We’re Back in the Groove! A Few Dance Class Reminders

We’re officially a few weeks into our 2026–2027 dance season! The first-day nerves are settling, dancers are getting comfortable with their teachers and classmates, and our studios are once again full of movement, music, laughter, learning, and plenty of hard work.

At the beginning of September, we shared our Back to Class Reminders covering everything from dress codes and dance bags to hair and studio expectations. Now that we’ve had a few weeks to settle into our routines, we thought it was the perfect time for a little refresher!

Because here’s the thing: our studio expectations aren’t just rules for the sake of having rules. They help us keep dancers safe, make the most of every minute of class, minimize distractions, and create an environment where everyone has the opportunity to learn and grow.

So, as we get comfortable in the new season, here are a few reminders from your DEAC teachers!

Come to Class Ready to Dance

We know getting everyone out the door can sometimes feel like a choreography number of its own, but arriving prepared makes a huge difference!

Before entering the studio, dancers should use the restroom, have their hair secured, be dressed appropriately, and have the shoes and supplies they’ll need for class. We’ve noticed quite a few dancers asking to use the restroom immediately after class begins — and while dancers are always allowed to use the restroom when they need to, taking care of it beforehand whenever possible helps avoid missing warm-up, instructions, or the beginning of choreography.

Those first few minutes matter! They help dancers transition into class mentally and physically and set the tone for everything that follows.

And don’t forget the dance bag! Water bottle, appropriate dance shoes, and a snack for dancers with multiple classes should be part of the weekly routine. Depending on your dancer’s classes, extra tights, hair supplies, Therabands, ankle weights, or other class-specific items can also be helpful.

Parent tip: Please label dance shoes and other belongings with your dancer’s name. You would be amazed how identical a pile of ballet slippers can look at the end of the night!

Dress Codes Help Us Teach

We’ve also noticed our dress codes getting a little relaxed now that those first-week-of-class outfits have worn off!

Different levels and disciplines have different requirements, so be sure to double-check your dancer’s class dress code. Ballet dancers should arrive in the appropriate tights, leotard, shoes, and secured hair. Hip Hop dancers need clean-bottom sneakers and comfortable, loose-fitting athletic wear. Acro dancers can wear leotards, sports crops, bike shorts, yoga leggings, or other fitted dancewear that allows teachers to clearly see alignment and safely assist skills.

Dress codes aren’t about everyone looking identical. They allow our teachers to see the body clearly enough to correct technique, alignment, placement, and movement safely.

They also make it much easier for dancers to dance without constantly adjusting clothing, fixing straps, or worrying about something getting in their way.

Hair Up, Jewelry Off!

Hair should be pulled back and secured for all classes, with a bun required for ballet.

And while we love a cute accessory, oversized bows, clips, headbands, and other hair accessories can quickly become distractions — especially when dancers are jumping, turning, going upside down, or moving across the floor. Simple and secure is always the best bet!

The same goes for jewelry. Please leave necklaces, bracelets, dangling earrings, watches, and other jewelry at home.

This is particularly important in Acro, where dancers may be rolling, tumbling, partnering, spotting, or being physically assisted by an instructor. Jewelry can catch on clothing, equipment, another dancer, or a teacher. Removing it before class keeps everyone safer.

Running Late? We Still Want You Here!

Life happens. Traffic happens. School events happen. Sometimes getting to dance on time just isn’t going to happen!

If your dancer arrives after class has begun, we still want them to come in — but please have them enter the studio quietly and wait for the teacher to acknowledge them rather than jumping immediately into whatever the class is doing.

There may be a specific place or moment when it is safest and least disruptive for them to join. Depending on how late they arrive, they may also need to warm up before participating fully.

This is especially important in Acro and other physically demanding classes. A dancer who misses the warm-up shouldn’t immediately jump into skills their body hasn’t been prepared to perform.

Be a Good Teammate

Dance education goes far beyond steps, tricks, and technique.

Our dancers spend a lot of time together, and part of their education is learning how to exist within a group: how to communicate, collaborate, support one another, respect boundaries, handle frustration, and recognize how their own behavior affects the people around them.

That means there is no room in our studios for bullying, gossip, social exclusion, or persistent negativity.

Instead, we want to encourage collaboration, communication, support, healthy boundaries, self-awareness, and a little emotional filtering. Not every thought needs to become a comment, and learning when and how to communicate feelings is an important skill both inside and outside the studio.

Our dancers don’t have to be best friends with everyone in their class. They do need to treat one another with kindness and respect.

We say it often because we believe it: a rising tide lifts all boats. Supporting another dancer’s success doesn’t take anything away from your own.

Parents, Stay Connected!

If you haven’t already, make sure you’re connected with DEAC online and regularly checking studio communications. Social media, our website, emails, and studio announcements are where you’ll find reminders, updates, important dates, and other information throughout the season.

As dancers get older, we encourage them to take more responsibility for knowing what they need and arriving prepared — but especially with our younger dancers, a quick parent check before heading out the door can save a forgotten pair of tap shoes from becoming an evening emergency!

A Few Weeks Down, A Whole Season Ahead

The beginning of a dance season is an adjustment. New schedules become routines, new classes begin to feel familiar, and dancers slowly learn what is expected of them. Nobody expects perfection!

These little habits simply allow us to spend less time managing preventable distractions and more time doing what we’re all here to do: dance.

Thank you to our dancers and families for helping us create studios that are safe, productive, supportive, and FUN. We have so much ahead of us this season, and we can’t wait to see where all of this hard work takes our dancers.

Now grab the dance bag, secure that hair, double-check those shoes, and we’ll see you in class! 💙