I've been a substitute the past couple years and have always worn yoga pants and comfy tees, or something similar. This year, I will have about 6 classes ages3 up to about 6 or 7; Creative Movement, pre-ballet and Ballet I. I'm wondering if I should be a bit more formal w/ what I wear.

It varies, anything from a bodysuit and leggings with a skirt to yoga pants and a warm up sweater. I wear mostly black. I feel as a teacher I should look professional at all times. Some very famous teachers wear all kinds of baggy mismatched stuff and that's fine ; I'm saying what I like for myself.

Try one of these threads already on the topic:

www.dance.net . . .

www.dance.net . . .

Being that you will be working with students so young, it may be beneficial for you to dress very “classical”. Leotard, tights, skirt, sweater... give the customer what they are expecting. (Although I would recommend caring for your body and ensure that it is warm enough.) It seems silly, but we certainly judge people by the way they dress and while it won’t actually make you a better teacher, you may find that parents are more willing to respect you from the start. However, no matter what you choose to wear, I would ensure that you look “put together”. Clean, crisp clothes, solid hygiene, and fresh grooming.

I wear tights and dance shorts with either a tank or studio shirt or jacket.

snot85 wrote:

Try one of these threads already on the topic:

www.dance.net . . .

www.dance.net . . .

Thanks - the search function on this site drives me nuts. Is it possible to just search specific boards rather than the entire site?

lavieenrose wrote:

Thanks - the search function on this site drives me nuts. Is it possible to just search specific boards rather than the entire site?

Yeah, it's not the best for searching. I just recalled those two threads, so I had a better idea of what to search for. I don't *think* you can search by individual boards, but it would be great if you could!

I wear yoga pants and tank tops the majority of the time. I love the store Lucy which sells great yoga/workout wear. None of the teachers I work with really wear leos and tights...I think the parents would be surprised if I walked in wearing that one day! Although sometimes I think the combo kids on Saturdays wished I did....

When I was young and danced a lot in my classes, I always wore dance attire; leo, tights, jazz pants, ballet skirt, etc.

Now not so young, do not dance as much as I demonstrate. I wear jazz pants and a fitted style t-shirt. They still need to see my body, but not so much of it !

I teach from age 2 through high school. I don't even own a leotard anymore, or tights. I wear comfy dance pants or yoga pants. Being that it's summer, and I teach all day dance camp, and I live in Houston (super hot), I wear running shorts instead. For tops I either wear tank tops or a studio shirt.

For my little ones (4-8) I wear dance clothes. Mostly a leo, tights and a ballet skirt, not a short one but the one that is short in the front and long in the back. For me it's more fun to pretend that I'm a ballerina with them if I'm dressed like one!!! I do this mostly so that they can see what my feet and legs are doing. For older students depending on the level I loosen up my dress a little.

I'm still young-ish. I wear a leo, tights, and usually shorts or maybe a skirt. When I was pregnant I wore black pants and had a couple different XL studio shirts. I want to set a good example for the kids and encourage them to dress like dancers (our dress code isn't enforced very well).

I am an assistant teacher. And the class I taught was right before the class I was a student in. So I had to be in a leo and tights anyway. But I usually wore shorts/capris and a tank/tshirt over it because it was a threes and fours class so we were moving around but not all that much and my studio can get a little cold.

I teach pre's through intermediates and I always have on a leotard and tights. Since I am older and have a colon disease and generally appear very bloated (to the point that many ask me when I am due), I am self conscious, so I wear a black dance pant-either a fitted legging style or my loose capri pants that show my lower leg and when needed, I can lift the legs to show my thighs. I generally have a fitted black sweater on over my leo. My hair is always in a bun since I teach ballet primarily. If I have 1 ballet class on my nightly schedule then up it goes

I had an injury this past season and was in PT the final 6 weeks of classes, and came straight to the studio from PT, so I was often in shorts and a T shirt since I had to have my leg taped and the tights/pants made the tape come off

@danceteacher716 I absolutely love Lucy pants for teaching! I am in the Phoenix area, so right now I am wearing a lot of cut-off/capri/short yoga attire. On top, I wear either a studio tee or a fitted tank. I also prefer to dress in black, but that doesn't always happen. I have taught for a studio that required all ballet teachers to dress down, and although I give credit to the professional atmosphere that was apparent there, I much prefer to be more fully clothed after having 3 kids.

I'm one of those teachers that doesn't or very very rarely wears actual dance wear to teach. I usually wear black yoga pants and a fitted solid black t-shirt or tank top. I usually have a cardigan to throw on when I get chilly.

I wear my hear up in a french roll or some variation and sometimes jewelry, I always wear makeup to teach as well. Not a ton but I make an effort to look put together and professional.

I'm primarily a ballet teacher, when I teach other styles like jazz or contemporary I'm more relaxed with my outfit.

P.S. I'm young and still have a dancers body (though currently pregnant) so the choice to not wear a leotard has nothing to do with the current condition of my body.

I'm getting older too and four kids means the abs aren't what they once were so I wear Yoga crops and a form fitting top, a sweater over that because I'm a chilli mortal who always feels cold and heeled teaching sandals like Pedinis.

I was taught that what I wear will encourage the kids to dress properly. I always wear pink tights, leotard, ballet skirt, ballet (teacher) shoes and my hair is always up - not long enough for a bun, but it's up!

For our younger ballet students our faculty has all agreed that it's important for the teacher to look like a fairy ballerina princess. So teachers usually wear ballet tights and skirts, though they are not required to. Some wear leotards some don't. All put their hair up and look professional. For our older students we've agreed that a professional appearance is necessary but that doesn't mean tights and a leotard anymore. Some wear yoga pants and tank tops, some tights and leotard. We've all agreed, no sweat pants, no cut off pant or leggings, no shorts and no ripped or holey attire. It works well for our group. Everyone looks professional but has their own style.

I know that looking the part is important, but as a teacher for young children I believe you can be comfortable and fun. So I wear my jazz shoes (need the heels on them to support my arches) and comfy yoga pants, crops or form fitting, baggy sweats covers everything that they need to see but I also wear fun and colourful T-shirts, sweaters and socks. This keeps their attention on me and it also brings me to their level which is what they need. You don't want to scare them on their first day.

Usually clothes. I find that most parents prefer them.
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Oh, shirt and dance pants, when I do.

Thank you so much, Dream_chaser! I really needed that laugh!

As a young ballet teacher, I always wore a leo, pink tights, ballet slippers and a dance skirt. I'm not young any more. I wear black knit pants, a ballet T-shirt and dance sneakers or even regular running shoes which I use only in the dance studio. I need to protect all the aging body parts. My hair was and is always up. During cold weather I have a black fleece cardigan that is either worn as intended, or is tied around my waist to keep my back warm.

I do explain to my students that I used to dress just as they do, but now that I'm an older ballet teacher, I'm dressing differently. Most of the time that's all they need to hear.

What really cracks me up is when a little one comes in during the cold months with her sweater, like mine, tied around her middle. So cute!

I was the one with the color coordinated leos, skirts, leg warmers, hair accessories, and earrings. I was always "in fashion" in class, lol.

I remember my leopard leotard! LOL

Now, I would scare them all in a leotard. Besides, with my current shape, it should be illegal to wear a leotard.

^^Well, I did not have coordinated jewelry and hair accessories, but I did dye skirts and leos to match... You were definitely more stylish if you did animal prints! I think we're on the same page about wearing leos at this stage of the game, and the legal issues pursuant to same...

For creative movement I think you can wear pretty much anything. Most of our creative movement teachers wear yoga pants and t-shirts. Some wear a leo and yoga pants.

Our assistants/demonstrators wear a leotard, tights and a wrap skirt (they are advanced students, not teachers - it sets them apart)