About our Dress Code

Our dress code is designed to keep dancers safe and distraction-free by having proper, well-fitting footwear and attire. As part of our mission to make dance accessible for everyone, our dress code is gender-agnostic. Dancers may choose from any option listed for their class below. For sensory processing disorders, please follow the guidelines below where possible, while prioritizing your dancer’s comfort. Please connect with our front desk with any questions.

Where to Shop

About our Dress Code

We recommend Dancewear Center (located 1.5 miles from Eastside Dance, on 85th Street in Kirkland) and DiscountDance.com (links below) for all of your dancewear needs.

If this is your first time wearing the dance shoe specified below, we recommend getting fitted at Dancewear Center. Fittings are free, walk-ins are welcome, and their staff will ensure your dancer is wearing a safe, well-fitting, high-quality shoe.

Requirements for All Classes:

Attire: Please wear the clothing specified for your class below.
Shoes: Dancers must purchase the specified dance shoe(s) for their class(es). The "borrow box" is for emergencies and trial classes only. Dancers should change in and out of their dance shoes in the lobby and should not wear dance shoes outside.
Hair: Hair that can cover the eyes should be secured neatly back with a ponytail, braids, twists, clips, or headband. For ballet classes, hair needs to be secured into a neat bun. (Here is a tutorial video for different hair types.)
Undergarments: No undergarments are worn under a leotard (similar to wearing a bathing suit). A leotard should provide enough support for female anatomy. For dancers ages 8+ with male anatomy, a "dance belt" should be worn. More on dance belts here.
Tights: If your dress code below calls for tights, please put your tights before your leotard, so they are under the leotard. No underwear should be worn with tights.
Jewelry: No jewelry or accessories allowed in class.
Water bottle: Please bring your water bottle into the studio with you.
Fragrances, Lotions, and Fabric Softeners: Please avoid wearing heavily scented products (body oil, lotion, perfume, etc.) and using fabric sheets/softeners as some dancers/staff may be sensitive/allergic to the fragrance and the chemicals can damage our specialized Marley dance floor.
Gum is not allowed inside the studio for the dancer's safety.

Level-Specific Requirements:

Kids Classes (Ages 2-7)

Youth Classes (Ages 7-11) & Level 1+

Teen & Adult Classes

Summer Camps (Ages 3-10)

Ladybugs (2-3yrs w/caregiver)

Dancewear (e.g. leotard, tights) or clothes the dancer can easily move in (e.g. leggings, shorts, t-shirts). 
Bare feet, ballet shoes, or jazz shoes. No socks as they are too slippery. If the ballet shoes have drawstrings, drawstrings need to be double-knotted and cut off at the knot for safety.
Caregivers can wear bare feet or socks. For orthopedic issues, clean sneakers or dance shoes are welcome.

Butterflies (3-4yrs) & Fireflies (4-5yrs)

Attire:

Option 1: Leotard with pink tights worn under the leotard. Dance skirts or tutus are ok if they are attached to the leotard. Please no tie skirts or pull-on skirts/tutus; they come off during class distracting the dancer.
Option 2: Leggings or athletic shorts with a T-shirt tucked in.

Shoes: Dancers need BOTH ballet shoes and tap shoes. Ballet shoes should be pink if wearing tights and black if wearing leggings or shorts. Ballet shoe drawstrings must be double-knotted, cut one inch from the knot, and tucked into the shoe for safety. Tap shoes should be black and be slip-on or have elastic or velcro closures. All ties need to be removed for safety.

Dragonflies (5-7yrs) - Combo

Option 1:

Attire: Leotard with pink or skin tone tights worn under the leotard. Dance skirts or tutus are ok if they are attached to the leotard. Please no tie skirts or pull-on skirts/tutus; they come off during class distracting the dancer.
Shoes: Dancers need BOTH ballet shoes and black tap shoes. Ballet shoes should match your tight's color (i.e. pink/skin tone). Ballet shoe drawstrings must be double-knotted, cut one inch from the knot, and tucked into the shoe for safety. Tap shoes should be slip-on or have elastic or velcro closures. All ties need to be removed for safety.

Option 2:

Attire: Athletic shorts and T-shirt
Shoes: Black tap shoes AND black ballet shoes or jazz shoes. Ballet shoe drawstrings need to be double-knotted, cut one inch from the knot, and tucked into the shoe for safety. Tap shoes should be slip-on or have elastic or velcro closures; all ties need to be removed for safety. Oxford style tap shoes are ok if the dancer can tie their shoes.

Dragonflies (5-7yrs) - Ballet

Option 1:

Attire: Leotard with pink or skin tone tights worn under the leotard. Dance skirts or tutus are ok if they are attached to the leotard. Please no tie skirts or pull-on skirts/tutus; they come off during class distracting the dancer.
Shoes: Ballet shoes should match your tight's color (i.e. pink/skin tone). Ballet shoe drawstrings must be double-knotted, cut one inch from the knot, and tucked into the shoe for safety.

Option 2:

Attire: Leotard worn under full-length leggings (black) or opaque ballet tights (black).
Shoes: Black ballet shoes. Drawstrings must be double-knotted, cut one inch from the knot, and tucked into the shoe for safety.

Dragonflies (5-7yrs) - Hip-hop

Attire: Athletic clothing the dancer can easily move in (e.g. athletic shorts, leggings, joggers, t-shirt, or sweatpants.) No formal wear or street wear (e.g. jeans, polos, slacks, or dresses.)
Shoes: Clean light-soled sneakers that are only worn in the studio. Dirty/outside shoes will not be allowed in the studio as dirt/debris can damage our specialized Marley dance floor.

Ballet:

Option 1:

Attire: Leotard and tights (matte pink or matte skin tone) worn under the leotard. A sheer ballet skirt (no longer than mid-thigh) is optional.
Shoes: Split-sole ballet shoes that match your tights color (i.e. pink/skin tone). Drawstrings must be double-knotted, cut one inch from the knot, and tucked into the shoe for safety.
Hair: Hair needs to be secured into a bun. (Here is a tutorial video for different hair types.)

Option 2:

Attire: White leotard worn under full-length leggings (black) or opaque ballet tights (black).
Shoes: Split-sole ballet shoes (black). Drawstrings must be double-knotted, cut one inch from the knot, and tucked into the shoe for safety.

Studio Hip-hop

Attire: Sweatpants/joggers (black) with a T-shirt.
Shoes: Clean light-soled sneakers that are only worn in the studio. Dirty/outside shoes will not be allowed in the studio as dirt/debris can damage our specialized Marley dance floor.

Musical Theater & Tap:

Option 1:

Attire: Leotard worn under bike shorts (black).
Shoes: Jazz shoes (black) AND Oxford-style tap shoes (black).

Option 2:

Attire: Athletic shorts (black) with a T-shirt.
Shoes: Jazz shoes (black) AND Oxford-style tap shoes (black). Shoes can be worn with no socks or black no-show socks.

Contemporary:

Option 1:

Attire: Leotard worn under bike shorts (black).
Shoes: Bare feet, socks, or half-sole dance shoes.

Option 2:

Attire: Athletic shorts (black) with a T-shirt.
Shoes: Bare feet, socks, or half-sole dance shoes.

Pom:

Option 1:

Attire: Leotard worn under bike shorts (black).
Shoes: Black jazz shoes.

Option 2:

Attire: Athletic shorts (black) with a T-shirt.
Shoes: Black jazz shoes.

Dancers can wear athletic clothing or dancewear you can easily move in and class-specific footwear (see below). We recommend visiting Dancewear Center, just down the street from us, if you'd like to get fitted for dance shoes.

Footwear:

Ballet: Ballet shoes
Tap: Oxford-style tap shoes
Jazz/Jazz Funk/Musical Theater: Jazz Shoes
Contemporary: Socks, ballet shoes, bare feet, or half-ballet shoes
Hip-hop, Cheer, K-pop: Light-soled athletic shoes that are worn only in the studio. No black soles or dirty soles that are worn outside as these damage the Marley dance floor.
Bollywood: Bare feet
Salsa: Jazz shoes, ballroom shoes, dance sneakers, or light-soled athletic shoes that are worn only in the studio. No dirty soles that are worn outside or skinny heels/stilettos as these damage the Marley dance floor.

Dancers can wear dancewear or athletic clothing you can easily move in. Please bring your camp-specific footwear (see below). We recommend visiting Dancewear Center, just down the street from us to get fitted for dance shoes.

Footwear:

Discover Dance: Ballet shoes or jazz shoes. Ballet shoe drawstrings must be double-knotted, cut one inch from the knot, and tucked into the shoe for safety.
Ballet: Ballet shoes. Drawstrings must be double-knotted, cut one inch from the knot, and tucked into the shoe for safety.
Tap: Tap shoes should be slip-on or have elastic or velcro closures. All ties need to be removed for safety.
Musical Theater: Jazz shoes
Contemporary: Socks, ballet shoes, bare feet, or half-ballet shoes
Hip-hop, Cheer, K-pop: Light-soled athletic shoes that are worn only in the studio. No black soles or dirty soles that are worn outside as this damage the Marley dance floor.

About our Dress Code

About our Dress Code

About our Dress Code

Where to Shop

About our Dress Code

About our Dress Code

Requirements for All Classes:

Level-Specific Requirements:

Kids Classes (Ages 2-7):

Ladybugs (2-3yrs w/caregiver)

Butterflies (3-4yrs) & Fireflies (4-5yrs)

Dragonflies (5-7yrs) - Combo

Dragonflies (5-7yrs) - Ballet

Dragonflies (5-7yrs) - Hip-hop

Youth Classes (Ages 7-11) & Level 1+

Ballet:

Studio Hip-hop

Musical Theater & Tap:

Contemporary:

Pom:

Teen & Adult Classes

Summer Camps (Ages 3-10)

This website uses cookies.