Starting a beginning ballet program can be a little daunting for new families, but finding the right gear doesn't have to be challenging! Our guide below will help you find the gear that most basic beginning level programs will accept. I always advise to shop local if you can first for several reasons. For one, it's better for your local economy to support your dance store in town. Second, your local dance store will probably know the ins and outs of what you need for your studio. If your studio has very specific requirements, chances are that the local dance store will carry it. But if they don't, or you don't have easy access to a dance store, our guide below will point you in the right direction.
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Before You Buy: Check All Gear Requirements For Your Class
Before you purchase, make sure to know exactly what is required of the class you've signed up for. Some schools have a very loose dress code and will accept almost anything that a dance can move in, while others will have a very strict code of exact models of leotard and tights your dancer will need. I highly recommend to not deviate from the dress code and purchase the models that they recommend/require. If you are having a hard time finding the recommended gear, ask your dance studio where they recommend purchasing items.
Basic Ballet Gear #1- Ballet Tights
I always advise to shop local if you can first for several reasons. For one, it's better for your local economy to support your dance store in town. Second, your local dance store will probably know the ins and outs of what you need for your studio. If your studio has very specific requirements, chances are that the local dance store will carry it.
Regular Footed Tights- These are your basic footed tights that are great for beginners. The bottom of the foot is full covered and will not bother young students who might not enjoy convertible tights. They may have different waist bands, which will come down to preference.
Convertible Tights- These tights include a cutout at the bottom of the foot below the arch. Convertible tights are mostly used for students on pointe as they grant easy access to dancer's toes for fixing any issues or taping toes. Beginning students can wear these, though some might have issue with the feel of the fabric at the bottom of their feet. They look the same as regular footed tights from a performance point of view.
Stirrup Tights/Footless Tights- Stirrup and Footless tights are not ideal for children's beginning ballet classes. Although some programs might accept them for weekly classes, most will not accept these styles of types for performing as they tend to look different from all the rest. Stirrup tights look like regular tights from the waist down until you get to the ankle. They end in a strip of tight that goes around the bottom of the dancers foot. Footless less tights are regular tights that end at the ankle and don't have any tights surrounding the foot region. These two types of tights are usually worn by older dancers for specific roles or for rehearsals.
What about mesh tights with seems on the back of the leg? This style of tight is a studio preference for what dancers should perform in, and is usually reserved for older students. I wouldn't recommend starting young children in this tight as they can be a bit itchy.
Basic Ballet Gear #2- Leotard
Leotards come in many different styles, colors, and designs, and nowadays there are a thousand different options. For children's beginning ballet classes, the best choice is to keep it simple with a black or ballet pink short sleeve, cap sleeve, or tank style leotard. Try to avoid an attached skirt unless the studio permits it. Additionally avoid any bright colors or elaborate designs on the leotard. Bright colors can be very distracting in class, and elaborate designed leotards tend to be pretty expensive and delicate making them a poor choice for children who are growing quickly. A black leotard is a pretty classic choice and many studios will only accept black leotards for their students. Having one in your child's wardrobe is a safe bet.
Basic Ballet Gear #3- Canvas Ballet Shoes
Ballet shoes are made out of two types of material- canvas and leather. I only recommend that students purchase canvas. The best type of shoe for beginning students is a canvas split sole ballet pink or skin tone ballet shoe. make sure that the shoe has the elastics pre-sewn unless you are confident that you can sew the shoe yourself. Below are some common options for ballet shoes and why we chose the above shoe for beginners.
Canvas vs Leather- There are many pros and cons to both shoes but in general, canvas is cheaper, fits the foot better, and looks nicer. The only time I would choose leather over canvas is if the class is being held in a room with a wood flood. Leather tends to grip to the wood better while canvas is a better match for marley floors.
Split Sole vs Full Sole- A split sole ballet shoe allows the dancer to better articulate their feet and the shoe creates a nicer line. The full sole ballet shoe tends to look a bit clunky, and while some argue that it helps to develop more strength in the foot, I have not seen that proven beyond someone's feeling on the topic.
Pre-Sewn elastics vs Sew it yourself- Choosing the pre-sewn elastics makes life easier as the elastic don't need to be sewn on. From a director's perspective who ran a studio with a dance store, we only sold pre-sewn elastic shoes because we had too many parents confused on how to sew the shoes or just wouldn't bother to do it.
Basic Ballet Gear #4- Hair Supplies
I always advise to shop local if you can first for several reasons. For one, it's better for your local economy to support your dance store in town. Second, your local dance store will probably know the ins and outs of what you need for your studio. If your studio has very specific requirements, chances are that the local dance store will carry it.
Hair ties- We like these smaller ones as they fit perfectly around most young kids hair. If your child has thicker hair, try a thicker hair tie that will hold better.
Bobby Pins/Hair Pins- Bobby pins tend to have one side that is bumpy and come to a close at the end while hair pins tend to be shaped like a "V" and remain open at the end. Bobby pins tend to work better at holding a ballet bun together for those with thin hair. Hair pins work better for thicker hair or those with a lot of hair to work with. If you're going to use hair pins, don't get the flimsy styling hair pins as they will not secure hair during a ballet class. I use only bobby pins on my 6 year old daughter who has long, fine hair while I use mostly hair pins on myself with my thicker adult hair. Sometimes a combination of the two works best as well, don't be afraid to experiment. I also really like the spiral pins as they do a great job holding hair up, but I would not trust the spiral pins by themselves.
Hair clips- Hair clips/barrettes are great for securing the whispies around the face that might get in a dancer's way. Hair clips should match the color of the dancer's hair so that they blend in to the head.
Items you might already have available- hairbrush and water spray bottle.
Stay tuned for our guide on how to make a basic ballet bun!
Basic Ballet Gear #5- Ballet Bag
It may seem like something extra that a dancer doesn't need, but I recommend getting a decent ballet bag to store everything that your dancer needs to take to class. A ballet bag is a great investment as ballet shoes can be stored in them in between class and less likely to disappear. Additionally, at the ballet studio, your dancer will always have a bag to put their outside clothes in and know where to find it afterwards. Items will be less likely to wander around in general. Any bag will work, but we've love the one above from Bloch!
Basic Ballet Gear #6- Water Bottle
Every dancer should have their own water bottle, labeled with their name, that they can have a quick water break in between combinations without being disruptive. Each instructor will have a preference for water bottles in the classroom, but it's best to start out prepared.
Extra Ballet Gear #1- Ballet Skirt
A ballet skirt is not a necessity, but it sure is fun to wear! Check out our top picks for fun ballet skirts to wear in class. The skirt should fit nicely around the waste and should not be distracting to the dancer. Avoid ones that have extra attachments on them or are really poofy.
Extra Ballet Gear #2- Warmups
Ballet class is designed to warmup dancers within the first 10 to 15 minutes, but for dancers who live in cold climates, having a few extra warmups can help dancers stay focused and not freezing. We recommend something like the ballet wrap below that is form fitting and easy to wear in class.
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