Ballet is the art of movement. It is a foundational dance structure and you will find it used in every other type of dance we teach. It is therefore recommended that you take ballet class along with any of the other classes we offer. However, it is not a requirement, except for pointe students.

Shoes

The only shoes you will need for ballet are ballet slippers. They come in a wide variety of colors and materials, but it doesn't really matter what kind you use. However, for beginners, shoes that do NOT have split soles are recommended. See below for some of the variations of ballet slippers that are available.

From left to right: black leather, canvas, pink leather, split sole, and white satin.

                                                       

 Clothing

Traditional ballet clothing includes tights, leotard, ballet skirt and sometimes leg warmers. For the gentlemen, it's usually non opaque tights or stretch pants and a shirt. The Language of Dance studio requires tights be worn for either gender because without them, one does not have the correct feel in the shoes. Also, tights aid in the prevention of sores on the feet due to the shoes rubbing on them constantly. Leotards and ballet skirts are not mandatory however. If you choose not to wear a leotard and ballet skirt, you may wear modest shorts and a shirt, or close fitting stretch pants. The stretch pants must conform to the muscles in the leg for the instructor to be able to see if you are doing certain dance moves correctly.

Here are some examples of men's tights (on the left) and women's tights (on the right).

             

Dancers can get leotards with no sleeves, short sleeves, three quarter sleeves and long sleeves and they come in a variety of colors. These are some of the varieties you can find on the Discount Dance Supply website.

There is also a lot of variety in ballet skirts. Below are some different styles, patterns and lengths.

              

You can also find all these items at The Dancewear House located in Hallowell.