What to Wear to Adult Ballet Class - Ladies
You want to wear clothes that are tight-fitting and show your form. This could be a leotard and tights or tight-fitting exercise clothes. It is possible to wear socks to your first few classes, but you’ll want to get a pair of ballet shoes sooner than later.
For your first ballet class, look for:
Ballet shoes (also called ballet slippers, ballet flats)
Tights (pink, black or skin tone)
Leotard
Ballet skirt or shorts
Warmups if you get cold
Fun stuff and accessories
Check out our featured brand, Só Dança - use our Broche discount code JULIE to save & support Broche!
Ballet Shoes/Flats/Slippers
Ballet shoes (also called ballet flats or ballet slippers) typically cost between $15-$40. You can wear regular socks to your first ballet class if you are just giving it a try and don’t want to get a pair yet, but you’ll want ballet shoes soon.
They provide cushion for the balls & heels of your feet, protect your toes, and look professional.
Do not wear barre socks or sticky socks to ballet class. Your feet need to slide across the floor and barre/sticky socks do not allow proper ballet technique and you can get injuried if you try to turn in sticky socks.
Ballet shoes typically come in Leather or Canvas.
Leather provides a little more support and a little more friction, so if you dance on slippery flooring, you might prefer leather.
Canvas or Stretch Canvas shoes are more breathable and great if your studio flooring is covered with vinyl/Marley. They are very comfortable but the main drawback is that they don’t last as long as leather shoes.
Our featured partner, Só Dança, also carries Vegan Ballet Shoes.
Dancers also love to wear booties over their ballet shoes to make it easy to slip out of class and run to the restroom or to your car.
Tights
Ballet tights are designed to hug your legs and stay up without fidgeting while you are dancing. There are a few variables to notice when you are purchasing tights:
The feet
** Convertible ** (Most common) Convertible tights are the most versatile and have a hole in the arch so that you can wear them as footed tights or roll them up to wear as footless.
Footed - Footed tights are like normal nylons that cover your feet.
Footless - Footless tights stop at the ankle and do not cover your feet.
Stirrup - Stirrup tights are worn over your ballet shoes and accentuate your arches.
Color
Pink - Common colors include Pink, Ballet Pink, and Theatrical Pink. These are part of a traditional ballet uniform.
Black - Black tights are very flattering on the legs and often allowed in adult ballet programs.
Skin Tones - Skin tone color tights accentuate the line of your leg and make your legs look long.
Extras
Seamed tights - A back seam is classy, simple and fun!
Fishnet/waffle pattern - A subtle pattern in the leg makes for a very flattering leg line and cozy tights. These can be stiffer and less comfortable but look great on your legs.
Be sure to look at pictures of the waistband when buying tights. A wide/thick waistband made of the same material as the tights is the most flattering and comfortable.
Leotards
Leotards are not required for ballet class, but they definitely give you a great feeling of being a traditional ballerina! Here are some variables to consider while you shop.
Sleeves
Camisole - Very thin straps don’t tend to provide a lot of coverage for women, though can be really beautiful if you find a leotard with a higher neckline and a sturdy fabric. Here’s a great cami leotard.
Tank - Great for hiding a sports bra and for feeling confident with coverage in class
Halter - The higher neck line can be really flattering and help you feel beautiful! It can be harder to find a bra, but this neckline is more inherently supportive.
Cap Sleeve - Coverage like a tank, but extra classy.
Also consider whether the back is open or modest. If you plan to wear a bra, you may want a higher-cut back. Higher backs also tend to be more naturally supportive leotards.
Leg Line
French Cut - this tends to be a very high-cut leotard showing much of the upper leg and thigh.
Ballet Leg Line - this tends to be a lower cut providing more modesty and coverage in the hips.
Sweat
Ballet gets pretty sweaty, especially in the armpits, stomach, and lower back. Consider the following suggestions for fabrics and patterns to look and feel great through class.
Choose darker color fabrics, or double-lined leotards for the best sweat coverage.
Even better, choose a patterned fabric!
Or, wear your sweat with pride, knowing you’ve worked hard and earned it!
Sports Bras & Bralette Tops
Some leotards provide built-in support through tight fabrics and straps, whereas others may have a strap that can cover a sports bra. Some sports bras from dancewear brands even have similar material and designs as leotards so they look beautiful, even when they show from under your leotard.
Skirts
Skirts & shorts are optional, but often worn in adult ballet classes to give you modesty and coverage.
Types of Skirts
Wrap Skirts - These wrap around your waist and tie in the back. Typically they are sold with fewer specificity around sizing, as one size often fits most.
Pull-on Skirts - Elastic waistband so you don’t have to tie any strings and it stays in place during class
Length
Bullet skirt (also called SAB or Pointe skirt) - shows the most leg line. Very flattering, but if you are a curvy dancer, may not provide you with enough coverage to feel comfortable.
** Mid length ** - Most common - mid-thigh or knee-length skirt is the most common length in adult ballet class. It provides good hip coverage while still being easy to move and see your legs and feet.
Rehearsal length - Beautiful, fun and flowy! But, they cover your legs so can be more difficult for your instructors to see your technique if the skirt is too opaque.
Warmups
If you get cold, you might enjoy wearing warmups like wrap tops, legwarmers, rompers, trashbag shorts, and sweaters.
Get in touch!
Broken links? Questions? Suggestions? Let us know!
Let’s Dance! Get 7 Free Classes By Joining Our Mailing List!
Join our weekly newsletter with ballet tips from our blog, YouTube channel, Podcast, and Julie’s musings about what we’re working on in our live classes. Includes dog pictures, emoji, and down-to-earth tips to help regular people on their journey to learn the beautiful art of ballet.