Essential Guide to Classical Ballet Attire for Beginners and Intermediate Dancers in Berlin

The Traditional Ballet Outfit vs What Dancers Wear Today

Ballet has a long tradition of specific clothing, classroom etiquette & movement language that is extremely gendered. We at The Center strive to keep Ballet’s rich history alive while simultaneously expanding its tight borders to make room for anyone and everyone who likes to dance!
Traditional ballet attire consists of a leotard and tights for girls and women or a white dance shirt and black leggings for boys and men. The uniformity of dress is mirrored in Ballet’s movements as well. Having a group of dancers wearing the same outfits and moving in unison is all part of the magic.
Matching tights and shoes elongate the line of the leg and long lines are an integral part of ballet technique. We have held onto the traditional outfits because they create a calm vision for our teachers and allow them to correct body alignment and posture efficiently. However, we leave the choice of which outfit to wear up to the dancer, regardless of sex or gender expression! In the same way we teach both the men‘s and women’s movement vocabulary and allow the student to choose or try both.

A classical ballet outfit typically consists of a leotard, tights in either your skin tone or the traditional “ballet pink,” and ballet slippers that match the color of your tights.

Ballet Slippers (soft ballet shoes)

The most essential item is the shoes—if you’re planning to attend more than one class, we strongly recommend getting a pair. (If you can’t get them before your first class, bring thick socks as a temporary solution, though please note that socks can be slippery.) Ballet slippers are made of either leather or canvas and should fit snugly on the foot.

The Bun (long hair is put up in a tight bun)

Ballerinas wear tight buns to keep hair out of their face and aid spotting, a technique essential for balance and preventing dizziness during turns. The bun ensures the head stays aligned, allowing for clean, controlled movements.
To make a bun, you will need an elastic band, hairpins, and a hairnet.

Your Basic Ballet Outfit

If you’re not investing in a leotard and dance tights, your outfit should be form-fitting to allow the teacher to observe your alignment and technique. Baggy pants or t-shirts are not recommended. As a minimum, if you are new to ballet, we recommend ballet slippers, a pair of leggings, and a tight-fitted T-shirt that won’t slip over your head when you go upside down.

About Pointe Shoes

Pointe shoes are an exciting milestone but require significant strength and technique; they are only suitable for advanced students with prior training. Beginners and intermediate dancers should focus on mastering fundamentals in ballet slippers before considering pointe work. If your teacher has asked you to purchase pointe shoes please get them fitted by a professional (we recommend Pro Danse).

Where to buy in Berlin

For your ballet needs, we recommend the Pro Danse shop at Alte Schönhauser Straße 16. They offer a full range of ballet attire, and if you mention you’re from The Center, you’ll receive a 10% discount.