How to Dress for Ballet

The proper attire for practicing ballet is essential to mastering the poise and graceful forms required in this demanding art form. The way you dress for ballet will be determined as much by the setting in which you dance as it will by the wishes of your instructor.

Things You'll Need

• Hair band
• Tights
• Ballet shoes
• Dance belt
• Bobby pins
• Hair spray
• T-shirt
• Socks
• Leotard

Instructions

Dress Men for Ballet

1. Be prepared to purchase a dance belt. Most ballet studios will require their male dancers to wear tights with shirts tucked in, making a dance belt an absolute necessity. A dance belt is akin to a jockstrap.

2. Don a pair of black tights. Purchase footless tights if your school requires you to wear socks or if you prefer to wear your slippers against bare skin.

3. Look for a pair of black leather ballet slippers to dress your feet. Your slippers should fit snugly but not be too tight. Many dancers size their shoes by swirling rubbing alcohol in them before wearing them.

4. Determine whether a long-sleeved or short-sleeved T-shirt or other dance shirt is required by your studio. Remember that, in performance, you might also be required to go shirtless. Many male dancers wear formfitting tanks to class.

5. Tame your mane before you enter the studio. Long hair should be pulled to the nape of the neck and secured with an elastic band in a ponytail.

Dress Women for Ballet

1. Ask your studio whether sleeved or sleeveless leotards are requisite. Look for leotards which are constructed using side darts, front and back, to achieve a better fit.

2. Pick a pair of pink tights for practice and another for performance. As with the leotard, tights should fit properly without being too tight or too baggy.

3. Select a pair of pink leather ballet slippers. Most dancers begin with a leather shoe before advancing to satin toe shoes as they progress with their training.

4. Consider purchasing a cover-up for wear outside the studio. You can find coordinating wrap-around skirts and ballet sweaters at most dance shops to help keep you warm before your class begins.

5. Keep your locks under control in class by creating a tight and secure bun of hair at the back of your head. Longer hair may be arranged higher on the head, while shorter hair can be pulled back to the nape and arranged into a bun there.

Tips & Warnings

• Always check with a ballet school's admissions office to confirm the required apparel for participating in dance classes. Many schools prohibit certain ballet accessories, such as skirts and leg warmers, as they interfere with the instructor's ability to supervise the body in motion.