Preparing for Class

Uniforms for LBS Fall & Spring Semesters

The Louisville Ballet School student dress code maintains the tradition and aesthetic of classical ballet and allows instructors to see the full lines of the students’ bodies. As such, all students must wear the required uniform colors and styles. These styles are required for students enrolled in the Fall and/or Spring semesters only. Students participating in Summer Semester Programs are NOT required to wear a specific color for summer camps/classes.

Required styles and colors of the Children’s, Classical Ballet, and Pre-Professional Programs are reasonably priced and will be available for purchase directly through The Louisville Ballet School.  Please review your dancer’s class uniform requirements and links to the online order forms below.
 
In keeping with Louisville Ballet and The Louisville Ballet School’s mission for inclusivity, we are proud to support our dancers of color opting for tights and shoes that align with their natural skin tone. For the optimal ballet leg and foot line, please ensure that shoes and tights match.
 
Families are welcome to schedule a uniform fitting with Amy using this calendar for their dancer after placing their order. We ask that all dancers under dress in their own leotard and tights (or a swim suit, or form fitting tank top and panties) to try on sample sizes. 
 
Questions? Please reach out to Amy Haley, ahaley@louisvilleballet.org

Children’s Program Uniform Requirements

 

Boost! participants should come to class in comfortable clothing so that you and your child have freedom of movement. Shoes are optional; however, if you do choose to wear shoes, try to make sure they are CLEAN! Some babies will be crawling on the floor and we want to keep the floor as clean and free of germs as possible.

 

Creative Movement (Intro, CM1, CM2) & Pre-Ballet

Online Order Form – Girls
Online Order Form – Boys

Creative Movement  Girls: Eurotard White dance dress included in order form
Plain white socks and pink leather full-sole ballet shoes. No tights, please. 

Creative Movement  Boys: White top and black shorts
White ankle socks and white full-sole leather ballet shoes.

Pre-Ballet  Girls: Eurotard Pink dance dress included in order form
Plain white socks with pink leather full-sole ballet shoes and black tap shoes. No tights, please. 

Pre-Ballet  Boys: White shirt and black shorts
White ankle socks with white full-sole leather ballet shoes and black tap shoes.


Classical Ballet Program Uniform Requirements

 

Classical Ballet I – IV

Online Order Form – Girls
Online Order Form – Boys

CB I – II  Girls: Eurotard leotard in Lilac, available styles included in order form
Plain white socks and pink leather full-sole ballet shoes. No skirts or tights, please. 

CB I – II  Boys: Eurotard white shirt and black shorts
Tan (or nude) colored dance briefs or dance belt
White ankle socks and white leather full-sole ballet shoes

CB III – IV, Intro to Classical Ballet  Girls: Eurotard leotard in Purple, available styles included in order form
Tights and leather full-sole ballet shoes. No skirts, please. 

CB III – IV, Intro to Classical Ballet  Boys: Eurotard White shirt
Black tights with nude colored dance belt 
White ankle socks and white leather full-sole ballet shoes.

 

Classical Ballet V – IX

Online Order Form – Young Ladies
Online Order Form – Young Men

CB V – VI  Young Ladies: Eurotard leotard in Eggplant, available styles included in order form
Tights and leather full-sole ballet shoes (pre-pointe shoes for pre-pointe class). No skirts, please. 

CB VII – IX  Young Ladies: Eurotard leotard in Burgundy, available styles included in order form
Tights and split-sole or full-sole canvas or leather ballet shoes (pointe shoes upon approval for pointe class). No skirts, please. 

CB V – IX  Young Men: Eurotard White shirt
Black tights with nude colored dance belt 
White ankle socks and white leather full-sole ballet shoes.

Teen Ballet
Ladies may wear a solid color leotard of their choosing and tights or form-fitting athletic attire, split-sole or full-sole canvas or leather ballet shoes
Gentlemen may wear a form fitting, solid color t-shirt with black tights or dance pants with dance belt or dance briefs

Inclusive Dance
Students may wear form fitting dance or athletic attire of their choosing


Pre-Professional Program Uniform Requirements

 

Pre-Professional 1 – 6

Online Order Form – Ladies
Online Order Form – Men

PP 1-2  Ladies: Wear Moi leotard in Sky, available style included in order form
Tights and split-sole or full-sole canvas or leather ballet shoes (pointe shoes for pointe class). No skirts, please.

PP 3-4  Ladies: Wear Moi leotard in French Blue, available style included in order form
Tights and split-sole or full-sole canvas or leather ballet shoes (pointe shoes for pointe class). No skirts, please.

PP 1-4  Men: Cap sleeve fitted top in White, available styles included in order form
Black tights with nude colored dance belt 
Choice of the following: (Shoes must match color of corresponding tights/socks)
White leather or canvas split-sole ballet shoes.
Black leather or canvas split-sole ballet shoes.

PP 5-6  Ladies: Wear Moi leotard in Navy, available style included in order form
Tights and split-sole or full-sole canvas or leather ballet shoes (pointe shoes for pointe class). No skirts, please.

PP 5-6  Men: Wear Moi cap sleeve fitted top in Navy, available styles included in order form
Black tights with nude colored dance belt 
Choice of the following: (Shoes must match color of corresponding tights/socks)
White leather or canvas split-sole ballet shoes.
Black leather or canvas split-sole ballet shoes.


Complementary Program Uniform Requirements

Online Order Form

Modern  Girls and ladies wear a solid-colored leotard with black leggings and bare feet.

Boys and young men wear a tight-fitting, solid-colored t-shirt, black leggings and bare feet.

Jazz/Tap 1-3 Girls and ladies may wear a solid-colored leotard, black leggings, black oxford style tap shoes and black jazz shoes with either socks or tights.

Boys and young men wear a tight-fitting solid-colored t-shirt, black leggings with dance belt, and black oxford style tap shoes, and black jazz shoes with socks or tights.  (No jazz sneakers, please.)

Musical Theater Jazz/Tap 1  Girls and ladies may wear a solid-colored leotard, black leggings, black oxford style tap shoes and black jazz shoes with either socks or tights.

Boys and young men wear a tight-fitting solid-colored t-shirt, black leggings with dance belt, black oxford style tap shoes and black jazz shoes with socks or tights.  (No jazz sneakers, please.)

Musical Theater Jazz 2-3  Girls and ladies may wear a solid-colored leotard, black leggings, and black jazz shoes with either socks or tights.

Boys and young men wear a tight-fitting solid-colored t-shirt, black leggings with dance belt, and black jazz shoes with socks or tights.  (No jazz sneakers, please.)

Body Conditioning  Students may wear yoga or other similar work out wear and bare feet. Dancers should supply their own yoga mat for classes.


General Dancewear

Other dancewear basics (tights, shoes, flamenco skirts, leggings, jazz pants, etc) are reasonably priced and can be purchased at Kinney Dancewear & online at Discount Dance Supply. A percentage of all orders placed through Discount Dance Supply will benefit the Louisville Ballet School by using the Teacher Referral Program code “TP27451.”  Please visit our Dress Code Pages on Discount Dance Supply’s website for images and examples of appropriate dance wear.

Parents are encouraged to monitor the fit and condition of all dancewear. Leotards, tights, and shoes that are too small or too large can interfere with technique. Severely small shoes can permanently injure a student’s feet, joints, and back. Oversized garments and shoes can be dangerous and may cause injury. The instructor must check all shoes before elastics or ribbons are sewn. All leotards, tights, skirts, and dance shoes should be clean, neat, and labeled with the student’s first initial and last name in permanent, waterproof ink. No watches or jewelry may be worn except small earrings.

Any clothing worn over the dancewear qualifies as a warm-up. Warm-ups make it quite difficult for the instructor to assess proper technique, placement and alignment. When necessary, warm-ups specifically made for ballet are the only additional dancewear permitted during classes. These items are snug and form fitting, like a leotard, allowing the instructor a clear view of the torso and spine.


Hairstyling

Front desk personnel and faculty will not be available to assist with students’ hair. Hair must be kept off the face and neck. Long hair must be secured in a neat bun with hairpins and a hair net prior to class time. Girls with very short hair should secure their hair with a headband, held in place with bobby pins and/or clips, and should use hairspray or gel to prevent hair from becoming loose and falling in front of the face. Headbands, hair pins, bobby pins, and hairnets are to be the same color as the student’s hair or the color of their uniform leotard. Braids are accepted but should not exceed shoulder length. The thickness of the braids should allow for a safe, secure, appropriately sized ballet bun that does not move. Loose ponytails, braids, or unsecured buns are not permitted. Students may be asked to sit out and observe class if hair is not secured in an appropriate hairstyle.


Studio Basket Essentials

Students should arrive at the studio under-dressed in their leotard and tights and/or other required dancewear. Make certain that students are properly dressed in street clothes over their dancewear.

Students are expected to bring the following with them in a small plastic bin/basket:
-An easily removable cover up to wear into the studio (over class uniform)
-Pre-filled water bottle(s)
-Dance shoes
-A notebook and pen/pencil (Classical Ballet & Pre-Professional students only)


Attire Requirements for LB Community Engagement After-School Programs

-Please make sure that your child wears comfortable clothing on dance days (Thursdays). We suggest leggings or shorts and a t-shirt. Clothing should not restrict movement. 
-If your dancer is wearing a skirt or dress, please have them wear shorts or leggings underneath.  
-Formal dance class attire is NOT required. 
-Dancers will wear whatever they have worn to school that day. Please don’t send clothing for your child to change into as there is no time to change before class begins. 
-We will take off our shoes to dance. If your child does not want to dance barefoot, please send socks with them to wear. 
-If your dancer already has ballet or jazz shoes that fit, you are welcome to send them in their bag; however, there is no need to purchase formal dance shoes for this class. 
-If possible, dancers’ hair should be pulled back off their face in a braid, bun or ponytail. Headbands work great for hair that is too short to pull back.


Attire for LBS Summer Semester Programs

-Uniform colors are NOT required for the Summer. Any color of choice will work! Click here to learn more about Summer attire guidelines.