When dressing your son for ballet…

Boys can be a little easier to dress for ballet because they do not have to wear the same clingy nylon tights as girls.  However, finding dancewear for your young son (that he likes and will wear) can be a little more difficult.  It is very important for young boys to follow the studio’s dress code; this instills both an appreciation for the art of ballet and an understanding that rules must be respected and followed.  Follow these tips to make sure the dressing process goes smoothly.

1.  Boys’ dancewear is usually easier to take on and off than girls, but you should still help your son get dressed for class right before you head to the studio. 

3.  Have him go to the bathroom before he gets dressed.  Boys can usually adjust or take off their dancewear off by themselves if they need to go, but it’s still a good idea to visit the toilet before you start dressing.

4.  If your son is required to wear a leotard, this is the item he will need to put on first.  He should not wear underwear under his leotard.  Some dance stores and online retailers sell specific boys’ leotards, and others do not.  “Girls’” or “children’s” leotards in tank and short-sleeved styles are unisex in fit, so it is ok to grab your son’s white or black leotard from a rack that also features pink and purple choices.  (Note: you will have to go to a dancewear store to find these unisex style leotards.  Leotards sold at places like Walmart are very feminine in design as they tend to feature glitter and bows on pink fabric.)

If your son is required to wear a t-shirt and tights or shorts, he should wear tight briefs under his dancewear.  (Older boys and men wear dance belts, which are tight thong-style garments, to keep everything in place.  Dance belts do not generally come in sizes below a boys’ large or men’s small.)  Any relatively tight fitting t-shirt (in the proper color and with no logos except the logo of the ballet school) works well for young boys.  Just make sure it is long enough to tuck in and is not see-through.

5.  After he has on his leotard or shirt and underwear, your son should put on his tights or shorts (make sure you know what the dress code requires; most of the time male ballet students are required to wear one or the other).  The main thing to remember about boys’ dance bottoms is that they should not be loose.  It can be difficult to find small size (below a kids’ 8-10) boys’ dancewear at a reasonable price, so it is often easier to dress your son in items from the girls’ department.  Stores like Target and Walmart sell tight black bike shorts and leggings in the girls’ department for $5-$10 a pair, and these items are perfect for boys’ dancewear.  If your son is sensitive about gender boundaries, you may want to shop without him with you and clip off the tags before you let him try on his dancewear.

If your son is specifically required to wear footed dance tights, you will have to find them at a dancewear store or online.  Boys’ footed dance tights come as small as a children’s’ 4-6, can be purchased in black or white, and usually cost $30 or more.

If he feels self-conscious about wearing tights or tight leggings or shorts, your son can wear a pair of loose basketball-style shorts or sweat pants over his dancewear until you get to the studio.  Older boys and men who wear dance belts should always put on some type of looser bottoms over their tights, but younger boys are ok without unless they are uncomfortable.

6.  If your son is wearing leggings or shorts, he will need to wear socks.  Any thin sock in the proper color will do.  Make sure your son’s socks are not inside out or bunched up at the toes.

7.  DO NOT allow your son to put on his ballet shoes until you get to the studio.  Have him put on regular street shoes (not lace up sneakers if you can help it.). 

8.  Grab his dance bag and make sure the necessities are packed (ballet shoes, water bottle) and the non-necessities are left at home (toys, money, food).  Boys’ dance bags do not have to say “dance” on them or come from the dance store.  Small backpacks or even lunch boxes work well for young kids who don’t have too much gear.