Class Dress Codes
Please read through each style below as the dress code varies by style. We do enforce our dress code. Teachers will give students a warning if they come out of dress code. Students will get 2 warnings. On the third dress code violation the teacher does have the option to have them sit until the dress code violation is fixed.
Dress code includes footwear, clothing, and hair style requirements. Just like you wouldn’t arrive to baseball practice without a glove, or football practice without a helmet, you wouldn’t arrive to ballet without a bun. It’s part of the discipline and something that is required.
Ballet Bun Tutorials
A dance class dress code is the equivalent of bringing a bat and glove to baseball practice or a football helmet to football practice. You wouldn’t come dressed in jeans to baseball, just like you wouldn’t come in shorts to ballet or without a bun. Please make sure your dancer arrives in correct dress code and correct hair for their respective classes. Ballet has the strictest dress codes. Please watch these videos if you need help making a ballet bun.
CLASS DRESS CODES
Ballet
Female: Black Leotard, pink tights, and pink leather ballet slippers. Hair in a bun. (if cut short, pulled away from the face) No Jewelry. Ballet slippers should be worn to all classes. Please double knot and cut bow strings to avoid distraction.
NO TUTUS. Sheer skirt is fine. Teacher must be able to see alignment of hips and dancer’s lines.
Male: Black leggings or form fitting pants, short sleeve solid t-shirt, and black leather ballet slippers. Ballet slippers should be worn to all classes. Please double knot and cut bow strings to avoid distraction.
Jazz
Female: Black leggings or black bike shorts, and tank top or leotard. Tan slip on jazz shoes. Hair pulled back. No jewelry. No mid-drift tops please. No dancing in bra tops or sports bras.
Male: Black basketball shorts and a t-shirt. Black jazz shoes and hair pulled away from the face.
Contemporary/Lyrical
Female: black leggings or black bike shorts, tank or leotard, barefoot and hair in a ponytail. No jewelry. We recommend having layers to avoid floor-burn on knees/shoulders. Knee pads and paws optional. No mid-drift tops please. No dancing in bra tops or sports bras.
Male: Black basketball shorts and t-shirt. Barefoot and hair pulled back if long. No jewelry. We recommend having layers to avoid floor-burn on knees/shoulders. Knee pads and paws optional.
Hip Hop
Male, Female: Athletic, move-able clothing. We recommend wearing pants and bringing knee pads to class each week. As for hip hop footwear we recommend tennis shoes, vans, pumas, converse, or street shoes. Please keep a pair of shoes just for dance class that aren’t worn outside. Items that are popular now are hoodies, harem pants, leggings, sweats, capris, t-shirts, and tank tops. No skirts, dresses, or jeans please! No flip flops, bare feet, open toes, sandals, or crocs. No mid-drift tops please. No dancing in bra tops or sports bras. Dancers with long hair, please pull it back into a ponytail.
Acro
Female: black leggings or black bike shorts, tank or leotard, barefoot and hair in a ponytail. No jewelry. We recommend having layers to avoid floor-burn on knees/shoulders. Knee pads and paws optional.
Male: Black basketball shorts and t-shirt. Barefoot and hair pulled back if long. No jewelry. We recommend having layers to avoid floor-burn on knees/shoulders. Knee pads and paws optional.
Musical Theatre
Female: Black leggings or black bike shorts, tank top or leotard. Hair pulled back. No jewelry. No jeans. Barefoot. A shoe may be required for show/performance costume after December.
Male: Black basketball shorts and a t-shirt. Hair, if long, pulled away from the face. No jewelry. No jeans. Barefoot. A shoe may be required for show/performance costume after December
Tap
Female: Black leggings or black bike shorts, tank top or leotard. Hair pulled back. No jewelry. Tap shoes.
Male: Black basketball shorts and a t-shirt. Hair, if long, pulled away from the face. Tap shoes.
Tap Shoe Color: You may purchase black or tan. However we do make a color decision in Dec/Jan based on costumes for recital. You may be required to purchase an alternate color before recital come around. Just be aware of this.
Technique Classes
Female: Black leggings or black bike shorts, and tank top or leotard. Tan slip on jazz shoes. Hair pulled back. No jewelry. No mid-drift tops please. No dancing in bra tops or sports bras.
Male: Black basketball shorts and a t-shirt. Black jazz shoes and hair pulled away from the face.
Performance Teams
Performance teams have a separate dress codes based on style of dance, which you can view in the Performance Team Handbook.
PCPA has partnered with DiscountDance.com to offer discounts for our families. Use the Teacher ID: 101020 at checkout.
Dance Theatre Shop will have back to school sales the entire month of August. We especially recommend them for shoes. DTS carries both boys and girls dance attire. Located on B st. in downtown San Mateo.
PCPA gear is available through our website. We will be designing new items throughout the season to be sure to check back or follow us on social media to keep up with new items.