Uniforms for Dance Classes

General information about what to wear and presentation

  • Hair in a bun or similar without loose ends is essential.

  • Leotard and tights (outlined below for different classes) to be worn as a standard class uniform

  • Extra layers can be worn until warm as long as the uniform is underneath for later in the class.

  • Advanced/mature students are free to wear their choice of dance-wear with some regard to sight-lines so corrections can be made.

+ Ballet...

Pre-Primary and Primary:
Girls: sleeveless, gathered-front leotard in marine-blue, matching separate cross-over skirt, matching cross-over top (if required) pink nylon ballet tights, and pink leather ballet shoes.
Boys: white short-sleeved leotard or fitted white shirt, black stirrup tights, white socks, and white canvas or leather ballet shoes. Black shorts may also be worn as an alternative to tights.
Girls Grades 1-3:

  • Sleeveless, gathered-front leotard in marine-blue, matching waist elastic, matching cross-over top (if required) pink nylon tights, and pink canvas/leather ballet shoes; split-sole shoes are permitted if preferred.
  • Black RAD character skirt with blue satin ribbon combination, to measure 7.6cm below the knee; and black canvas character shoes with the low heel for Grades 1-2. Grade 3 and higher (ideally): the Cuban heel.
    Please Note: NEDT has a limited number of character skirts and shoes for hire ($15/skirt and shoes/term) otherwise see recommended suppliers.

Boys Grade 1 and over:

  • White short-sleeved leotard or fitted white T-shirt, black stirrup tights, white socks and white leather/canvas ballet shoes.
  • Black lace-up character shoes (beyond size 8 use ballroom shoes, or tap shoes without taps).

Girls Grade 4 and above:

  • Sleeveless black gathered-front leotard and matching waist elastic, black cross-over top (if required), pink nylon tights for exams (black may be worn in weekly class), pink canvas or leather ballet shoes for both Graded Syllabus to grade 8, and Discovering Repertoire levels 2, 3, and 4. (Vocational stream requires different foot-wear.)
  • Graded Syllabus to Grade 8: black RAD character skirt with blue satin ribbon trim reaching 7.6 cm below the knee, canvas black character shoes with the higher Cuban heel.

Please Note: NEDT has a limited number of character skirts and shoes for hire, ($15/term for skirt and shoes) otherwise see recommended suppliers.

Professional Stream: Intermediate Foundation and above:

  • Character skirts and shoes are not required.
  • Add to prescribed leotard well-worn-in pink pointe shoes, or demi-pointes.
  • Pointe shoes ideally fitted by a professional.

+ Contemporary/Jazz...

Girls Contemporary/ Jazz Levels 1-4:

  • Black leotard (any style) black cross-over top (if required) flesh coloured/or black footless tights, and black dance shorts/leggings/ or dance pants, black jazz shoes (slip-on or lace-up, as preferred).
  • Accessorise with superficial layer as long as the body is adequately visible for corrections, and item can be easily discarded if more clarity of line is needed.

Boys Contemporary/Jazz Levels 1-4:

  • Black, or white singlet or T-shirt, black bike-shorts/leggings/ or dance-pants, black jazz shoes (slip-on or lace-up as preferred).
  • Accessorise with superficial layer as long as the body is adequately visible for corrections, and item can be easily discarded if more clarity of line is needed.

+ Dance Projects, Dance/Fitness Classes...

Fitted, comfortable exercise-wear.
Adult Ballet requires ballet shoes. Yoga plus (+ Beginner Tap) requires tap shoes: tan coloured short heeled shoes are recommended (but not compulsory) for women; lace-up black tap shoes for men. Hard soled/character shoes may also be worn until more suitable shoes are available.

+ Recommended suppliers...

Energetiks:
Coloured leotards, matching skirts, elastics, and cross-over tops; dance tights for ballet or contemporary/jazz; black dance-wear as an alternative to that available locally, leather/canvas ballet shoes, demi-pointe shoes, pointe shoes (preferably post fitting professionally when style and size is known) and jazz shoes.

Ellis Bella Dance-wear or Ebay: Character skirts with the blue satin trim, canvas character shoes with the low or Cuban heel.

K mart, Big W, Target:
Black dance-wear including leotards (depending on sizing) cross-over tops, dance shorts, leggings, dance-pants, bonds singlets (boys).