What should dd (4) wear? We have a tutu but no tights/ballet shoes/leotards, but the head of the school was v curt on the phone and am scared to ring back and ask. Hopefully she won't be dd's teacher!!

Before I bought uniform for my DD for ballet, I used to send her in a tshirt and leggings/shorts or skirt with normal tights or bare feet. Once you know if she likes the class you can then invest in the uniform.
Hope she has fun!

He he, she will-think she is going more for the uniform and to dance with scarves a la angelina though-may have a v disappointed dd

I have just purchased a pink leotard, tutu (I think that is what the skirt is called), pink shoes and pink socks for my DD, plus a pink alice band. It was so exciting getting the first set of ballet clothes.

However in the shop there were all sorts of outfits and different colours. I would send your daughter in leggings and t-shirt for the first lesson and check then what ballet clothes to buy. I'm sure they won't mind if your DD doesn't have the whole outfit for the first lesson.

and ask around to see if anyone has second hand. they go through it quickly.

Think she may insist on wearing her tutu, but am worried the teacher may get naffed off with her-maybe I should brave it and ask-dd will be heartbroken if she is dressed less "princess like" than everyone else (she's spoilt, I know already). Am desperate to buy it all too womble!

Good idea disaster-they grow too fast!

Your dd can probably wear socks or bare feet for her first few lessons (check what the floor is like though). I had the whole kit from the word go but my dd's ballet school doesn't mind what the children wear for practise sessions. One little girl wore shorts over her leotard.

The tutu is the net skirt - but there is a chiffon/nylon wrap skirt that little girls often wear over a leotard. I don't suppose the teacher will mind the tutu for the first lesson but maybe a phone call would put your mind at ease?

My ballet teacher used to explain to the children about practice clothes not being as pretty as stage costumes was as they need to see your posture/movements in class. Not sure how you'd put that to a 4-yr old though.

DDs (3&7) both dance and each school has different uniform requirements. the only thing i would buy are her ballet shoes until you get uniform list. It was so emotional seeing them all dressed up for the first time, even if like my little one she is wearing her sisters first skirt and leotard which was about 3 sizes too big, but she didn't care. Even better when you see them in their first shows. My DD2 will be in her first show next year and I just know that she will be the one in the corner picking her nose and twiddling her skirt oblivious to what she should be doing

My dd just wore anything and bare feet at first and then she had to get all of the proper stuff. Skirt with the dots on and a cotton leotard with capped sleeves and ballet socks! All the strict dress code puts me off a bit. She is only 4! And it was in a church hall not the RAD.

e-bay

Dd will be the one with the knees knocking and bruises on her shins and waving desperately when she spots me! Rang the school but got the answer phone-hope I got my mob no right! She has just started riding too and I welled up at that-she's on a huge fat shetland so her legs stick out to the sides. And got her first badge in swimming, since she started school it has been hysterics all over! You must take a videocamera drivin!

Oh god savoy that is so cute! This is a dance school but the little ones are in the church hall-please let her let me do her hair properly instead of screaming! Aren't there secrets to ballet hair-something to do with spray gel?

At 4, a hairband would be sufficient for 'ballet hair' but tied back somehow if it's long enough.

Sorry, am being a bit PFB aren't I? It's shoulder length but straggly, so tied back looks a lot neater, but she hates having bobbles in as they always seem to hurt her (I am a bad hair-doer!)

Have you tried getting bobbles without the metal bits in? I got some in Sainsbury's the other week and a ballet hairband (or any wide hairband) on top should keep it all back.

Brill sally-you are my ballet guru! Am worried the super-organised mums will make me look like a tatty mummy!

I was a squirmer myself when it came to sorting out my hair . In the end I persuaded my Mum to let me grow my hair so it went into a bun which took most of the stress out. 4 is probably a bit young for that though. For shows, I used to use mousse and gel to keep it all back topped off with hairspray (14yr olds have no concept that less is sometimes more).

Yes, but your hair needs to be SHINY so more is more! It is Bah-ley dahling after all! I bet it stayed there when you took the bobble out though didn't it

It took ages to wash out .

I wouldn't send her in a tutu, tbh. My dd is also 4 - I put her in a light blue leotard and ballet shoes. She does also have a little chiffon skirt, but that isn't essential.

The RAD stuff seems pretty expensive to me and you can get cheaper versions online...

The point of having a strict code of dress is because ballet is a discipline. DD2 can get away with all sorts (within reason) But DD2 has to have hair just so (french plait and hair band for lessons, bun & band for exams) Also for exams uniform has to be just so or they will get marked down. But i don't think it's all bad because the discipline it teaches them is a positive thing. Ballet is a very precise form of dance so it makes sense that how you look should convey that.
Having said that I knew nothing until 4 years ago, make-up for the shows was a joke and the intimidation you feel from all the other mums who have being doing it for years is awful, but you soon learn. It's another world, not one i would choose but DD1 is pretty talented so have had to learn. wait til she starts tap and modern dance too. I never realised how exhausting it all is. Need a sit down now just thinking of it

I would give them a call back and ask. If eveyone else has the same thing on your DD might not want to look different.

We have a pink leotard (t-shirt sleeves), the pink skirt with dots, pink socks and ballet shoes (elastic sewn over the top). We also have pink hair band, and a wrap-top. (Because I couldn't resist it!)

I loved buying it all together. Shop assistant was very patient with me being a Nightmare Ballet Mom

Does the school have a web-site? Or can you email? I'm wondering if you are at the same place we are, as the lady there puts the fear of God into me!

I should add that they are very specific at DDs lessons on what should be worn, so it really depends on the school.

Scary what Drivingmecrazy says!

someone selling the full kit here:

[[http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RAD-pink-spotty-voile-skirt-cardin-leotard-age-3-4_W0QQitemZ2603096 89059QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item260309689059&trksid=p3286.c0.m14&trkparms=72%3A1301%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A1 2%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318 ]]

I want to get her the full kit as of tomorrow, but need to make sure I'm getting the right one first . She WILL like it for a year . Have left two messages but no call yet-will ring while I'm in a meeting I bet. She will be devastated if she is different-she is a sensitive little soul so it may make or break her if she feels the others are wearing the uniform and she isn't.

the girls started term in a mix of summer frocks ,leggings and T shirts and big sisters outgrown leotards.Now all seem to be in pink leotards and voile pink skirts and tights. the cardigans came out this week!
I'd hold off buying "the works" for a week or two. one mum who did buy it all for week one now has a child who screams and refuses to join in... is most narked at having spent all that.
Our teacher keeps a basket of cast off ballet shoes in all sizes for new or young with fast growing feet children to use over tights or socks. Boy is still using those as his feet are growing so fast I don;t want to keep spending 8 quid on new shoes he wears fro 3 weeks.
Boy wears blue Lycra shorts and either a white vest or a white or blue snug fit T shirt. He is not " in uniform" but its practical and close to proper ballet boy uniform. His socks I let him chose! so mostly stripey in bright colours!

depends whether RAD or ISTD ballet school, uniform is different....

I won't get her the full kit tomorrow, I just want to !

Did they ring you back? I need to know if she will be in pink or blue?!

They never rang . Am v , I want to know too-they are v disorganised-they rang last week at 12.15pm to see if she could attend the 12.45 class that day (I had rung on the Tues to see if they had spaces). Hopefully they are a bit more forthcoming when you are actually there

The website says that they do RAD and ISTD-that doesn't help either

oforfoxsake - my DD has exactly the same outfit. We purchased ours yesterday and it was a lovely Mother and Daughter moment seeing DD in her first ballet outfit!

Only problem is I'm hopeless at sewing and am not even capable of sewing that pink elastic into the shoe..do you have any tips?!

oh, it's easy (the elastic)- REALLY, I am rubbish seamstress!!

or you can buy ready-sewn

If they do RAD and ISTD it is very likely that it is RAD for ballet and ISTD for tap and jazz.

For a first lesson bare feet and leggings/t-shirt is fine. No socks or tights without shoes that is too dangerous. Hair shouldbe tied back or it gets inthe way.

RAD pre-syllabus and pre-primary uniform is sotton short leeved leotard and a voile skirt but it can either be pink, white or blue depending on the school. They wear pink ballet socks not tights at that level. Dd's uniform was white but now she is in Grade 1 it is a lavender leotard, no skirt.

Cheapest place online is www.dancedirect.com but I'd get the 1st pair of shoes from a shop as they fit very small.

Whatever you do, don't sew the elastic through the cord that runs around the top of the shoe as this helps tighten or loosen the shoes iyswim. Sew just below it.

If your dd does tap, then often trainers or plimsolls will suffice for a first lesson or two until you get kitted out with tap shoes. My DD's dance class has a uniform shop visit once a month to check shoe fittings and swop them around so she was very busy the first week back .

How did it go then? Did she love it? Did you have a wee weep?

Oooh she loved it! They are in burgandy-think it is so you can only buy it from the school . All so cute though-and she got to do a scarf dance-she was beside herself with happiness! They do rad and have the polka dot voile skirts-we're going in early next week to pick up the uniform before the class-am so excited, and was quite amazed at how good they all were!