Anyone know the unwritten rules around ballet skirts?

[TheFlannelsAreBreeding]

My dd(10) bought herself a skirt for her ballet class which turns out not to be the right sort (though her teacher was very nice about it, they’re relaxed about uniform). Having looked around, she thinks the rule is they have to have very thin, see-through skirts that match their leotard in colour. Is that right? And does that then mean not wearing a belt with the leotard?

I’m also confused about appropriate leotard colours / styles, if anyone knows about that. She would like a pretty leotard with interesting straps for her birthday, but I don’t want to buy something that she won’t be allowed to wear (or which she’ll feel uncomfortable wearing because it won’t fit in). I know that the younger girls seem to wear pink, then blue, then black as they get older. But I’m confused abut styles, and what’s right for her age.

Each school seems to have their own rules about what they accept in classes although there are strict rules for what you need to wear for examinations. Best thing to do is to talk to her ballet teacher and ask what they are allowed to wear and what it is usual to wear for classes.

@redasthe rose Thanks!

I don’t often get a chance to speak to her teacher (when I see her she’s always very busy), and dd is a bit shy to ask. So, while I will if I get a chance, I thought I’d crowd-source some information. Dd is doing EYB soon, and I don’t want her to look out of place there, either.

Voile skirts are very popular at EYB, DD has a couple of different ones, and any ballet leotard is acceptable as there is no uniform (although black leotards with fancy straps were most popular). For class, different schools have different rules... skirts could be short voile ones or calf-length character skirts depending on your uniform! Try looking at what the others come out of class in, or emailing the teacher 😄

Depends on level at my daughters ballet school . They only wear skirt up to primary level and from grade one it’s the leotard with the belt . When they wear the skirt it is the see through wrap around one that matches colour of leotard . They do exams with RAD .

www.movedancewear.com/tutus_and_skirts_dance_skirts-capezio_class_adults_chiffon_wrap_dance_skirt/1113/?sku=CA%20D800BLKS&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-vvHxLni2gIVqL3tCh38gA9FEAQYAiABEgLhdvD_BwE

Its a “varies with every school” thing! My DD can wear her own choice leo with any skirt for one class, but has to wear uniform leo and belt for others. Then at summer school/spring intensives, all the vocational and pre-vocational girls seem to love the opportunity to avoid their uniforms and wear their prettiest leos with the gorgeous skirts! Also, if your DD is going to be auditioning for associates etc, they often require simple leos so make sure she still has one as well as the pretties!

It’s black leotards with black voile skirt at my daughter’s ballet class but if differs... we get given a leaflet with the uniform policy on.

Our ballet teacher usually has dance wear that bigger girls have grown out of available for sale

Thanks! She owns the plainest of plain pale blue leotards, so I'm thinking one plain black with black skirt for class, and one fancier one for EYB would be right.

@crazygirlsmama When you say gorgeous skirts for summer schools etc, is that different colours or does the style vary too?

There’s loads of beautiful prints available, and assorted lengths. Most go for the fairly short that I’ve seen. Look at Just Jess Dancewear for some cute examples! We got 3 from there. There’s lots of handmade ones around. I make my DDs now x

The school should have the uniform rules (and the acceptable brands) on the website.

Surely it depends on the school?
RB has different to ISTD and RAD etc.

Dd wore a chiffon skirt, in same plum colour as leotard, until grade 2 , then no skirt plus belt until grade 4 then black strappy leotard.

LIZS was that ISTD uniform 10 years ago?

All the Grade 2's at my daughters school wear the same turquoise leotard, belt. Pale pink tights and pink leather shoes. Black heeled shoes and black skirt for character dance. They do all look very smart and it prevents one-upmanship or inappropriate clothes.

Istd, in last 10 years.

For RAD the chiffon wrap skirts are only for pre primary and primary. Grade one up has sleeveless leotard, ballet belt tights and shoes.

I would check if the school has a set uniform. As a rule for children's classes, voile type skirts are usual for class and tutus are reserved for stage performances only.

Her ballet school doesn't have a strict uniform and as long as she turns up in leotard, tights and ballet shoes with her hair up, no one seems to care about colour or style. But anyway, the skirt is for EYB and other courses where she wants to have a skirt (so as to fit in) but there isn't a uniform.

I'm tempted to wait, as apparently the Associates scheme she does is consulting this term on a new uniform.

Most schools set uniform according to exam board requirements. Plain crossover voile skirts are the norm. RAD like waist elastics.

For EYB the only unwritten rule is no purple. Janet Lewis does not like that colour. She even re-names the lilac fairy.

For summer schools pretty skirts that complement leotards are usual. Summer schools are your one chance to wear stuff you can’t in class. Dd has an assortment of Love Lily skirts. You usually need a black leotard for the final day performance.

Can you email the teacher? Or ask The Mum Who Knows? Every ballet class has one!

@AlexanderHamilton That is incredibly useful to know about EYB (both about purple and needing a plain black letoard), thank you!

@MillicentF The thing is, the other mums are treating me like The Mum Who Knows. And I do for things like how to sew criss cross elastics and the toughest type of bun net, but I just don’t on this. I do trust her teacher, and I like that she’s very unbothered by uniform (such a change from the previous ballet school where it sometimes felt as though hair and uniform were more important than the dancing) so I figure she’ll let me know at exam time what I need to buy.