2025_26 BBS Dress Code

2025/26 Dress Code

At Boulder Ballet, we appreciate and celebrate each dancer for who they are and want all dancers to feel safe and comfortable at all times. Everyone’s body needs a support system, especially as they mature through puberty. For your body, please have the appropriate undergarments so that your body feels supported and streamlined for class and performance. This might include: dance belts, nude cami leos, trunks, etc.

Dress code in dance classes helps faculty give feedback on technique, which is incredibly important to each dancer’s overall growth and progress. Faculty must be able to see clean lines and form in order to help each dancer reach their goals and dance in a way that focuses on injury prevention and clarity of movement.

Dancers are encouraged to choose tights and shoes that match their skin tone, if they so desire. We are working with Boulder Body Wear to make sure there are different options available when choosing skin tone tights and shoes. If you have questions about availability, please contact Amy Kenney at Amy@boulderbodywear.com. When you choose skin tone shoes or pink shoes, please match the tights accordingly. Mention Boulder Ballet to receive a 15% discount.

Primary Division Ballet Dress Code

Mini-Me, Creative Movement, Pre-Ballet 1 & 2, Levels 1A & 1B

Please reach out to Andrea (andrea@boulderballet.org) and Laura (laura@boulderballet.org) if you have questions about dress code.

Mini-Me, Creative Movement, Pre-Ballet 1

Our youngest dancers should wear clothes they feel comfortable moving in. No specific dress code required. For safety, please no dangling jewelry. Hair secured away from the face; please no tiaras or other distracting hair accoutrement (safety hazard). If wearing a dress or skirt, please also wear shorts/leggings/pants underneath, so your young dancer will feel free and comfortable in stretches, warm-up positions, and potentially going upside down. Ballet shoes are optional; bare feet are also a great choice.

Levels Pre-Ballet 2, 1A & 1B

Please make sure to tuck in the drawstrings of their ballet shoes (no bunny ears 😊). Dancers may not wear sweaters, sweatshirts, leg warmers, pants or skirts for classes or rehearsal. They are allowed to wear those extra layers to and from class only. No jewelry (this is a safety hazard).

black leotard, ballet pink or skin tone fully footed tights with pink or skin tone ballet shoes

black tights, fitted white shirt tucked in, with black tights and black or skin tone ballet shoes

Ballet Hair

Levels Pre-Ballet 1 & 2, 1A & 1B: pulled back neatly and out of the dancer’s face in a bun or ponytail. If using a headband to pull short hair back from face, please secure with pins so it doesn’t become a distraction during class.

Dancers with natural hairstyles such as twists, braids, dreads, cornrows, etc - please pull back out of face in a bun or ponytail; if hair is short, please secure away from face.

Junior Division Ballet Dress Code

Levels 2, 3, 3A/B

Beginning Bilingual Ballet, Beginning Teen Ballet, Boys Ballet

Please reach out to Andrea (andrea@boulderballet.org) and Laura (laura@boulderballet.org) if you have questions about dress code.

Ballet Attire

black leotard, ballet pink or skin tone fully footed tights with pink or skin tone ballet shoes

black tights, fitted white shirt tucked in, with black tights and black or skin tone ballet shoes

Ballet Hair

Levels 2+: long hair must be in a ballet bun for ballet class; short hair must be secured away from face.
Dancers with natural hairstyles such as twists, braids, dreads, cornrows, etc - please pull into a ballet bun; if hair is short, please secure away from face.

Contemporary, Musical Theater and Fusion Attire (Fusion included as directed by teacher)

Dance attire: tights, shorts, leggings or colored leotards, etc. All attire must be fitted so teachers can correct alignment; ballet shoes, bare feet, jazz shoes or socks. (Ask the teacher preference)
Hair: hair must be secured away from face (half-up, ponytail, etc)

Hip Hop Attire

Dance attire: Dancers should wear clothes that they feel comfortable in. Good options are dance clothes like leggings, shorts, leotards, tank tops, and t-shirts. Please wear supportive, clean tennis shoes. (no black soles)
Hair: hair must be secured away from face (half-up, ponytail, etc)

Senior Division Dress Code

Levels 4A, 5A, 5B, 6/7

Please reach out to Andrea (andrea@boulderballet.org) and Laura (laura@boulderballet.org) if you have questions about dress code.

Ballet Attire

Dancers may wear fitting warm ups at the beginning of barre through pliés. No jewelry (this is a safety hazard; small earrings are ok). No baggy clothing (shorts, pants, t-shirts, sweatshirts etc); this can disrupt faculty’s assessment of line and placement.

black leotard and pink or skin tone tights and ballet shoes; tights worn under shoes

white t-shirt tucked in, with black tights and black or skin tone ballet shoes

Ballet Hair

Levels 4A+: long hair must be in a ballet bun for ballet class; short hair must be secured away from face.
Dancers with natural hairstyles such as twists, braids, dreads, cornrows, or if hair is short, please secure away from face as much as possible.

Contemporary, Jazz and Fusion

Dancers may wear tight leggings, shorts, colored leotards etc. All attire must be fitted so teachers can correct alignment. Secure hair away from face (half-up, ponytail, etc). Jazz shoes, ballet shoes, bare feet or socks. (Ask the teacher for preference.)

Hip Hop

Dancers should wear clothes that they feel comfortable in. Good options are dance clothes like leggings, shorts, leotards, tank tops, and t-shirts. Please wear supportive tennis shoes. (no black soles)

Cross Training

Dancers may wear the same as jazz and contemporary but they must wear supportive tennis shoes. (No flat shoes like converse. Arch support is beneficial). If dancers go into ballet class after this class please layer shorts over your ballet clothes so you don’t have to fully change before ballet class.

Rehearsals

Colored leotards are allowed. No warm-ups allowed unless otherwise directed.

Skirts

No skirts for technique class. Level 5-7 dancers may wear skirts for rehearsals, pointe, and variation classes.

Why is a Dress Code Important?

At Boulder Ballet School, the dress code is about much more than just looking the part; it's a vital part of ensuring each dancer gets the most out of their training.

Safety and Freedom of Movement
The right dance attire is designed to allow full range of movement while keeping the body supported. Baggy or improper clothing can lead to accidents, hinder movement, or even cause injury (e.g. pants that are too long, etc). Proper attire also allows instructors to see the dancers' alignment and posture, ensuring safe and correct technique.

Discipline and Focus
BBS dress code helps foster a sense of unity and focus. When dancers are dressed appropriately, it eliminates distractions, making it easier for them to concentrate on their training. It also cultivates respect for the studio environment and their fellow dancers. Directors will also be able to see a clean look, which makes it easier when fine tuning choreography and productions.

Professionalism and Team Spirit
A consistent dress code helps create a professional atmosphere all around. It builds a sense of belonging and collective dedication among the dancers working toward the same goal.

Respect for the Art Form
Wearing appropriate attire shows respect for the art form, the instructors, and the hard work required to improve within the technical skills needed for dance.

Preparation for Performances
Dressing according to a code in class helps prepare dancers for costumes and performances. Learning to dance in appropriate attire will make it easier for dancers to adapt to costume requirements and maintain professional standards on stage.

Additional Guidelines - Do’s and Don’ts

Leg Warmers don’t allow us to correct proper technique. This includes a refined leg line, tracking, sickling, etc. Dancers in Levels 2+ are allowed to wear tight-fitting leg warmers through pliés during barre warm-up. Otherwise, you may not wear these in class or rehearsal unless temperatures in the room are not acceptable. Please be ready to quickly peel off extra layers after pliés so we can remain focused on training.

*Exception: if a dancer is injured or in recovery and needs to wear a legwarmer to keep a knee or ankle warm, they may do so; please communicate openly and regularly with your instructor. If a dancer gets into a habit of this beyond supporting an injury, it sends a single to your mind that you are injured and need to wear these when you aren’t. This can lead to unnecessary compensation and foster unhealthy habits during your training.

Skirts may be worn for rehearsal unless you are asked to take them off. Only dancers in Levels 5+ may wear skirts for pointe class; dancers in Levels 4 and below are still working on pelvic placement and how to properly engage the back of their legs. We need to be able to refine technique. Dancers in Levels 5+ should have a refined enough understanding of placement and alignment that can allow us to offer more options for certain classes.

If a dancer feels more comfortable wearing more coverage during their monthly cycle, they may wear TIGHT black shorts. NO boxers or baggy shorts allowed. Tight black shorts are the best option here because they still allow us to see and correct technique while offering proper coverage.

*Wearing tight black shorts every week is not a part of dress code; if this becomes a habit, we will talk to the dancer privately about this.

No baggy shorts or boxers are allowed. Only tight black shorts will be a part of the dress code unless you are in a jazz, contemporary, hip hop, or cross training class. Additionally, in these classes, please do not wear super baggy pants unless you are in hip hop. (even in jazz and contemporary, we are looking for specific technical components that require being able to see alignment, etc.

Dancers may wear colored loes and skirts for rehearsals.

Dancers, please respect your teachers, classmates, and the art form by adhering to the dress code. Rather than ask your teachers weekly if you can have an exception, trust your teacher will let you know if/when there is a rare exception.

Looking Forward

We will be incorporating BBS SPIRIT DAYS where dancers will be able to wear their BBS (or Nutcracker) shirts for class or rehearsal. Stay tuned!

BBS Dress Code |