Dress Code

At Stapleton School of the Performing Arts, we believe that proper dancewear supports discipline, safety, and unity in the classroom. All students are expected to adhere to the dress code for their specific class to ensure optimal training and focus.

General Guidelines:

  • Jewelry: No excessive or heavy jewelry is allowed in class. This includes dangly earrings, long necklaces, or large accessories. Apple Watches and smartwatches are not permitted during class time for safety and to minimize distractions.

  • Dancewear Condition: All dancewear should be clean, well-maintained, and free of holes or excessive wear.

  • Warm-Ups: Dance-specific warm-up clothing may be worn at the beginning of class only. Pajama pants, oversized sweatshirts, or other non-dance attire are not allowed.

  • Costumes/Tutus: For lower and introductory division ballet classes, large tutus, dresses, and costumes are not permitted during regular classes due to safety concerns and distractions. These items may only be worn on designated Dress-Up Days, which typically occur on the last class of each month.

Rhythm and Dance & Intro to Dance

Top: Any color leotard (recommended) or fitted shirt

Bottom: Pink, black, or skin-tone tights or leggings, skirts or small tutus (optional)

Shoes: Pink, black or skin-tone ballet slippers (required)

Hair: Hair should be neatly secured out of the face.

Pre-Ballet 1-3

Top: Leotard, any color (required)

Bottom: Pink, black or skin-tone tights, skirts or small tutus (optional)

Shoes: Pink, black or skin-tone ballet slippers (required)

Hair: Hair should be neatly secured out of the face, a ballet bun is strongly recommended

Boys: solid color tee-shirt, black tights or leggings, black ballet shoes, hair should be neatly groomed out of face

Ballet 1-5

*students enrolled in Boys/Non Binary Ballet should follow the “Boys” dress code described below

Top: Colored leotard according to level (see below)

Bottom: Pink or skin-tone tights

Shoes: Pink or skin-tone ballet slippers (pointe shoes if applicable)

Hair: A ballet bun is required

Boys: white tee-shirt, black tights, black ballet shoes, hair should be neatly groomed out of face

Leotard Colors:

Ballet 1: Light Pink

Ballet 2: Light Blue

Ballet 3: Red

Ballet 4: Eggplant

Ballet 5: Royal Blue

Students may wear any color leotard for rehearsals.

Advanced A-D & Teen Ballet

Top: Any colored leotard

Bottom: Ballet skirts (optional), pink or skin-tone tights

Shoes: Pink or skin-tone ballet slippers (pointe shoes if applicable)

Hair: A ballet bun is required

Boys: white tee-shirt, black tights, black ballet shoes, hair should be neatly groomed out of face

Stretch and Strength

Top: Any colored leotard, tank top, or t-shirt. No crop tops or sports bras, please.

Bottom: Any colored leggings, sweatpants, or shorts. No booty shorts, please.

Shoes: No shoes are required- barefoot or in socks.

Hair: Hair should be neatly secured out of the face.

Contemporary 1-4

Top: Any colored leotard, tank top, or t-shirt. No crop tops or sports bras, please.

Bottom: Any colored leggings, sweatpants, or shorts. No booty shorts, please.

Shoes: No shoes are required for contemporary. They will dance barefoot or in socks.

Hair: Hair should be neatly secured out of the face.

*Contemporary 3 & 4 dancers may want to purchase knee pads to protect them during advanced floor work

Musical Theatre Jazz (all levels)

Top: Any colored leotard, tank top, or t-shirt. No crop tops or sports bras, please.

Bottom: Any colored leggings, sweatpants, jazz pants, or shorts. No booty shorts, please.

Shoes: Black split sole jazz shoes.

Hair: Hair should be neatly secured out of the face.

Hip-Hop (all levels)

Top: Any colored tank top or t-shirt. No crop tops or sports bras, please.

Bottom: Any colored sweatpants, leggings, or shorts. No booty shorts or jeans, please.

Shoes: Sneakers. Please be sure to bring a pair of sneakers that are designated for dance class - wearing street shoes on our studio floors makes the floors unsanitary.

Musical Theatre Conservatory Training

*for Honors MT Jazz dress code please see the jazz dance section above

Top: Any top you can easily move in.

Bottom: Any pants you can easily move in.

Shoes: Jazz shoes, or any soft sole, closed toe shoes. No flip flops, crocs or slippers etc.

Where to Buy

We recommend Bourrée Boutique in San Rafael, CA.