Current Dress code: Students are required to wear clothing which allows for freedom of movement. It is acceptable for students to wear ballet/tap/jazz shoes of any style/colour in dance class. Alternatively, students can wear soft pumps/ have bare feet in ballet/jazz/boogie and wear a trainer type shoe for tap/street. It is anticipated that students will have the appropriate footwear if regular on-going attendance is expected.
Uniform implementation: As of August 2012, in line with implementation of uniform policy, students will be required to wear uniform garments e.g. leotard of a specific colour, tights etc and dance footwear in class/examinations. In relation footwear, DIA recommends leather/canvas (full/split sole) beige pink (plain) ballet shoes (girls), black ballet shoes (boys - all grades) secured with elastic, black low heel tap shoes with toe and heel tap (canvas/leather) and black lace-up jazz shoes for Jazz, Freestyle & Modern (sole/split sole). NB Jazz Trainers can be worn for Freestyle if preferred. All 3-5yr classes wear ballet shoes for Ballet /Jazz and tap shoes for Tap (tap shoes required for Starlite level do not require a heel tap). NB ballet shoe guidelines apply to female students doing Starlite to grade 2 ballet work. Those of grade 3 and above should have ballet shoes secured with ribbons and not elastics.The Highland School Wear shop, Academy Street, Inverness, stock/order recommended footwear. Footwear can also be obtained from any dance wear shop and on-line e.g. Dance Direct. Uniform garment information will be provided in due course
To help avoid unnecessary parental/guardian expense, current students who have ballet/tap/jazz shoes and leotards of a colour/style different to that of the intended uniform requirements can be worn in class until such time as child out grown, shoes worn out etc. Additionally, new students and/or students who try out a new dance discipline can participate in class(s) without the recommended footwear/uniform for up to one month of the associated dance class(s)
Dance show/uniform information: Class uniforms will form a basis, where possible, of dance show costumes thereby, both maximising uniform usage and minimising costume costs. Moreover, parents/guardians are asked to contribute £10.50 per show dance costume. One such costume will utilise uniform garments e.g. leotard,ballet socks/ballet tights & shorts/ballet socks(boys). In other words, most/all of one requested £10.50 will go towards students future DIA uniform. Further show costume information and uniform details will be provided following Easter break.
Although uniform policy is not being implemented until August 2012, those students participating in the June dance show will be required to wear the associated dance footwear in their show dances e.g. ballet shoes for ballet dance , tap shoes for tap dance, jazz shoes for jazz/street dance . As the dance show takes place prior to uniform implementation, students can wear dance shoes of any colour/style when performing in the show
About / Buying Tap Shoes:
Look for a comfortable and snug, but not too tight fit. As a general rule, your current shoe size is likely to be the most appropriate.
'Roch Valley' Taps are taps suitable for younger and more inexperienced dancers as they are secured tightly onto the tap so that the dancer can get to grips with the basic steps without having to worry about how loose their taps are or what tone it sounds like. Additionally, they are suitable for those dancers who are at an intermediate but who may not be ready for a Teletone tap just yet. Heel taps can be screwed into any heel, simply by lining it up and attaching with a standard screwdriver NB You don’t always have to buy the heel and toe taps together to increase the quality of the sound of your taps, adding a Teletone heel tap might be just the answer. NB Tap shoes need not be 'Roch Valley' there are other types e.g Bloch, Capezio, 1st position etc.
'Teletone heel taps' are really suited more for advanced dancers. They are made from aluminium and are accompanied with a fibreboard situated underneath the tap to resonate sound. To get the best sound out of your Teletone taps it is advised to loosen the screws slightly so that the tap has the flexibility and movement to make contact with the floor and fibreboard. This contact with the floor and fibreboard is what will give you that rich, full tone that you do not get when the screws are screwed in tightly. On the other hand, it is also advised not to loosen the screws too much as after a few times tapping the screws will fall out and can damage the dance floor, can ruin other dance shoes and can be dangerous.
About / Buying Ballet Shoes:
Ballet shoes are designed to enhance a dancer's technique as well as protect the feet and ankles. Many people say they should fit the foot 'like a glove'. Although they should fit snugly, be careful not to buy them too small. There should be sufficient room in the shoe for moving the toes. When trying ballet shoes on, raise up and balance on the balls of your feet. Your toes should not be crammed into the front of the shoe but be relaxed with plenty space to move around. As a guideline, those supplied through the Highland School Wear shop in Inverness tend to be two sizes larger than current shoe size. Please seek advice from shop staff if unsure.
Moreover, ballet shoes are available in leather and canvas. Leather ones tend to be more expensive, but tend to be more durable and last longer than canvas. Some people believe that leather shoes accentuate a pointed foot and simply appear more elegant. However, some dancers prefer the feel of canvas. Canvas shoes are easiest to clean as they can be thrown into the washing machine. Another way to influence your decision is to consider the type of dance floor in which the shoes will be worn. Leather shoes work well with wooden floors and canvas are better suited to vinyl. In the end, the material you choose is a matter of personal preference.
Additionally, ballet shoes are designed with full-soles or split-soles. Full-sole ones mimic 'pointe' shoes, which is important to dancers that are technically ready to dance on their toes (although, dancing on your toes is not recommended without true 'pointe' shoes and only when a dancer has gained enough strength and technique). Half-sole ballet shoes are preferred by some dancers because they allow the foot to create a stronger point, as the sole is split between the heel and the toe.
About / Buying Jazz Shoes:
Jazz shoes have a small heel, unlike ballet shoes. They can be made of leather or canvas and are designed specifically for the type of movements found in contemporary jazz dancing. They offer excellent traction to allow for good control whilst dancing. Some jazz shoes have split-soles, meaning the shoe is capable of bending, allowing for more flexibility. Traditional jazz shoes are closed with laces which can be tightened for a snug fit . NB Black laced jazz shoes comply with DIA uniform policyo available.
Jazz shoes should feel nice and snug on the dancer's foot but not too tight. The dancer should be able to wriggle their toes a little and should be able to easily bend and flex the foot. The toes shouldn't be pushed up into the end of the shoe but if it can move around on the foot enough to feel loose, then it's usually a good idea to try the next size down. .
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