Boy doesn‘t like ballet outfit

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My 2.5 year old loved his ballet trial class last week, so much so that we signed up for a whole block of classes and sprung for the shoes. However, all the students are girls and he was less than thrilled when presented with leggings and a tshirt. Today was his first real class, and he didn‘t participate at all, had a huge meltdown and had to leave the room. He complained on the way home: these aren‘t tights, they‘re trousers! He‘s too young to appreciate how few fashion options men have, and in his place I‘d feel short-changed too. Should we just spring for a pair of tights and a frilly skirt, like all his classmates wear? It’s just supposed to be fun, right? I‘d like to know what the wider community thinks. I‘m from the continent where it‘s quite common for boys to do ballet, so I was a little surprised that he‘s the only boy, and I haven‘t found other parents to share knowledge with. Thanks

Tights in black and a leotard?

Id get him what his classmates wear, he's only 2.5. One of my DS went through a phase of wearing dresses when a little bit older than that. It didn't last.

What is the ballet school uniform , you wear that to class and buy him what he likes for home.

I'd dress him like the girls.

Talk to the dance teacher and ask their advice.

There‘s no set uniform at this age, but if he keeps at it they are stricter with older age groups

I'm surprised such young children of either sex are wearing tights to be honest. In my experience it is usually socks til they are quite a bit older. But you can get ballet tights for boys, they're normally navy blue.
My DD is a ballet teacher and she wouldn't particularly care what a child was wearing at this age as long as they were comfortable and enjoying themselves.

I‘ve seen little boys go through this phase as well. It seems more common with boys who have an older sister. He has a younger sister though, so whatever he grows out of she might enjoy later

I'm surprised about tights for such little ones as well. It is normally short socks (pink, white or black) for younger children, usually until about age 6/7.

Ah, let him wear whatever he wants.
Having said that, my ex dp wouldn’t have been happy with a son of his wearing anything remotely feminine.
But that was his problem.

My partner doesn‘t care thankfully, but I am slightly nervous about the reactions of this pair of posh dads who make a production out of not having a clue how to dress their daughters for the class, and probably already think it‘s amusing that my son’s there

Who gives a toss what they think?

The odds of boys starting ballet and actually making a career out of it is far higher for boys than it is for girls. Like 95% more likely.

Can you get him a leotard in his favourite colour?

Black leggings or shorts white boys cut leotard.
White socks white ballet shoes or black socks black shoes.
Tell him he looks gorgeous.
Ballet is for boys too
Personally I didnt dress my son in the girls uniform not least because ballet boys even at 2.5 yrs do a few slightly different movements to distinguish boy and girl ballet.

I'm another one very surprised the girls wear tights at that age.
Definitely socks when mine were pre school

Not sure I followed, is it that he wants a skirt like the girls or what? If teacher doesn't mind I'd just rock with it, it's just a kind of dressing up at that age. When daughter did ballet there were a couple of older boys. In the shows they'd sometimes do a male role and contrast with the others in their age group, and sometimes wear a skirt and be matchy with the rest of the group. They were good sports and clearly having fun.

I've been involved with ballet for many a long year, seen a large number of shows at various dance schools, and I have never known a dance teacher dress a little boy in a skirt. Never. Not once. On the contrary, if there is a boy (or boys) in the class they do the opposite with costumes. They will often do a whole group routine for a show with both boys and girls dressed as elfs or pirates or soldiers or whatever.

Older boys silver, I guess 10-12ish, they were /good/ and in lots of numbers. Some had neutral costumes but would have been unfair on the girls to make them all like that. I'm sure the teacher didn't just "put them in" anything, they must have discussed it between themselves.
Anyway, it sounds like in OP's case the problem is the little boy /wants/ to wear a skirt, and there's no uniform yet so why not.

That‘s the situation exactly. Thanks everyone for your responses.

I read with interest your post about your son being the only boy in his ballet class and his wanting to wear tights like his class friends. What is strange is your suggestion he might wear tights and a frilly skirt. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing, in ballet males and females wear tights, but only the girls wear a frilly skirt too. As far as I understand he was requesting to wear tights, not a frilly skirt. Maybe it is not him with the problem.

Always socks until grade 3 for my DD ….then tights …so never tights for pre schoolers

What matters more, what two strangers (might) think inside their heads, or how your son feels?

At our sons ballet school all children were in shorts, socks and leotard until age four, after that all wore tights and a leotard, no fancy colours allowed.

My friends son had a hissy fit. She made him wings so he had something special too. He actually grew up to be a ballet dancer

Avoid like the plague any 'dance school' that has tots dressed in tights at that age. Also avoid any that go for flouncy skirts or tutus. They just want you for your money, people fall for it because the kids look cute, and the kids like being in their 'dressing-up pretending to be a ballerina' outfits.
Gender stereotyping at its pink frilly worst.

Totally unnecessary, and proper dance schools would always have them in socks. Girls don't wear tights until they are around 7-8 and doing proper grades.