Dress Code
There is a Dress Code. Only Students in proper dance attire will be allowed to participate in class.
Hair must be in a bun or snood for ballet. Ponytails or braids for jazz, tap and other.
Parents and students are asked to read On Stage Dance Studio Guidelines. It will explain rules of conduct in class, dress code and other pertinent information.
Footwear for Ballet Class
Two special types of shoes are used by ballet dances: "soft" ballet slippers and "hard", blocked pointe shoes, or toe shoes. All begining students, male and female, wear the soft-soled slippers, which are made of either leather or canvas. Male dancers continue to wear these pliable, snug-fitting slippers throughout their careers. Women, however, must also learn to dance in pointe shoes.
When their legs and feet are strong enough, they begin to study pointe work. Later, as advanced dancers, they may opt to wear old, "broken-in" pointe shoes for their regular nonpointe classes, instead of soft ballet slippers. It takes considerably more strength in the plantar muscles underneath the foot to bend or point a pointe shoe than it does to bend the lighter, softer, much more flexible ballet slipper. In order to maintain and increase the strength in their feet, many female dancers prefer to challenge themselves by wearing old pointe shoes for class. However, only advanced dancers should engage in this practice.
All ballet shoes must fit snugly. Beginning students should be fitted at reputable dancewear shops and should take their new shoes, before wearing them, to their teacher for approval. A shoe that fits improperly will be both uncomfortable and unattractive. Since foot structure is a highly individual matter, all advanced and professional dancers rely upon custom-made footwear, an expensive but essential element of their success as dancers.
It can be harmful to the Achilles tendon to tie pointe shoe ribbons at the back of the ankle. There is a small indentation just in back of the inside ankle bone where the knot can be hidden under the ribbons; in this spot it is both comfortable and invisible.
A small amount of protective material such as lamb's wool or brown paper may be placed inside the shoe around the toes. Elastic may be added to secure the shoe at the heel.