be executed without hair being whipped about.

Contemporary - any color plain long sleeved fitted t-shirt and plain black dance pants, black dance shorts, bare feet and please bring socks. Hair pulled back away from face.

Shoes
- split sole canvas ballet shoes in a color that best matches the dancer's natural skin tone or in a color in which they feel the most comfortable. Tights and shoes should match in color.
- black full sole oxford tap shoes
- black split sole slip-on boot jazz shoes
- barefeet (bring socks) for Modern & Contemporary

Dancers in our core levels are often attending class several days a week, therefore we recommend they have more than one set of dance clothes. In an effort to promote individuality, dancers are welcome to wear a black leotard other than the dress code camisole style leotard in class, we just ask that it not be too complicated, distracting or inappropriate.
 


Level A-D Male Identifing Dancers:


Ballet - plain white fitted t-shirt and straight to the ankle dance pants, leggings or tights. Hair neat and if long, pulled back away from the face.

Tap, Jazz & Modern - any color plain fitted t-shirt and plain black dance pants. Hair neat and if long, pulled back away from the face.

Contemporary - any color plain long sleeved fitted t-shirt and plain black dance pants, bare feet and please bring socks. Hair pulled back away from face.

Shoes
- black split-sole canvas ballet shoes
- black full sole oxford tap shoes
- black split sole slip-on boot jazz shoes
- barefeet (bring socks) for Modern & Contemporary
 


Open Level 10+ - Musical Theater/Jazz:


Any solid color t-shirt, black leggings or fitted atheltic pants and black split sole slip-on jazz shoes.
            
Please pull hair back into a ponytail. If hair is too short for a ponytail please use bobby pins, hair clips or a headband to hold hair back. 
 


Hip Hop - Youth, Teen & Adult:


Black or grey sweatpants, athletic pants, joggers, shorts, leggings or dance pants and any color plain long or short sleeved t-shirt and sneakers (if it is possible to dedicate a pair of sneakers to dance that would be great).

Please pull hair back into a ponytail. If hair is too short for a ponytail please use bobby pins, hair clips or a headband to hold hair back. 
 


Adult Levels:


Adults are welcome to attend class in traditional dancewear, which is any color leotard and tights. Adults are also welcome to wear what you would for a yoga, Pilates or other workout class. Please NO shorts.

Shoes:
- split sole canvas ballet slippers in a color that best matches the dancer's natural skin tone or in a color in which they feel the most comfortable.
- black full sole oxford tap shoes
- black split sole slip-on boot jazz shoes
- bare feet (bring socks) for modern & contemporary

Please pull hair back into a ponytail. If hair is too short for a ponytail use bobby pins, hair clips or a headband to hold hair back. 

Suggested Brands by Style


Short Sleeve Leotard
- Cotton child sizes: Capezio CC400C or Bloch CL5402
- Cotton adult sizes: Capezio CC400
- Nylon child sizes: Capezio TB132C
- Nylon adult sizes: Capezio TB133

Camisole Style Leotard
- Cotton child sizes: Capezio CC100C
- Cotton adult sizes: Capezio CC100

Undergarment Style Leotard
- Cotton child sizes: Capezio TB1420C, 3532C or Bloch CL8720
- Adult sizes: Capezio TB1420, 3532, 3680
- Adult sizes with built in suport: Capezio 3565 or Bloch L8730
*For best selection of skin tones visit capezio.com

Footed Tights
- Child sizes: Capezio 1915C or Bloch T0981G
- Adult sizes: Capezio 1915 or Bloch T0981L

Transition/Convertible Tights
- Child sizes: Capezio 1916C or Bloch T0982G
- Adult sizes: Capezio 1916 or Bloch T0982L
*For best selection of skin tones visit capezio.com or us.blochworld.com

Full Sole Ballet Shoes
- Child sizes:
Capezio "Daisy" 205C or "Luna" V100C
Bloch "Dansoft" 0205G or "Belle" S0227G 
- Adult sizes:
Capezio "Daisy" 205 or "Luna" V100W
Bloch "Dansoft" S0205L or "Belle" S0227L

Split Sole Ballet Shoes
- Child sizes: Capezio "Hanami" 2037C or Bloch "Performa" S0482G
- Adult sizes: Capezio "Hanami" 2037W or Bloch "Performa" S0482L

Ribbon Tie Over Elastic Tap Shoes
- Child sizes: Capezio "Jr. Tyette" N625C or Bloch "Annie" S0350G
- Adult sizes: Capezio "Jr. Tyette" N625 or Bloch "Annie" S0350L

Full Sole Oxford Style Tap Shoes
- Child sizes: Capezio "Tic Tap Toes" 443C or "Fluid" CG17C
- Adult sizes: Capezio "Tic Tap Toes" 443 or "Fluid" CG17

Split Sole Slip-on Style Jazz Shoes
- Child sizes: Capezio E-Series" EJ2C or Blcoh "Neo Flex" S0495G
- Adult sizes: Capezio E-Series" EJ2 or Blcoh "Neo Flex" S0495L

Items can be purchased in person by appointment at The Turning Pointe Dance Boutique, 747 N. Salina St., 315-471-8440 . Or contact Barbara LaNeve via text at 315-373-1660.

Items can also be puchased online at discountdance.com, capezio.com or us.blochworld.com. If you choose to purchase dance shoes online please carefully read the sizing recommendations for each shoe, sizing for dance shoes can be very tricky.

Additonally, we have some slightly used children's size dance shoes at the studio and you can check there to see if there is a pair that fits your dancer. Curently we have very few jazz and ballet shoes, but we do have a pretty good selection of tap shoes.