We hope this valuable information can help you (or your child) have a positive dance experience at NCDI. Please review the General Student Information page as well.

Ballet and Pointe Attire for NCDI Students 6yrs-Adults
Ballet students should wear black leotards and full length pink, tan, or flesh tone tights. Skirts are permitted in some classes. Please leave bracelets and jewelry at home. Instructors will ask students to remove any jewelry or excess attire. Hair should be in a secured bun. Students with shorter hair, please use pins to keep hair out of eyes. Adult ballet students may wear black tights and black leotards. Male dancers should wear black tights, a white or black tight fitted t-shirt and black, white, or flesh tone ballet slippers. Students who are not dressed properly for ballet classes will be asked to observe class.

Ballet and Pointe Shoes
Students should have pink or flesh tone leather or canvas ballet slippers with elastics sewn properly. Any ribbons should be tucked inside the shoes. The student's name should be written inside the shoes. Pointe shoes, pink or flesh toned, must be fitted and sewn properly by a knowledgeable dance professional at a reputable dance store. Please ask your ballet teacher to fit shoes before sewing them.

Creative Movement, PreDance, Pre-Ballet for NCDI Students 3yrs-6yrs
Children in Creative Movement, PreDance and Pre-Ballet classes generally wear pink leotards with skirts. Teachers recommend skirts that are attached to leotards. Tights are not mandatory for younger children in the summer months, but are required for the winter season for warmth. For ballet classes, hair should be in a bun, in pony tails, or otherwise pulled back. Parents, please remove all bracelets and jewelry before your child enters the classroom. Children should wear leather ballet slippers, any color, with elastics. *Please do not purchase satin slippers, as they fall off easily.

Jazz Attire and Shoes
Jazz students may wear black leotard or black tank top. Black tights or properly hemmed jazz pants that do not touch the floor are permitted. Shorts of any kind are not permitted. Jazz students should wear soft black leather lace up jazz shoes. All new jazz shoes should be rubbed vigorously with a towel or scuffed on dark carpet before attending classes at NCDI. Please do not walk outside in dance shoes - this damages the shoes and may subsequently damage the dance floors.

A special note to parents regarding jazz sneakers: NCDI instructors often wear jazz sneakers because they teach many hours in a row and need the support. Children under 12 yrs of age should not take jazz classes in jazz sneakers. The heel is higher than flat shoes and has caused many ankle injuries. Please do not buy your children jazz sneakers for jazz classes. Students are required to have flat, soft leather jazz shoes for jazz classes. Students arriving for jazz class in jazz sneakers will be asked to remove them. Jazz sneakers can be worn in Hip-Hop classes.

Hip-Hop Attire and Shoes
Hip-Hop students may dress casually with Capri pants, sweat pants, jazz pants and a supportive tank top. Shorts are not permitted. Students should wear soft black leather lace up jazz shoes or hip-hop jazz sneakers. No street tennis shoes or sneakers. Teachers will ask students to remove any shoes that look like street shoes. A note: if you walk outside in your shoes, they are considered street shoes and can not be worn in our studios. All new jazz shoes should be rubbed vigorously with a towel or scuffed on dark carpet before attending classes at NCDI. Please do not walk outside in dance shoes - this damages the shoes and may subsequently damage the dance floors. Adults who do not wish to purchase hip hop shoes or jazz shoes, can wear black socks for classes.

Tap Attire and Shoes
Tap students should wear black lace up oxford tap shoes. We recommend Capezio single screw tap shoes for durability, longevity, and toe stands. Casual dance attire is preferred. Children taking tap should wear black patent leather tap shoes with an optional bow of any color. Please do not walk outside in tap shoes - this damages the shoes and will subsequently damage the dance floors.

Modern Attire
Modern students (teens and adults) should be in all black dance attire, Black leotard with footless black tights or jazz pants over their leotard. Dancers should be barefoot, but white socks may occasionally be needed. Shorts are not permitted for Modern class because there is a great deal of floor work for Modern. Students' legs should be fully covered. Teachers will notify students if they should bring kneepads.

Labeling Attire and Shoes
All dance attire and shoes (ballet, jazz, hip-hop, tap shoes) should have the student's name clearly labeled inside. Please take a moment to write your child's name in their shoes.

Adult Students
Adults taking classes at NCDI should follow the dress code but are permitted to wear skirts for ballet classes. Please read attire information above. No street shoes or tennis shoes permitted.

Local Dance Attire Shops
Releve Dance Wear (280 Meeting St. Suite 105, Cary) 919-854-4442
Dance Etc. (3013 Barrow Drive Raleigh, NC 27616) 919-981-0804