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If you recently enrolled your little angels at the local dance studio, preparing for the first class itself may be more challenging than you think.
Parents may even feel overwhelmed with the hundreds of different styles, sizes, and brands of Australian dancewear on the market, not to mention the costs that come in association.
Thankfully, Mino Dance will be able to walk you through this confusing process, and cover the essentials they’ll need for your kids to come prepared for their first dance class.
Before we buy anything, it’s important to see if it fits the proper class attire. Most dance schools will hand you a list of approved dancewear appropriate for their level, making it easier to sort out options when you visit the store.
This is a non-negotiable requirement in order to ensure proper form and safety of the dancer, but this may vary depending on the culture of the studio.
For example, The Australian Ballet School’s open classes have a preferred dress code for both girls and boys (listed at #8).
It’s also important to consider options that your child will like. Not only this will allow them to perform their best, but will also narrow down your options and prevent you from buying anything unnecessary.
That said, the essentials you’ll need would be a black dance leotard and tights to cover a wide variety of classes and performances. The leotard and tights should be able to fit their form, but not too much that it restricts their movement.
We also suggest getting a spare in a lighter colour, or their favourite if their primary dancewear gets ripped, snagged, or damaged from unwanted accidents.
While choosing dancewear can be quite a straightforward process, choosing the dance shoes is the tricky part.
Sizes and alterations for room to grow can be quite forgiving in dancewear, but extra room in shoes can prove to be a hazard, as the friction can cause your child's feet to develop blisters or even result in an accident.
This emphasises the need for well-fitting, high-quality dance shoes that will allow your child to get a proper ‘feel’ of the floor. This also allows the instructors to see their lines for correction, which enables them to learn better and transition into the class more easily.
Most dance schools will also give a list of dance shoes appropriate to the styles they teach, and some classes may also need you to purchase shoe accessories. For example, ballet pointe shoes need a ribbon, suede toe cap, as well as glue to sew them onto the shoes.
After getting the necessary dancewear, it’s usually best to get a dancing bag big enough to hold them all. It’s also a good idea to pack them alongside hair accessories and other accompaniments, so their hair doesn’t cover their faces during class for example.
We also find that packing their favourite snacks and drinks to munch on before or after classes may help to motivate your child, and allow them to enjoy the experience at a more functional capacity.
We also understand that a dance class may be a new and alien experience for your child, so it’s usually a good idea to arrive before the actual class starts. This gives them plenty of time to familiarise themselves with the space and people in the school, and ease into the environment with less fear of the unknown.
To recap, we recommend getting a pair of black leotards, tights, dance shoes, and a dancing bag whenever you’re ready for a trip to the store
Make sure what you’re picking is aligned with the dance school’s dress code - as well as being something that your child likes, of course! We’re ensuring big smiles at the end of class, so that they’re excited for the dance journey that’s to come.
Mino Dance sells a wide variety of Australian dancewear fit for all. Whether you’re looking for a certain brand, style, size, or colour, you’ll most likely find what you need in our collection.
If you have questions, concerns, or inquiries about finding the right fit, feel free to reach out or stop by our Sunbury and Bendigo stores for recommendations.