Dress Code and Footwear Requirements: (All dancers - be sure to read the information at the bottom of this section)

We have an online shop at https://www.shopnimbly.com/capa if you wish to purchase any items online and save yourself a trip to the store. If your tap shoes have ribbons versus elastic, please purchase tap elastics from the office for $5 or sew your own.

We sell leotards, tights, and ballet slippers in the office. Only the tights brand sold at CAPA may be worn for shows, for color consistency. Tan camisoles, which are often worn under costumes are also available. They are especially good for modesty if dancers are worried when changing. Other items and CAPA gear are also available.

Intro to Dance, Beginning Dance, and Young Dancer Classes

Intro to Dance class - dancers may wear leotards or little dance costumes with tutus - anything that makes them feel happy. No Buns are required, but hair should be secured away from the face. Tights or tight socks should be worn. Boys can wear tee shirts and shorts

Beginning Dance and Young Dancer - Leotards of any color and pink tights or tight socks. Dance skirts may be worn, but make sure they fit the natural waist and are short. If hair is long enough, a ponytail or a bun. If it is short, secure it away from their face.

Girls: Pink ballet shoes with elastic straps for class and primasoft pink tights. For the June Show, if your dancer’s class uses tap shoes, Mary Jane-style tap shoes (any color is fine for class) - June Show uses tan tap shoes and tan tights. If your dancer needs new tap shoes, it’s better to buy tan and not have to buy a new pair for the show. Please, no ribbons that need to be tied! If your shoes come with ribbons, replace them with elastic for ease of putting on and taking off. Tap elastics are available from our Dancewear store in the office.

Boys: Black ballet and tap shoes. Comfortable plain tee shirts, shorts, or dancewear.

Ballet Classes: 

Girls: Black leotard, pink tights, and pink ballet slippers for class. Hair must be worn in a neat bun. Here is a link to a quick and easy tutorial for how to create the perfect ballet bun.

Any pink ballet slippers are fine for class, But they must have elastic straps across the instep. For performances for Ballet Companies, dancers need to have pink Capezio “Hanami” cross-strap canvas ballet slippers (unless your ballet company is performing en pointe or requires black shoes for a special piece). Performances also require Primasoft pink tights. Cross Strap ballet shoes and tights are available for purchase from the office. Ballet 1 and 2 may wear single strap pink canvas ballet shoes for the June show if they do not wish to purchase cross-strap. Ballet shoes are intended to be fairly tight.

Hair must be neatly secured in a bun. If a student’s hair is too short for a bun, it must be worn neatly secured away from the face.

Boys: Black dance pants, a white or black dance shirt, and black ballet shoes. If their hair is long, it must be in a ponytail for class and a low bun for the show.

All Non-Ballet and Ensemble Classes

IMPORTANT: always dress with modesty in mind (but remember that clothes need to be fitted close to the body so that the teacher can see the lines of the dancer’s body). Midriff tops may be worn, but visible cleavage must be minimized. All dancers with medium to larger bustlines need to wear strong, supportive dance bras. Developing dancers with smaller bustlines should wear either regular or camisole bras. Fashionable fitted dance tops may be worn over bras. No bras may be worn alone. All dancers must wear a fitted top or leotard.

Students should wear regular dance clothes for all classes in any color. Fashion leggings and dance shorts are fine, although some teachers will ask for simple black. Unfitted shirts, baggy shorts, and sweats are not be worn, as this restricts the teachers’ ability to see your form and make corrections. Tights or thin socks should always be worn with dance shoes to reduce the risk of blisters. Hair must be worn secured firmly back - if hair is long enough, in a ponytail or bun. Dangly earrings are not allowed - we don’t want them to catch on something and rip. Large costume jewelry should not be worn.

Sometimes, individual teachers establish their own dress codes for class. Please adhere to their stated dress codes.I

All Contemporary Classes

Foot Undeez or Dance Paws (available for sale in the office). Most CAPA dancers wear either black leotards with tan tights or Ivivva/Athleta/Lululemon type activewear tops and leggings or dance shorts. Boys wear regular dancewear.

All Jazz Classes

Regular dancewear and tan jazz shoes, slip on preferred. Most CAPA dancers wear either black leotards with tan tights or Ivivva/Athleta/Lululemon type activewear tops and leggings or fitted dance shorts. Boys wear regular dancewear and black shoes.

Tap 1 & Tap 2

Regular dancewear and tan Mary Jane-style tap shoes with elastics. Most CAPA dancers wear either black leotards with tan tights or Ivivva/Athleta/Lululemon type fitted activewear tops and leggings or dance shorts. Teachers must be able to see the dancer’s posture.

Boys wear regular dancewear and black shoes.

Tap 3 and Higher Level Tap Classes

We ask that tappers above level 3 keep a small screwdriver in their dance bag, and check that their taps are tight before class each week to prevent digging up our dance floor with loose taps. 

Regular dancewear and black lace-up tap shoes with hard soles (not split soled). Capezio and Bloch are preferred. Boys wear regular dancewear and black shoes. Further shoe information for advanced tappers is below:

Our Tap Director has asked us to let you know the tap shoe that she recommends/suggests for our Jr. & Sr. Taps: Bloch "Jason Samuel Smith" Style: S0313L. These shoes are quite expensive, but very strong and long lasting (and can sometimes be resold). Please know these shoes are not required. We have listed this shoe as the first choice below, along with a few others that are quite good but less expensive. We wanted to show you some options. Not listed are also others that are less expensive, but do not give as good sound. Please feel free to shop around. 

Shoes for advanced tap dancers. Prices are at the time of this writing, 8/1/23. Prices may change at any time. Please remember, these are only suggestions.

These are just examples, not recommendations for purchasing. Choose carefully. For advanced dancers, (Jr. & Sr. Tap), please make sure you choose a leather shoe with a good heel. Best is 1.5”, but others can be 1” or 1.25. They must be black and lace up. Check for coupons, free shipping and return policy. Contra Costa Dancewear carries some styles.

Discount Dance Supply (discountdance.com)

Bloch “Jason Samuel Smith” Black Lace Up Tap shoe. Style S0313L (Runs small, read sizing info) $209

Bloch “SYNC” lace up tap shoes. (Runs very small) $76.30

Bloch Adult “Respect” Lace Up Tap Shoe (reg size) $96.49

MARIIA MX Style o: MX23 Lace Up Leather Tap Shoe $89.15

www.dancesupplies.com Capezio Roxy Tap Shoes $160  SKU: 960 - black lace up 

www.sodanca.com TILLY - TA810 as low as $92-$112.99 (final sale, be sure of size -runs small) 

TAYLA  TA800V Women’s Premium Leather Professional Tap Shoe $248 $183.99

Important for all dancers!

  • Modesty and cleanliness is important at all times. 

  • Leotards are like bathing suits. Panties are not to be worn under them. The dancers wear tights and then a leotard. No panties with leotards or costumes.

  • When dancers are about 10 years old, sometimes younger, dancers must keep deodorant in their dance bag at all times, and make sure they use it. It’s surprising how young this starts, but very quickly the dance room starts to smell like a locker room . Please remember to use deodorant before you start your first class of the day.

  • It’s important to follow the dress code for your particular class at all times. It’s respectful of the discipline and the tradition of dance. 

  • Keep all your different dance shoes, plus any items important for a dance a particular class may be working on, in your dance bag at all times. When you practice at home, return your dance shoes to your dance bag when you are finished. Then you will not find yourself without the proper shoes for a class. 

  • With the help of an adult, find a time when you can air out all your shoes so that they can dry in the fresh air and aren’t smelly, then return them immediately to your dance bag.

  • Dance bags must not be left on the floor of the lobby or on the benches or chairs at any time. People need to have somewhere to stand and sit.

  • Cell phones must be turned off upon entering the dance room. You may not use them while class is in session.

  • Once a dancer is old enough to write clearly, they should keep a notebook/journal in their dance bag, to take notes of steps and also what they need to be working on at home.

  • If you need tights, please purchase the Prima Soft tights that we sell in our store. The pink and tan tights we sell are the only tights permitted in the show. They are amazingly stretchable and fit everyone.

  • Please wash all dance clothes frequently.