Dress Code

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.

Primary Division

  • Girls

    Attire: Dancers may wear leotards or little dance costumes with tutus - anything that makes them feel happy. Tights or tight socks should be worn.

    Shoes: Pink Ballet Shoes

    Hair: No Buns are required, but hair should be secured away from the face.

    Boys

    Attire: Solid color tee shirts and athletic style pants or shorts.

    Shoes: Black ballet and tap shoes.

    Hair: Secure and out of the face.

  • Girls

    Attire: Leotards of any color and primasoft pink tights or tight socks. Dance skirts may be worn, but make sure they fit the natural waist and are short.

    Shoes: Pink ballet shoes with elastic straps and tan Mary-Jane style tap shoes. 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.

    Hair: If hair is long enough, a ponytail or a bun. If it is short, secure it away from their face.

    Boys

    Attire: Solid color tee shirts and athletic style pants or shorts.

    Shoes: Black ballet and tap shoes.

    Hair: Secure and out of the face.

All Non-Ballet and Ensemble Classes

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.

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. Fashionable fitted dance tops may be worn over bras, with no bras worn alone. All dancers must wear a fitted top or leotard.

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

  • Girls

    Attire: Black leotard, pink tights, and pink ballet slippers for class. Primasoft pink tights (sold in the office).

    Shoes: Any pink ballet slippers are fine for class. For performances, dancers need to have pink Capezio “Hanami” cross-strap canvas ballet slippers (sold in the office). Advanced dancers (Level 6 and up) may perform en pointe or require black shoes for a special piece.

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

    Boys

    Attire: Athletic style black or white shirt with black dance pants or tights.

    Shoes: Black ballet shoes.

    Hair: If their hair is long, it must be in a ponytail for class and a low bun for the show.

Ballet Division

  • Girls

    Attire: Most CAPA dancers wear either black leotards with tan tights or Ivivva/Athleta/Lululemon type activewear tops and leggings or dance shorts.

    Shoes: Foot Undeez or Dance Paws (available for sale in the office).

    Boys

    Attire: Comfortable dancewear.

    Shoes: Foot Undeez or Dance Paws (available for sale in the office).

  • Girls

    Attire: Most CAPA dancers wear either black leotards with tan tights or Ivivva/Athleta/Lululemon type activewear tops and leggings or fitted dance shorts.

    Shoes: Tan or black slip on jazz shoes.

    Boys

    Attire: Comfortable dancewear.

    Shoes: Tan or black slip on jazz shoes.

  • Girls

    Attire: Most CAPA dancers wear either black leotards with tan tights or Ivivva/Athleta/Lululemon type fitted activewear tops and leggings or dance shorts

    Shoes: Tan Mary Jane style tap shoes with elastics.

    Boys

    Attire: Comfortable dancewear.

    Shoes: Black slip on tap shoes.

  • 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