Accept policies
Notes for all grades:
All students from Grade 1 and above should have a notebook (A5 size is ideal) and pencil with them at all times, so they can make notes as requested by their teacher or make notes on their feedback to practice at home during the week.
All ballet shoes up to and including G5 are to be full sole not split sole. At Grades 6-8 splitsole shoes may be worn. For Vocational Graded classes, soft pointe shoes must be worn. The teacher may ask the student to remove shoes and dance in bare feet if they feel that the shoes are unsafe.
*Girls ballet shoes are not only available in 'pink' now, with many brands offering tones that feel more suitable for a variety of skin tones. At Colours of Dance we feel that it is important that our students feel able to choose the appropriate shoe colour to fit with their own skin-tone. Shoes should always be worn with matching shade of socks or tights.
For boys, our uniform is white socks and shoes and this is a costume-colour choice and not related to skin-tone. In the younger grades prior to G1, when navy dance leggings become part of the uniform, should boys prefer to wear ballet shoes and socks closely resembling their own skintone for lessons, this is acceptable.
Pointe Shoes - please scroll to the bottom of this page
First Steps
All children participating in First Steps classes can wear uniform set for pre-primary or feel free t
o accessorize from their dressing up box at home, but they must all wear full-sole leather ballet shoes.
Next Steps/ Pre-Primary/ Primary
Girls - Lilac leotard and separate chiffon skirt, flesh-coloured socks, skin-tone* leather full-sole ballet shoes with elastic.
Boys - Pale blue t-shirt, navy shorts, white socks and leather full-sole ballet shoes with elastic.
Grades 1-3:
Girls - Lavender leotard & belt, ballet socks (for G1&2), or ballet tights (for G3), which are approprate for skin-tone* and which also tone with leather full-sole ballet shoes with elastic, character shoes (low heel for Grade 1-2, Cuban heel for Grade 3 +) and character skirt.
A bun or other classical style is required at all lessons for girls attending ballet classes at Grade 2 level and above. 'Classical style' is any head-hugging shape where the hair is held firmly to the head, does not obscure the neck line and doesn't move when turning or leaping.
Boys - White t-shirt (not for exams) or white short-sleeved leotard, navy leggings, white socks & leather full-sole ballet shoes with elastic, character shoes. Boys with long hair should have a pony tail or other style in which the hair is held firmly to the head, does not obscure the neck line and doesn't move when turning or leaping.
All students may need a Light weight TheraBand and a tennis ball. Their teacher will tell them if they need either of these items. CoD can supply the theraband
Grades 4-5:
Girls - Teal sleeveless leotard & belt (I have a slight preference for the pinch front as it tends to be more flattering to the body shape at this age), skin-tone* transition ballet tights, skin-tone* leather full-sole leather ballet shoes with elastic, cuban-heel canvas character shoes, character skirt.
A bun or other classical style is required at all lessons. 'Classical style' is any head-hugging shape where the hair is held firmly to the head, does not obscure the neck line and doesn't move when turning or leaping.
Boys - White t-shirt (not for exams) or white short-sleeved leotard, navy leggings, white socks & leather full-sole shoes with elastic, lace-up canvas character shoes. Boys with long hair should have a pony tail or other style in which the hair is held firmly to the head, does not obscure the neck line and doesn't move when turning or leaping.
Students may need a Medium weight TheraBand and a tennis ball, and should carry these at all lessons. CoD can supply the theraband
Grades 6-8:
Girls - Coloured leotard with matching elastic waist belt (Leotards an be camisole or capped sleeves)- this can be any colour and a matching G6-8 chiffon skirt in any colour, skin-tone* transition ballet tights, skin-tone* leather or canvas full or split-sole ballet shoes with elastic, character skirt, cuban-heel character shoes.
Chiffon Skirt: https://www.dancewearcentral.co.uk/products/little-ballerina-rad-chiffon-skirt-1719?variant=44437122023623
Link to RAD official website: https://www.radenterprises.co.uk/collections/grade-6-8-ballet-wear
A bun or other classical style is required at all lessons. A 'Classical Style' is one in which the hair is held firmly to the head, does not obscure the neck line and doesn't move when turning or leaping.
Boys - White t-shirt (not for exams) or white short-sleeved leotard, navy leggings, white socks & leather full-sole ballet shoes with elastic, character shoes. Boys with long hair should have a pony tail or other style in which the hair is held firmly to the head, does not obscure the neck line and doesn't move when turning or leaping.
All students will need a Medium or Heavy weight TheraBand and a tennis ball and should carry these at all lessons. CoD can supply the theraband
Intermediate Foundation, Intermediate, Pointework
Girls - Royal Blue camisole or cap-sleeved leotard as for grades 6-8, flesh-coloured* ballet tights, flesh-coloured* soft-pointe ballet shoes with ribbons, pointe shoes (when advised by teacher). An optional short, matching skirt may also be worn. A bun or other classical style is required at all lessons. A 'Classical Style' is one in which the hair is held firmly to the head, does not obscure the neck line and doesn't move when turning or leaping.
Cap-sleeved: https://www.dancewearcentral.co.uk/children-c13/girls-leotards-c40/rvarioso-cap-sleeved-leotard-p3271
For the optional skirt:
Pointework is introduced as part of the Intermediate Foundation syllabus, though students entering this grade should not automatically purchase pointe shoes. Students should wait until they have been assessed by their teacher and are considered ready. They will be guided by their teacher as to what to look for when purchasing their first shoes and they will be supported in initial exercises.
Boys - White short-sleeved leotard, navy leggings, white socks & white ballet shoes (leather or canvas). Boys with long hair should have a pony tail or other style in which the hair is held firmly to the head, does not obscure the neck line and doesn't move when turning or leaping.
All students will need a Medium or Heavy weight TheraBand and a tennis ball and should carry these at all lessons. CoD can supply the theraband
Advanced Foundation & Advanced 1/2
Girls: As for IF but black leotard & optional skirt
Cap-sleeved leotard: https://www.dancewearcentral.co.uk/children-c13/girls-leotards-c40/rvarioso-cap-sleeved-leotard-p3271
Camisole leoatard: https://www.dancewearcentral.co.uk/children-c13/girls-leotards-c40/roch-valley-rvmargot-microfibre-camisole-sleeveless-leotard-p3726#attribute%5B1%5D=26
For the optional skirt: https://www.radenterprises.co.uk/collections/vocational-graded/products/freed-advanced-ballet-womens-skirt-size-s-xl?variant=40849376575651
Boys: as for IF but black leotard and leggings
Adults:
Adults in syllabus classes should wear unoiform or something which is very similar so as to respect the school's community rules and processes for exam preparation.
Adults in non-syllabus classes are not required to wear 'uniform' in non-syllabus classes but should be in suitable clothing, which is stretchy, comfortable and which allows the teacher to see the body clearly. Leotard & tights/leggings are best, but comfort and confidence are of greater importance. Please speak to your teacher for advice. Hair should be tied back and off the face & neck, ideally in a classical style, suitable for practicing turning (ie the hair shouldn't flick or fall into the eyes). A 'Classical Style' is one in which the hair is held firmly to the head, does not obscure the neck line and doesn't move when turning or leaping.
All adults must wear ballet shoes after their trial lesson.
Keeping Warm
All students should have a warmup layer for when the weather is colder. We recommend leg warmers, jogging bottoms and knitted/fitted tops with long sleeves to be worn at the start of class. Any colour is suitable, but we do have some branded Colours of Dance items for sale too.
Pointe Shoes
Fitting these correctly is critically important, and for each individual there is much to consider and understand - both individual biology and movement characteristics, togeter with the stage that the student is at in their learning. The earliest we will ever consider a child putting on pointe shoes is aged 11, but this decision will be made in combination with ensuring their intrinsic physical strength, technical control and mental preparedness is established. Prior to this, we recommend attandence at our introduction to pointe class, which includes students preparing to go 'en pointe' as well as those in their first pair. Prior to beginning dance en pointe, we recommend preparing in soft pointe shoes, and undertaking all pointe-work on demi-pointe. Your teacher will guide you through the appropriate steps for each student individually.
Pointe shoes should always be fitted, as at the recreational level, shoes last longer, and there are more physical and technique changes that take place for each student between the purchase of each pair, so it's useful to consider each pair as a 'first pair'. You should book an appointment and try on several pairs of shoes and makes before deciding which is right for you this time. You will receive tips from your teachers about what you are looking for. The shops our students have had good fittings from are:
Covent Garden, London:
Freed: https://www.freedoflondon.com/pointe-shoes/
Capezio: https://capezio.uk/collections/women-pointe-shoes and https://capezio.uk/pages/find-a-store
Bloch: https://uk.blochworld.com/collections/adults-dance-shoes-pointe and https://uk.blochworld.com/pages/bloch-stores
Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes:
Soul2Sole: https://soul2soledancewear.co.uk/
This is a small store with a few different brands and you can expect a very personalised service here.
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