Dress Code

Home
Important Dates
Tuition 2010-11
About FPDS
Faculty
Studio Policies
Dress Code
Dance Links
Footnotes
Summer Camp
2010-11 Schedule
 

Students should come to class prepared to dance in appropriate dance attire every class through the entire season.  In order to be able to work in a physical environment, one must have the proper dancewear.  All students need to wear tights and leotard for all classes.  Dance pants and/or skirts are permitted in some classes.

  • T-shirts, shorts, jeans and tank-tops are not permitted in any classes

  • No gum chewing or candy of any kind is permitted in classes.

  • Jewelry should be kept very minimal such as a wedding band and earring studs; no necklaces, watches, bracelets, etc.

  • All students should have all hair pulled back off the face and up off the neck; in a bun for all ballet classes.

Parents please not that if your child is not in proper attire they will be given something from the studio box to borrow and wear for their class.  If you cannot afford leotards and tights for your child, something will be provided from the studio box that you may keep.  If you child has forgotten their dance clothing, (either accidentally or "accidentally on purpose") they will be given something to wear from the studio box.

If you child needs shoes or proper attire for classes, these items can be found at a discount price at the following places:

Please consult their instructor for sizing. 

Students:

If you have forgotten your dance attire, please do not ask instructors if you can dance in your street clothes, find something in the studio box that is appropriate for your class.  It is important for the instructors to see the body and the muscle groups involved in each exercise, students who are not in appropriate clothing risk injury as the instructor cannot possibly make anatomical corrections.

Students who are not in proper attire or who refuse to borrow something from the extra dance clothing box will not be be allowed to dance and will forfeit their dance class.  Parents will be notified should their child refuse to participate in class with the proper attire.  If you cannot afford dancewear for your child, please speak with Janice for a donation of a leotard and tights for your dancer.

Pre-Ballet,: Leotards (any color), footless tights (any color). Please do not bring/wear dance skirts for your youngest dancers unless it is already attached to the leotard.  Skirts that are removable become just that in class-removed-providing a distraction and taking time from class with every dancer needing to 'share' the skirt, etc.

Level I, IIA, IIB: Plain leotard (any color), tights (tan or pink) or unitard.  No skirts or dance pants for any class other than hip hop.

Level III, IVA, IVB, and all Horton classes:  Plain leotard (any color), tights (tan or pink) or a unitard.  Students may wear jazz pants for hip hop, jazz and tap.  Students in ballet may wear a ballet skirt.  Body warmers for ballet may only be worn at the barre.

Level V:  Black leotards, tights of any color.  Jazz pants, warm-ups and ballet skirts allowed for appropriate classes.  (i.e. no jazz pants in ballet class).  Body warmers for ballet may only be worn at the barre.

Adult Students:  Please wear comfortable clothing that you have a full range of motion in.

Tumbling: students should wear a leotard only whenever possible.  Students may wear dance pants or leggings, but no loose fitting pants, t-shirt, or shorts in order that they can be spotted without extra fabric catching on the spotter.

SHOES

Ballet

It is preferred that all ballet students wear a pink Capezio or Bloch ballet shoe for girls and women, or a black ballet shoe from Capezio or Bloch for boys and men.  If you have already purchased shoes of another brand, please do not buy another pair until performances require them.  Students who need shoes for Nutcracker or the spring recitals are asked to purchase the brands and colors mentioned above.  All ballet shoes should have elastic in them.  Students in levels IVA, IVB, and V are expected to have a split sole ballet slipper in order to work the foot more efficiently.  Canvas shoes are fine for class, but all students should understand that leather shoes will be needed for all performances.  Ballet slippers should fit like a glove to the foot-not uncomfortably tight, but snug enough with no slippage.  As often as your dancer outgrows his/her street shoes-they are also outgrowing their ballet slippers-shoes should be replaces usually once per year, however if you child has a big growth spurt-you may be purchasing three pairs of ballet slippers in one season.

 

Pointe:

Pointe shoes will be fitted professionally in Ithaca on a date to be determined.  Dancers on pointe should be aware that they will need to replace pointe shoes every four months (six months for GM's) minimum in order to prevent injury from 'dead' shoes.  Ideally dancers on pointe (after their first pair and learning their foot type) will have two-three pairs of pointe shoes to rotate.  The first pair of pointe shoes should never ever be ordered by catalog as each dancer's foot is unique and each dancer's placement will vary due to body type, flexibility of foot and strength of the dancer.  Pointe shoes should never be traded to another dancer for any reason as each pointe shoe breaks down specifically to conform to the foot is is being trained on.  Dancers who are not taking two-three slipper classes per week should never play, practice, pretend or work in pointe shoes for any reason.

 

Hip Hop:

All hip hop students will need a Capezio or Bloch split sole canvas low top dance sneaker in black.

 

Jazz

All jazz students will need black jazz oxfords, Capezio or Bloch shoes if possible.  Split-sole shoes are preferred for all classes. Jazz V students will need tan and black jazz shoes.  Jazz shoes should fit snugly and similar to a ballet slipper.  As often as your dancer outgrows his/her street shoes-they are also outgrowing their jazz shoes-shoes should be replaced usually once per year, however, if your child has a big growth spurt-you may be purchasing three pairs of jazz shoes in one season.

 

For students under size three:  Ballet and jazz shoes usually run the same size as street, sometimes slightly larger.

 

For students over size four:  Ballet and jazz shoes usually run the same size as street shoes, sometimes slightly smaller.

 

 

Modern

All Modern classes are held barefoot.  Do not wear shoes or tights that are not convertible.  Dancers in Horton are expected to turn barefoot and should find feet toughening through-out the year-some calluses will occur and will actually help in Horton classes.  Any dancer with a viral foot infection (planters wars/athletes foot) should inform the instructor that they need to wear shoes in order not to spread the infections.  Medical attention should be given to any warts or virus of the foot.

 

Tap

Tap shoes will be checked at the first class for proper fit.  Please be aware that tap shoes should fit snugly.  Please follow the sizing recommendations below.  Your tap shoes are your instruments and in order to play your instrument properly you need to have good fitting tap shoes!  As a rule, tap dancers should expect to replace tap shoes every year to continue having the proper fit.

 

Tap I & II:  Girls will need a Capezio Jr. Tyette(625C) black tap shoe. Boys should wear a black Capezio or Bloch Jazz Tap/Oxford.  Sizing is usually 1/2 size larger than street shoe size.  These shoes may be purchased at www.dancedistributors.com or 1-800-33DANCE.

 

Tap III-  Girls will need a Capezio Mary Jane Tap Shoe (3800 C) in black. Boys should wear a black Capezio or Bloch Jazz Tap/Oxford. Sizing is usually street shoe size. These may be purchased at www.allaboutdance.com or 1-800-775-0578.

 

Tap IV&V:  All students must have a Bloch Jazz Tap (S0301L) in black or Capezio CG55 in black in addition to Bloch Showtappers.  Sizing for both is usually street shoe size. These may be purchased at www.dancedistributors.com or 1-800-33 DANCE.

 

Slip-guard is recommended for all tap shoes!  Please make sure your shoes are ordered with slip-guard.

 

Tumbling:

Tumbling students will be taking all classes barefoot-please do not wear ballet slippers, jazz shoes, gymnastic shoes or tights as they can all interfere with strong foot placement on the floor in preparing for stunts.  As with Horton classes, any student with a viral infection of the foot should inform their instructor and take necessary precautions.

 

 

At FPDS we recycle all shoes in the shoe box in the dressing room.  If you have shoes to share (no tie-on taps) please drop them off-likewise if you find a pair that fits your child, please help yourself!

 

PLEASE carry dance shoes in and out of studios. DO NOT wear your dance shoes outside!

 

 

Hit Counter