At Bend Academy we do not have an overly formal dress code but we do ask that it is followed by all students. Proper attire allows for instructors to be able to see students body positions, form, and alignment and helps students focus on their technique and limits distractions. Proper attire is also a safety measure, especially in aerial classes. Please read below for class-specific dress code details.
Creative Movement & Kinder Ballet/Tap
- Bodysuit (any colour) with pink tights
- Long hair to be worn tied back
- Ballet slippers (pink for girls, black or white for boys)
- *For Kinder Ballet/Tap only: Tap shoes (any colour). We recommend swapping out laces for elastics so students can slip on their shoes without having to tie them.
Acro
- Bodysuit (any colour) with tights, leggings, or shorts. Unitards are great too.
- A bodysuit is preferable but a tight fitted top with leggings or shorts can work too. Please note a “tight fitted” top means a top that’s tight enough that it does not need to be tucked in to stay in place. No baggy t-shirts or tank tops that will move around.
- Long hair to be worn tied back. Please note for acro there is a lot of going upside down, rolls & headstands incorporated in class. Please keep that in mind when dressing for the class and avoid high ponytails or buns that hinder rolls and headstands.
- No footwear needed
Aerial
- Bodysuit (any colour) with tights or leggings. Unitards are great too.
- A bodysuit is preferable but a tight fitted top with leggings can work too. Please note a “tight fitted” top means a top that’s tight enough that it does not need to be tucked in to stay in place. No baggy t-shirts or tank tops that will move around.
- Note that aerial silks and especially aerial hoop can cause friction burns on exposed skin. Covering up can help prevent burns. Ex. wearing leggings protects the backs of the knees when performing knee hangs on the hoop.
- Long hair to be worn tied back. Please note for aerial there is a lot of going upside down. Please keep that in mind when dressing for the class and avoid clothing that will move around while upside down or in the air.
- No footwear needed
- Please do not wear anything with zippers, clasps, or notions that could potentially snag on the aerial silks and damage them. No fake nails, jewelry of any kind (except small stud earrings) or anything sharp that could damage the fabric.
Ballet
- Bodysuit (any solid colour but black is preferred) with pink or skin tone tights
- Long hair to be worn in a classical bun
- Ballet slippers (pink or skin tone for girls, black or white for boys)
- Performance Team girls are to wear a black leotard for class. For competitions girls will wear pink split sole canvas ballet slippers (Style: Capezio Hanami Split Sole Stretch Canvas Ballet Slipper). Boys will wear black split sole canvas ballet slippers.
Hip Hop
- Comfortable, dance-friendly clothing (ex. T-shirt & shorts or sweats)
- Hair can be worn down or tied back
- Clean, non-marking, indoor runners
- Performance Team students need a pair of all white runners for competitions.
Jazz
- Bodysuit (any solid colour) with tights, leggings, or shorts OR tight fitted shirt with leggings or shorts
- Long hair to be worn tied back
- Beige jazz shoes
- Performance Team students will wear beige slip on leather jazz shoes (Style: Bloch Elasta Bootie Slip On Jazz Shoe).
Tap
- Bodysuit (any solid colour) with tights, leggings, or shorts OR shirt with leggings or shorts
- Long hair to be worn tied back
- Black tap shoes
- Performance Team students will wear black Oxford style lace up tap shoes.
Lyrical/Contemporary
- Bodysuit (any solid colour) with tights, leggings, or shorts OR tight fitted shirt with leggings or shorts
- Long hair to be worn tied back
- Beige jazz shoes, half soles, or foot undies
Wondering where to purchase dance attire in Winnipeg? Here are some options:
1. Our secondhand dancewear corner at Bend Academy! We accept donations of dancewear at the studio and the sales from these items goes into a scholarship fund to help cover dance expenses for students in need. Check at the studio and we may have what you need! Please also consider donating items you child has outgrown or no longer needs.
2. Harlequin at 375 Hargrave St. and Dance Plus at 844 McLeod Ave. are both local, fully stocked, specialty dance stores that carry everything a dancer needs from tights, shoes of all kinds, leotards, to accessories and beyond.
3. GymKyds Gymnastics Centre at 421 Beaverhill Blvd. has a dance/gymnastics retail area in their lobby. They carry bodysuits as well as new ballet slippers and used tap shoes.
4. Online! For new items, Amazon is an option. For second-hand items, Facebook has many dance buy and sell groups and people selling on Marketplace. Quite often kids will outgrow their dancewear before wearing the items out completely. Buying second-hand extends the life of these items and can be a great cost-savings to parents.