What's Appropriate to Wear for Dance Class in Fall & Winter?

It’s that time of year again. Temperatures are dropping, which means you and your child have a few extra considerations to take into account when preparing for class. I cringe to see students walking from the car into the studio wearing nothing but a leotard, tights, and shoes (yikes!). Of course we have a standard dress code for classes, but it’s important to remember that in this colder season, it takes much longer for students’ muscles to get warm. Therefore, dressing appropriately for class is absolutely critical for preventing injury.

The best way to keep your dancer healthy and injury-free this time of year is to ensure that he/she is wearing extra layers for class. However, not all layers may be appropriate for class, so see below to find what your child should and shouldn't be wearing.

What’s Appropriate:

• Leggings
• Leg-warmers
• Wrap ballet sweater
• Form-fitting, long-sleeved shirt
• Form-fitting jacket or hoodie

What’s Not Appropriate:

• Coat or Parka
• Oversized hoodie 
• Extra-long sweater
• Oversized sweatpants

The key here is that layers should be form-fitting, especially for classes like ballet, jazz and contemporary. In these genres, teachers need to be able to see the placement and positioning of students’ bodies, so all layers need to allow for this. With that said, for classes like hip hop and tap, it’s totally fine for students to wear items like baggier shirts, hoodies or sweatpants.

All in all, this simple task can make a huge difference in a dancer's well being. By setting this expectation for students, what we're really teaching them is the importance of caring for and respecting their bodies, which is a valuable habit that will continue to serve them. So parents, please take the time to inform your dancer of this, so that together we can ensure that all students have a healthy and happy winter FULL of dancing! ​