After all of the hurdles you’ve overcome, it shouldn’t come down to this.
Figuring out what clothes to wear for your first dance lesson, first day in a new dancing studio, or when you’re totally new to the dance scene, can be tricky. After all, how often do you pick out clothes for dance lessons? It’s challenging enough to find the right clothes for a date, an interview, or a backpacking trip – so let’s make this decision a little less paralyzing with some dance tips.
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered (pun intended).
What To Wear To Your First Dance Lesson
Where Are You Coming From?
If there’s a diverse mix of people, shouldn’t there be a similar approach to attire? Go to any local Arthur Murray Dance Studio and you’ll find a diverse mix of singles, couples, age groups, and any occupation you can imagine. It’s simply an amazing dance community once you enter the Arthur Murray doors.
And they’re all coming from somewhere with the same objective: learning to dance. So, let’s have a look at what you might be wearing, and how it can work on a dance lesson.
The Big Five
- Work
- School
- Home
- Gym
- Evening
1. Work Clothing As Dance Clothing
Many people arrive to their dance lesson straight from work. No need to change clothes. Just head straight to your dance classes with what you’re wearing.
Some Examples You Can Consider:
- Slacks and a dress shirt
- Skirt and a blouse
- Your business uniform
- Wear a tie? Lose the tie? It’s up to you.
- Dress shoes/Heels
If you are including a dance lesson as part of your “extended commute” home, there’s no need to rush home to grab your dance clothes.
Sure, you can roll up your sleeves, ditch the tie, and set down your briefcase – but aside from that, you’re good to go Salsa dancing or just about all dance styles for that matter. Now you can focus on using Tango dancing to take the edge off of that blown PowerPoint snafu. In fact, social dances can really loosen up those nerves.
2. Going Out to Dinner Clothing as Dance Clothing
Many students have dinner plans before or after their dance appointment. Great idea, no adjustments necessary.
- Khakis and a button down
- Dress
- Skirt and blouse
- Jeans and a polo
- Dress shoes/Heels
Many students turn their dance lessons into an exciting part of a date, or get together with friends. Therefore, many students are either coming to their lesson straight from a nice restaurant, or are heading out to one after their dance classes are over.
Your restaurant clothes work as dance clothes! No need to change before hitting the dance floor. Now, if your heels are stilettos and ascending you into the upper reaches of the stratosphere, you might want to bring some extra shoes. For more on this topic, check out Dismantle the Barriers to your First Dance Lesson. You might also enjoy 7 First Date Rules that Totally Work for your First Dance….
3. Super Comfortable Clothing as Dance Clothing
If comfort is key, dress accordingly. Learn more in 5 New Ways to Think About Ballroom Dance Lessons. Related reading: 5 Sure-Fire Ways to Surprise Her With Dance Lessons.
- Super comfy t-shirts (cotton/poly blends)
- A cute top with leggings
- Jeans and a super comfy t-shirt
- Sneakers/Flats
There’s nothing like super soft, plush fabric that you feel like you can live in. So why change? (Unless you’ve been living in them for a little too long). See also: 5 Ways To Convince Your Man To Take Dance Lessons. For more on this topic, check out Great Interviews With Arthur Murray Dance Legends.
Your super comfortable clothing works great as dance clothing. Many of our students arrive in clothing that allows them to move freely and comfortably. So if you have the choice between a prom dress and a plush t-shirt – go with the t-shirt. Put it in a drawer labeled: “dance clothes.”
4. Dance Clothing as Dance Clothing
If you want to dress like you’ve been taking lessons for a while – hey, why not?
- Pick up a pair of dance shoes
- Guys: A pair of black, flat-front trousers and a long sleeve, button up dress shirt
- Ladies: A two-way stretch “practice dress,” or your favorite yoga-pants
- A towel
- Shoe brush
- Dance bag
“Dancewear” or “Practicewear” are two terms for dance attire. As with many hobbies, the sooner that you dress the part, the sooner you feel like you belong. It’s no different with dancing. Many students feel a big difference once they add things like dance shoes, a practice skirt, or a shoe brush to their growing collection of dance goodies.
What About Footwear?
This is where people tend to overthink things. Here’s the simple answer:
For your first lesson, wear something with a smooth sole that you can move in. Sneakers with heavy treads can stick to the floor and make turning difficult. High heels you can barely walk in are obviously not ideal for dancing.
But you don’t need special dance shoes on day one. In fact, most new students show up in regular shoes and do just fine. As you progress, your teacher might recommend investing in actual dance shoes – they make a noticeable difference once you know enough to appreciate it.
The Common Mistakes
What should you avoid? A few things:
- Shoes that might fly off during a spin (flip-flops are a no)
- Clothing so tight you can’t move your arms or legs freely
- Jewelry that could catch on your partner or hurt someone during a turn
- Strong fragrances (you’ll be in close proximity to another person)
Safe to say, if you’re comfortable and can move, you’re probably fine.
Final Thought
The easy answer? Clothes. That’s right, you can wear anything to your first dance lesson and you’ll blend right in with the rest of the student body.
So, just to be clear – if you’ve got clothes, and you’ve scheduled a ballroom dance lesson, then you are dressed appropriately.
After all, anything you wear can be your “dance clothes” especially in Arthur Murray Dance Studios. All it takes is a little dancing and dance spirit.
And clothes.
Happy Dancing!
