So I've taken Irish dance for the past 6 years, and I have taken a handful of ballet classes in the past, but I really have no idea what to expect at this Beginner Modern dance class I'm taking for credit at college.

The school is very well respected and I have no doubt that the class will be challenging, serious, and a good representation of modern dance.

So what do you wear to modern at a typical studio?

How are classes structured? Is it more ballet-esque by having a definite barre, centre, across the floor, or irish, where it's pretty much a toss-up with different schools and teachers.

What about footwear? I'm used to dancing Irish barefoot at practice, but I find turns really hard barefoot, so I was wondering if a lot of people actually use the FootUndeez things or tape the balls of their feet, or if different teachers have different policies.

I have read all the stickies, I was just wondering if anyone could clear this up more for me.

It depends on the technique you study as to exactly how the class will run but generally there is a warm up, that can include floor work, a set of exercises that will resemble a ballet barre without the barre and could also include floor work. Floor work, across the floor work, including adages, turns and jumps (this can and probably will all include floor work). So in a way the answer is that it's more structured like a ballet lesson than an Irish lesson.

Wear dance clothes, I would suggest a leotard and footless tights with warm ups over them for your first lesson and see how strict the class rules are. If you go prepared for a strict policy then you can always dress down next class, if you go expecting a relaxed policy you could end up being told you can't dance.

A lot of Modern dancers now wear socks over the ball of their foot rather than totally bare feet, foot undies are another option, again, go prepared and that way you'll be covering all bases.

It'll depend on what method of modern it is. At my college modern was: Center warm up starting on the floor, across the floor then back to center for a combo. Improv, improv was big and is my favorite part of modern classes.

Go with black tights and a leo. It's the safest option. Bring booty shorts and socks. I prefer to go barefoot.

Usually I wore yoga pants and a tank, basketball shorts and a tank, tights and a leo with shorts, cut-off sweats and a t-shirt. It depended on what time I woke up in the morning...if it was ten minutes before class (with happened alot since this last semester modern was at 9am) I would not wear a leo.

I suggest emailing the professor and ask what the expectations are or maybe a student that took the class in the past.