Dance Class Etiquette
Things You Need to Know
What you should know before stepping foot in a dance class!
20 BASICS OF DANCE CLASS ETIQUETTE
- Come prepared. This includes the appropriate dress, shoes, and grooming for participating in your class. Leave dangling or sharp-edged jewelry at home or in your bag.
- Leave food and drinks (unless your teachers OKs a closed water bottle) out of the dance space.
- Don’t chew gum in the dance space. It’s rude to those around you and actually unsafe for to do while you’re dancing.
- Never wear dance shoes outside the studio or wear street shoes inside the studio.
- Before stepping onto the dance floor with tap shoes, check your shoes for loose screws.
- Come to class showered and with brushed teeth or freshened breath.
- Use a dressing room, if one is available, for the personal items you have with you but don’t need for dance class. If a dressing room isn’t available, leave personal items at the back or sides of unused studio walls.
- Turn off and stow your cell phone. You have no use for your device during class. Completely silence it by turning it off – not simply setting it to vibrate – so that it will not disrupt class from your bag.
- Don’t arrive late. If this cannot be avoided, enter the class very quietly.
- Don’t leave class early. If you cannot avoid making an early exit, talk to the teacher before class. If your exit is an emergency, do so as quickly and discreetly as possible.
- Don’t talk – not even a whisper – while the teacher is talking.
- Be attentive at all times. Help class move along for everyone by staying attentive in line as you wait your turn.
- Pay attention, participate and follow your teacher’s directions. Listen before asking questions. When you do ask questions, make sure that they are necessary and relevant.
- Approach your class and activities in your class with a good, positive attitude. It helps you and everyone else in your class to learn more quickly and accomplish more.
- Never sit down unless you are instructed to do so.
- Watch your language, even when you mess up. The dance studio is no place for expressing yourself inappropriately.
- Be respectful of others. Allow them the same opportunity you have to learn and participate and space to do it in. The best way to achieve this is to exhibit the Golden Rule at all times.
- Respect the dance studio/space by keeping it clean and neat. Pick up after yourself – trash that you generate or that you see. Make sure your clothes and other personal items are neat and in the appropriate place when you’re in class and when you’re not.
- Don’t use things that are not yours or that you don’t have permission to use. Do not turn things on, off, up, or down in the space without express permission.
- Use good posture. Don’t slouch or hang on the barre (or anywhere else) and be aware of negative body language (like folded arms). After all, dance is about using your body to express a beautiful art form.
PRESENTATION/ATTIRE
- Hair should be slicked back into a low ponytail or pulled back in braids and secured to your scalp. (examples of such styles are listed below)
- Jewelry is generally not permitted. Small studs or pearls are appropriate as long as they are not distracting.
- All dancers should be aware of what their specific attire requirements are for their classes and should come prepared and ready on time to take class
THINGS THAT SHOULD ALWAYS BE IN YOUR DANCE BAG:
- Deodorant
- Healthy snacks
- A water bottle
- Hairbrushes
- Sticky bandages
- Hand sanitizer
- A phone charger
- Foam rollers or resistance bands.
- Dance Shoes
- Extra Dance Clothes
Check out these fun WHAT’S IN MY DANCE BAG VIDEOS!
for tiny tots/itty bitties:
for young kids:
for teens:
for adults and parents:
ALWAYS REMEMBER WHY YOU ARE HERE WHEN YOU STEP FOOT IN CLASS. THIS IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO PUSH YOURSELF TO BE YOUR BEST AND ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS. COME TO CLASS JUST AS INSPIRED AND EXCITED FOR YOURSELF AS YOUR STUDIO AND COMMUNITY IS EXCITED FOR YOU!
