Costumes

Costumes will be available for pick-up upon arrival AND as accounts are paid in full with a $0 balance through the end of the year (June tuition). You will receive an email as your costumes are ready for pick-up. Costumes will not be released to unpaid accounts. Costumes will include all tights and accessories. A nude leotard will be provided to all dancers with multiple costumes who did not get a new one for the Christmas Recital. If your dancer received a nude leotard in December for the Christmas Recital, you will need to use it again for this recital. If costumes need alterations, it is the student/parent’s responsibility to arrange alterations. (Costumes come in a general S, M, L, XL size that varies among brands. If a dancer measures on the line of size suggestions, we would rather go up and have a larger costume to take in than have a dancer in a costume that is too tight!)

*Once your costumes go home, please try them on ASAP and hang them outside the costume bag to release wrinkles.

**Please hang tutus upside down to fluff.

***Costumes with fringe come with the fringe attached with a string to avoid tangling. Simply pull the end of the string to remove it on picture day.

Shoes

Required shoes have been listed all year. If your dancer does not have the correct shoes, they must be purchased from the studio dance shop no later than May 15th. Correct assigned shoes must be worn with costumes. Dancers who do not have the correct shoes will not be allowed to participate in Pictures, Dress Rehearsal, or Recital.

Tights & Undergarments

A new pair of assigned tights are included with each costume! To help with modesty during costume changes, a nude leotard is included with one of your dancer’s costumes. (If your dancer received a new nude leotard for the Christmas Recital earlier this season or they do not have a costume change, they will not get an additional nude leotard for this performance.) NO other undergarments are to be worn with costumes unless pull-ups are necessary. Older dancers needing to wear appropriate bras must make sure that all straps are concealed!

How to layer your dancer before checking them in:

1. NO PANTIES

2. Tan Stirrup tights for any dancers in Acro/Contemporary OR Tan Footed tights for all other dancers. (This layer will never be removed from your child.)

3. Nude Leotard. (This layer will never be removed from your child.)

4. Your child’s 1st costume in Show Order, including the tights that come with that costume even if that means your dancer now has on two pairs of tights. You will be notified of which costume is 1st on picture day.

Stage Appearance Guidelines

To appear as professional as possible, the wearing of extra hairpieces, jewelry, and fingernail/toenail polish is not permitted during the recital or picture week. All students are given a specific hairstyle for the recital. All female students will be required to wear false eyelashes, regardless of age. (Try your best with the little ones! It is not worth tears on their big day, however, the sooner they can get used to them the easier it will be as they get older.)

· Costumes and dancewear are designed to not need additional undergarments, just like swimwear. Underwear is not permitted under costumes – this is what tights are for! (Dancers not fully potty-trained should wear a pull-up under their costume in case of an accident. We do not have extra costumes on hand!) Dancers seen wearing additional undergarments will be sent to remove them before entering the stage. We will not hold up the show for dancers who fail to adhere to this policy.

· Please layer your child’s tight so that they do not need to be completely exposed while changing. Example: Tan stirrup tights always go on the bottom (1st) this way we can put other tights on top. If your child is not in a dance that has stirrup tights, tan-footed tights go on the bottom. Dancers should arrive with this already done to both dress rehearsal and recital.

· Older dancers that must wear additional bra support, must make sure that absolutely no part of the bra is visible! All straps must be pinned to the costume accordingly. Absolutely NO CLEAR STRAPS allowed, as they reflect light and look unprofessional on stage.

· Dancers must pass the “shake test” for secure hair. They will need to turn their head upside down and shake their head to make sure their hair will not come down on stage. Dancers whose hair is not secure will need to redo it before entering the stage. We will not hold up the show for dancers who fail to adhere to this policy.

· BOYS – Boys should provide their Black dress socks. Boys should wear Black or nude briefs or boxer briefs under all costumes, and make sure that they are not visible.

· All dancers with a bun as their assigned hairstyle will need to wear a hairnet.

· No jewelry!

· No gum!

· No holes or runs in tights!

· No holes in shoes!

· No glitter!

Organization

Please send your dancer to Non-Dress Rehearsal, Dress Rehearsal, and Recital with a towel to sit on, a laundry basket to drop all costume and shoe items in after use, and a water bottle. All items should be labeled with the dancer's first and last name!