Why a dress code?
Have you ever wondered why a recreational dance studio requires a dress code for your child? While it may seem silly to those unfamiliar with the dance world, we have many reasons for our dress code including focused learning, improved technique, class cohesion, mindset, and even safety. Let’s dig a little deeper into how dress code plays a vital role in the dance class environment.
Directors and teachers are very thoughtful in dress code decisions because when your child is dressed appropriately for class teachers are able to easily identify proper placement and make necessary corrections to promote safe dance practices and technique. Proper dress not only helps teachers focus on technique and placement, but also allow dancers to focus on their dance technique rather than a possible distraction from clothing. Many types of clothing can be restrictive to movement and cause distraction while dancing. Did you know that Irish dancers must show their knees during class for their teacher to appropriately evaluate placement and technique? That is why shorts or skorts are part of their class dress code.
Proper dress code puts your dancer in the mindset of learning and reminds them that they are in the studio to dance. Just as when we wear a swimsuit our brain tells our body it is time to swim, when we are dressed in a leotard and tights our brain signals to our body that we are ready to learn and grow as a ballet dancer. We encourage our hip hop dancers who take multiple classes to bring a pair of pants to put on when transitioning from ballet to hip hop class to signal to the brain that it is time to switch genres.
When moving from genre to genre, switching shoes provides the brain with additional signals that the style of dance is changing. It is vital for your practice to have appropriate shoes. It’s hard to go to tap class and practice your shuffle step without tap shoes. And how can you grow stronger “en pointe” without wearing pointe shoes to class?
Hairstyle is another important part of the dress code because when your hair is in proper placement, your body is free to move without hair getting in your eyes or worse when a ponytail whips you in the eye while trying to spot during a turn. Please pay careful attention to your class dress code including hairstyle before attending class this season.
Just like a basketball team wears a uniform to promote team unity, we feel the same unity in the studio when our dancers are dressed according to their class dress code. We are here to support one another in our pursuit to be the best dancers we can be and wearing the appropriate clothing to class helps us achieve our mission!
Written by Mary Glenn Coleman
