6 yr old ballet exam-no underwear allowed?!?

@Comefromaway - Yes, that's very interesting indeed! It's a huge shame that local dance schools etc don't have that more inclusive attitude. It's really good to hear a balanced and logical view from people who are knowledgeable about the subject.

Skirts and leotards, or leotards with a skirt attached, probably aren’t a standard uniform for most dance schools - unless for the teeny tots who like playing dress-up. Leotards are used so the teacher can check the muscles you’re using and your alignment.

It feels like a very exclusive club and very much like "you can't sit with us" unless you meet our beauty standards. For little girls who just want to enjoy some dance lessons....

Yes, exactly. And it’s ironic that those of us on here who, on the whole are saying this isn’t our experience, it isn’t necessary, are the parents of serious dancers. If vocational students can wear underwear, then so should recreational dancers.

@Comefromaway - thank you, yes, the reasoning about alignment etc makes total sense. I think my issues are that a lot of the rules which are being enforced - and accepted - are nothing to do with comfort or technical alignment, or freedom of movement. In a nutshell, that's the bit that I think is so objectionable. It's the reasoning that insists to do ballet, a little girl MUST look a certain way.

It's not quite the same thing but I remember at school, our athletics PE kit was HATED by every girl. We had these vile nylon running pants which were just thick nylon knickers. In contrast, the boys were allowed to wear shorts for exactly the same sports - far more modest. And I feel like we're seeing the same disparity in standards here - little girls could and should be allowed to do ballet with knickers/cycling shorts etc. I'm not sure how a VPL restricts the ability to see alignment.

I just feel very uncomfortable about having such unbelievably strict aesthetics at such a young age for something that should be a joy. We've already seen several posters on this thread admit that their child felt unable to do/continue with ballet because they didn't have the right hair/didn't have the confidence to meet exacting physical standards.

It feels like a very exclusive club and very much like "you can't sit with us" unless you meet our beauty standards. For little girls who just want to enjoy some dance lessons....

The blue nylon skirted leotard is from one of the lesser used exam boards. A lot of dancers would tend to us sweaty nylon for shows rather than class or exams. RAD, ISTD & BBO uniforms tend to be comfier cotton or sweat wicking material and the skirts tend to be gauze.

can answer this one. Athletics I do know about. It's 100% choice. Women can wear the baggier running shorts they are an option. I think it's mainly fashion. Holly Bradshaw wears an all in one with cycling short length when the vast majority of other pole vaulters wear cropped tops and leggings. There has been a slight resurgence of the longer shorts in long distances as well.

At the Olympics 'kitting out' they choose which combo of vest/ shorts/ all in ones they want.

Thank you for explanation. I'm a runner and would never choose to run in essentially a bikini but I suppose i might do if I had the figure of a professional athlete I'm too traumatised by the awful gym pants we had to wear at school!

Sorry I mean the pole vaulters wear cropped tops and knicker shorts!

At the Olympics 'kitting out' they choose which combo of vest/ shorts/ all in ones they want.

@SallySycamore - But if little girls are wearing that kind of outfit with a little skirt attached then surely it matters even less if they wear knickers as they won't be seen??

My dds have been doing ballet with a well known dance school on and off for years. They are super strict but never about under wear. It's creepy.

Why are girls/ women uniforms skimpier than boys/ men?

Interesting you make this point as a friend and I were talking about this regarding running. Most professional male runners wear loose fairly short shorts and a singlet type vest. (I think I've seen Mo Farah wear cycling shorts style shorts) Women tend to wear crop tops and pants. You can tell by their tan lines this is not what they wear for training so I'm wondering if this is due to choice (maybe they prefer to race in skimpier kit?) or whether sponsors/kit manufacturers limit the choices for women athletes? Triathletes kit tends to be similar for men and women.

Little girls often wear a skirt though.

Sorry my post above was to @NerrSnerr in response to this question
Why are girls/ women uniforms skimpier than boys/ men?

Like other posters, I'd argue it's really t'other way round: boys can feel very exposed!

They're not, IME - boys' tights are very bare. The move for boys from tshirt & short shorts, to leotard and tights, with a dance belt is quite a big one, and (by some accounts) quite traumatic!

And quite honestly, I'm finding the undercurrent of a kind of sexualisation of young dancers in training - calling girls' leotards "skimpy" - to be both ignorant and distasteful.

Ignorant because you don't realise the freedom of movement required in ballet (and contemporary dance to a certain extent), and distasteful because young dancers in training really really don't think about their working clothes as "skimpy."

I do adult ballet classes & I run. The running tights I wear for running & the gym are unsuitable for ballet class - too heavy & constricting. I need lighter more flexible clothing and clothing that keeps me warm while being light & flexible.

If they do not wear underwear they lose the VPL but get a VCH (visible camel's hoof).

I have a photo of my DD in this state and she cringes when she sees it, even though she is an adult now - it even got a mention in my OH's speech at her wedding!!

I wasn't saying that they shouldn't do ballet with a pair of Elsa knickers on, just that they can show through a white leotard! I wouldn't wear dark or patterned knickers if you could see them through a pale dress or trousers.

I’d argue men’s uniforms are just as skimpy (having sat through many a class demo with teenage bound girls). It leaves little to the imagination.

Using the wrong muscles in turn out can cause huge amounts of damage. I’m all for anything that helps teachers correct alignment. It’s supposedly the reason they wear socks not tights to start off with too, my dd had to wear socks the first half of year 7 even until the teachers were sure they were doing things safely.

But I really cannot see the reasoning behind going underwear free.

I find it weird in ballet that appearance is so important. How about level of skill? My daughter gave up ballet when aged about 6 and we got a sheet with instructions on how her hair should be put in a bun.

It's about keeping hair out of the way. Ballet is an incredibly difficult skill, and it takes years of dedicated, detailed learning. You need your hair up off the back of your neck. You need your body to be clothed in clothes which are easy to move in but keep your muscles warm. The outline of your body needs to be visible so the teacher can see that your bones & muscles are being used correctly. As you get more advanced in the technique bad alignment & placement can cause injury - so you can't cover up. Ballet leotards & tights are made of thin but opaque materials, which allow you to move in whatever way you need to. Even as an adult, I find pants under a leo are horrible - they get all ruckled up and they're unnecessary - they just get in the way of moving.

Ballet is tough - trained dancers are strong athletes, who also make art. The emphasis on discipline is because it is needed - a ballet class needs to be calm orderly and have everyone concentrating. The work is slow and detailed.

Sorry I didn’t make myself clear. Washed out is not to do with skin colour, it’s about not being able to discern their features at all. I didn’t believe it myself until my DD’s first dance show when I realised I couldn’t see her eyes or mouth at all.

Yeah- cos the boys saunter in wearing any old crap, hair all over the place

There are rules for the boys’ presentation too. And I suspect they don’t wear underwear either (at a young age). For everyone getting exorcised about it, find your most sensible, granny style knickers (most like the sort of “pants” a small child would wear rather than high cut adult ones) then put them on under your swim suit- see how comfortable it is. Clue- it’s not!