dance Attire
Studio Dress Code
Professionalism
When all dancers dress the same and follow the rules, it gives the dancers a sense of belonging and community. This aids in teamwork, respect for their fellow classmates, and being synchronized in their movements.
Injury Prevention
Above all, our dress code is chosen carefully so the teacher is able to correct your student on posture and alignment, and prevent injury for the ankles, knees, hips, back, shoulders, and neck. Teachers must be able to see that the bones are lined up, and the proper muscles are activated. This allows for a safer and more complete dance education, and longevity in your dancer's body.
Respect
Following dress code shows respect for your teacher and for your studio's rules. This sense of respect will allow for a better learning experience for your dancer.
Tights
Though some dance studios do not require tights, many do. Teachers have found that students feel more comfortable in their leotard when wearing tights under them than when they are bare-legged. It also allows for more comfortable floor-work in contemporary ballet, jazz, and modern dancing.
Shoes
Your choice of shoes will affect your dancing drastically. Shoes must always fit the dancer's foot at the time of the fitting, and not be fitted large for "growing room." Shoes too big are a tripping hazard. Shoes too small put the dancer at risk of compressed bones, ingrown toenails, and locked up muscles.
The shoe may be a little uncomfortable at first. Many young dancers are not used to the feel. Shoes stretch and break in, and become more comfortable with time, use, and sweat.
All ballet shoes need to be either our Revolution brand stretch ballet shoe without ties or older dancers can wear other brands without drawstring ties.
Shoes should never be worn outside of the dance studio, as it ruins the material and can track dirt and wax onto the dance floor and cause falls and injury.
Hair
Having hair secured in dance class is extremely important, and will be enforced in all classes.
Technique
For ballet and jazz, wearing the hair in a secure and neat bun actually aids the dancer in their technique. When the hair is centered in the middle of the head and pulled snugly on all sides, the dancer gains a better sense of balance and control over their movements. When the dancers turn and whip their head around (called a spot), the bun allows them to have more of a snap to the movement, resulting in a better turn.
Injury Prevention
Along the same lines, if a dancer is doing a complicated jump or turn and their hair falls into their face, they may blink or brush their hair back. This can throw off their movement and result in a trip or fall. If the hair is in a ponytail and hits the dancer in the eye, they could end up with injured or scratched eyes.
Muscle Memory
Following dress code shows respect for your teacher and for your studio's rules. This sense of respect will allow for a better learning experience for your dancer.
Required Dancewear
Hair
All girls' hair must be up in a ponytail and out of the face. For ABT and Cecchetti ballet and higher levels, all hair must be in a bun
Boys Attire
For Ballet, Jazz, Musical Theater or Modern - black pants, white shirt, black ballet shoes for ballet, black jazz shoes for jazz
For Hip-Hop
For grades K-3 - black or revolution brand premium slip on jazz shoes
For grades 4 and up - black sweat pants, any color t-shirt, revolution brand high top sneaker
Cecchetti/ABT Ballet Classes - All Levels
Revolution brand adjustable strap leotard in BLACK, prima pink tights, pink ballet shoes
Combo Classes - Grades K-3 (any and all ballet/tap, ballet/jazz, tap/jazz)
Revolution brand adjustable strap leotard in MARINE, MARINE colored pull on skirt, revolution brand prima pink footed tights
Optional add ons: black dance shorts, dance sweater
For Ballet - revolution brand stretch ballet shoes in classic pink (ALL BALLET SHOES MUST NOT HAVE DRAWSTRING TIES)
For Tap - revolution brand easy on tap shoes (NO TIES) in black
For Jazz - revolution brand premium pull on jazz boot in dark tan
Combo Classes - Ages 3-5
Revolution brand adjustable strap leotard in LAVENDER, LAVENDER colored pull on skirt, revolution brand prima pink footed tights
Optional add ons: black dance shorts, dance sweater
For Ballet - revolution brand stretch ballet shoes in classic pink (ALL BALLET SHOES MUST NOT HAVE DRAWSTRING TIES)
For Tap - revolution brand easy on tap shoes (NO TIES) in black
For Jazz - revolution brand premium pull on jazz boot in dark tan
Combo Classes - Grades 4-6
Revolution brand adjustable strap leotard in MULBERRY, revolution brand prima pink footed tights (for ballet/tap combos), revolution brand tan convertible tights for ballet/jazz, jazz/tap, or modern/ jazz combos
Optional add ons: black dance shorts, dance sweater
For Ballet - revolution brand stretch ballet shoes in classic pink (ALL BALLET SHOES MUST NOT HAVE DRAWSTRING TIES)
For Tap - revolution brand easy on tap shoes (NO TIES) in black
For Jazz - revolution brand premium pull on jazz boot in dark tan
For Modern - apolla shock socks with traction
Hip-Hop Classes - All Ages
For grades K-3 - Revolution brand adjustable strap leotard in BLACK, black leggings, any color tank top - revolution brand premium pull on jazz boot in black (no ties)
For grades 4+ revolution brand black high arch dance sneaker
Musical Theater - Grades K-1 • K-2 • 2-3
Revolution brand adjustable strap leotard in MARINE, tan tights, revolution brand premium pull on jazz boot in DARK TAN (no ties) optional add ons: black dance shorts, dance sweater
Musical Theater - Grades 4-6
Revolution brand adjustable strap leotard in MULBERRY, tan tights, revolution brand premium pull on jazz shoes in DARK TAN
optional add ons: black dance shorts, dance sweater
Teen Modern
Any color leotard, black leggings or tan tights
Teen Jazz and Musical Theater
More info to come...
Teen Tap
Any color leotard, black leggings or tan tights (if tights you may wear black shorts), Revolution brand premium jazz boot in DARK TAN
Any color leotard, black leggings, black tap shoes
HOWARD COUNTY PARKS and REC CLASSES
For Howard County Parks and Rec, please refer to the "class description" of your particular class on the Howard County Parks and Rec website.
Attire for parks and rec is different from our full-year classes.
Contact Us
ADDRESS & HOURS
8001 Hillsborough Road Suites A-C
Ellicott City, MD 21043
Monday: 10 AM–9 PM
Tuesday: 10 AM–9 PM
Wednesday: 10 AM–9 PM
Thursday: 10 AM–9 PM
Friday: 10 AM–9 PM
Saturday: 9 AM–12 PM
Sunday : Closed
About
Dance Connections is dedicated to offering high-quality instruction at an affordable price. The school's curriculum offers classes in ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, tap, Broadway dance, hip-hop, and yoga. The curriculum also fully integrates the cognitive, motor, social, and affective domain as well as addresses the needs of children to express and communicate their ideas, to understand and know themselves, and to master their own movement abilities and potential. The focus at Dance Connections is to educate each child individually in order to bring each student to his/her full potential. At Dance Connections, every child can be successful in dance.
Opening Hours
Monday: 10 AM–9 PM
Tuesday: 10 AM–9 PM
Wednesday: 10 AM–9 PM
Thursday: 10 AM–9 PM
Friday: 10 AM–9 PM
Saturday: 9 AM–12 PM
Sunday : Closed
Address: 8001 Hillsborough Road Suites A-C
Ellicott City, MD 21043
Telephone: (443) 574-8990
@ Copyright 2024 - Dance Connections, Inc. - All rights reserved
