Dress Attire for Class

New Dress Code Update

Effective Summer 2020, dancers have the option to wear matching skin tone tights and shoes to class instead of pink tights and shoes. All dancers in the following classes will be required to wear matching skin tone tights and shoes for performances, including our end of the year recital: Ballet IV and up, all Modern classes, all Contemporary classes, and Jazz II and up.

Due to the limited availability of skin tone tights and shoes for kids sizes, our younger dancers will continue to wear pink tights and shoes for the performances. No change to dress code for Hip Hop classes.

General updates for all genres!

- No jewelry (minimal earrings are okay)

- No claw clips. Hair must be secured in a bun for ballet or a ponytail for other genres.

- No booty shorts or crop tops. Bike shorts (for non-ballet genres only) must have at least a 4 inch inseam and should be worn over a leotard and tights.

Pre-Ballet

Please wear:
• Black leotard
• Ballet tights with feet (pink)
• Ballet slippers (pink leather, full sole)
• Hair in a ballet bun (or ponytail) off of face and neck

Boys should wear black athletic shorts or pants with a solid white t-shirt and black ballet slippers.

Please do not wear:
• Pull-on or wrap skirts (skirts are only allowed if they are attached to leotard)

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Ballet I through Ballet III

Please wear:
• Black leotard
• Ballet tights with feet (pink)
• Ballet slippers (pink leather, full sole) Ballet III has the option to wear full sole or split sole.
• Hair in a ballet bun. No claw clips!

Boys should wear black athletic shorts or pants with a solid white t-shirt and black ballet slippers.

Note: Ballet sweaters are allowed in the winter.

Please do not wear:
• Colored leotards
• Tutus
• Leg warmers
• Skirts
• Footless tights
• T-shirts
• Dance or bootie shorts
• Dance pants
• Costumes

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Ballet IV - Ballet VIII, Basic Ballet, Advanced Basic Ballet, and Classical Variations

Please wear:
• Black leotard
• Convertible ballet tights (pink or matching skin tone)
• Ballet slippers (pink or matching skin tone, split sole)
• Hair in ballet bun. No claw clips!
• Ballet skirts are allowed for Ballet V and up and Advanced Basic Ballet I and II. Skirts should be worn around the waist, not the hips.

Boys should wear black athletic shorts or pants with a solid white t-shirt and black ballet slippers.

Note: Ballet sweaters are allowed in the winter. Colored leotards are allowed in Ballet VIII

Please do not wear:
• Colored leotards, except in Ballet VIII
• Tutus
• Leg warmers
• Skirts, except for pointe
• Footless tights
• T-shirts
• Dance or bootie shorts
• Dance pants
• Costumes

*Matching skin tone tights and shoes will be required for recital. Please see below for ordering instructions.

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Contemporary

Please wear:
• Bare feet for Contemporary I. Bare feet or socks for Contemporary II and III (socks must be high cotton content for traction)
• Leotard (any color)
• Skin tone, convertible tights or black leggings. Bike shorts with a minimum 4 inch inseam may be worn over the leotard and tights.
• Hair neat (up and out of face). No claw clips!

Boys should wear athletic shorts or pants with a solid color t-shirt.

Please do not wear:
• Sweatpants
• Sweatshirts
• Shirts that show the belly
• Oversized t-shirts
• Trendy tops
• Booty shorts without tights
• Fuzzy socks
• Foot thongs
• Jewelry (small earrings ok)

*Matching skin tone stirrup tights and shoes/socks/or bare feet will be required for recital.

____

Jazz and Musical Theatre Dance

Please wear:
• Leotard (any color/style). No gymnastics leotards.
• Skin tone tights, leggings, or jazz pants (any color/style)
• Hair neat (up and out of face). No claw clips!
• Black jazz shoes

Boys should wear athletic shorts or pants with a solid color t-shirt and black jazz shoes.

Note: Character shoes may be worn sometimes in Musical Theatre Dance. If a dancer does not have character shoes, jazz shoes are fine! 

Please do not wear:
• Sweatpants
• Sweatshirts
• Shirts that show the belly
• Oversized t-shirts
• Trendy tops
• Booty shorts without tights
• Socks
• Foot thongs
• Jewelry (small earrings ok)

*Matching skin tone tights will be required for recital.

____

Modern

Please wear:
• Leotard (any color/style)
• Skin tone tights, leggings, or jazz pants (any color/style). Bike shorts with at least a 4 inch inseam may be work over the leotard and tights.
• Hair neat (up and out of face). No claw clips!
• Bare feet

Please do not wear:
• Sweatpants
• Sweatshirts
• Shirts that show the belly
• Oversized t-shirts
• Trendy tops
• Booty shorts without tights
• Socks
• Foot thongs
• Jewelry (small earrings ok)

Boys should wear athletic shorts or pants with a solid color t-shirt.

*Matching skin tone stirrup tights will be required for recital.

____

Hip Hop

Please wear:
• Loose, comfortable clothing such as gym or yoga clothes, sweatpants, t-shirts (any color/style). Bike shorts must have at least a 4 inch inseam.
• Hair neat (up and out of face)
• Clean tennis shoes designated for wear ONLY in the dance studio and socks.

Please do not wear:
• Shirts that show the belly or short shorts.
• Dirty tennis shoes
• Bare feet
• Jewelry - minimal earrings are okay.

____

Tap

Please wear tap shoes with a full wooden bottom, no split sole shoes. Any style Oxford tap shoe is acceptable. No patent leather. Hair pulled back out of face. No claw clips!

Tap I Dress Code (ages 7-9):

  • For girls, a leotard (solid color) with skin tone tights or black leggings
  • For boys, a solid colored t-shirt with black, exercise shorts or pants.
  • Please avoid baggy clothing and anything with pockets

Recommended Tap Shoes for Tap II and above (ages 10 and up):

Bloch Jazz Tap Shoe
Style: SO301L
Color: Black

Capezio Cadence
Style: CG19
Color: Black

Please do not wear:
• Baggy clothings
• Sweatpants

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WEAD Ensemble

Skin tone tights and shoes will be required for the Ensemble Winter Show. Ballet pieces require convertible tights while contemporary, jazz, and musical theatre pieces require stirrup tights. Not required for Ensemble rehearsals or for hip hop pieces.

Please wear:
• Leotard (any color/style)
• Tights and/or leggings (any color/style)
• Hair neat (up and out of face). No claw clips!

Boys should wear athletic shorts or pants with a solid color t-shirt.

Note: Clean style warm-ups are ok.

Please do not wear:
• Any baggy clothing or jewelry (minimal earrings okay)

____

Skin Tone Shoes and Tights

After much research, we have determined the best shoe and tight options for our studio. Reminder, Ballet IV and up dancers must purchase skin tone shoes and tights from the options below for the recital. Dancers have the option of wearing pink or skin tone tights and shoes to class. Due to limited availability for children's sizes, pre-ballet through Ballet III will continue to wear pink tights and shoes for performances.

Skin Tone Tights:

  • Capezio Ultra Soft
  • Visit the WEAD office or Ellman's Dancewear to find your perfect shade match.

Skin Tone Flat Ballet Slipper Options:

  • Capezio Hanami Canvas Slipper OR
  • So Danca Canvas Slipper
  • Visit Ellman's Dancewear for shoe fitting and to find your perfect shade match

Pointe Shoes:

  • While manufacturers are producing skin tone pointe shoes, they are custom ordered only and take a minimum of 6 weeks to ship. Thankfully the Pointe People have come out with pointe shoe paint in a variety of shades. Visit Ellman's in Carytown or their website to order. Remember, skin tone pointe shoes are not required for class, but they are required for the recital.

Visit Ellman's Online or In-Store to Purchase Your Shoes, Tights, and Pointe Shoe Paint

Convertible Tights for Ballet and Pointe
Stirrup Tights for Modern, Contemporary, and Jazz
Capezio Hanami Canvas Slipper
So Danca Canvas Slipper
Pointe Shoe Paint

Shop Local: Ellman's Dancewear

Ellman’s Dancewear is Richmond's largest dance retailer. Located in the eclectic shopping district of Carytown, Ellman’s offers an extensive selection of dance shoes - over 7,000 pair in stock - for dancers of all ages. Ellman’s meets the dancers’ footwear and apparel needs for all styles of dance.

Visit Ellman's website