September is here, and suddenly the new dance year is less than a month away. After the long summer break, it is time to start thinking about returning to class, checking uniforms and making sure that last year’s ballet shoes really do still fit!
Back to dance 2026 means a fresh start: new classes, new goals, perhaps a new grade and, for some dancers, even their very first dance lesson. Start your new dance year with the right dancewear!
Before classes begin, a little preparation can make that first week much easier.
Check Your Dancewear Before the First Lesson
Children grow remarkably quickly — particularly when there is a pair of ballet shoes involved. Shoes and leotards which fitted perfectly at the end of the last scholastic year may tell a rather different story after summer.
Take out the dance bag now rather than the evening before the first class. Check your:
- ballet shoes;
- leotards;
- ballet tights and socks;
- skirts and wrapovers;
- jazz shoes or dance sneakers;
- warm-up clothing;
- hair accessories; and
- dance bag.
Look for worn soles, stretched elastic, ladders in tights and anything which has become too small.
At The Ballet Shop, we stock ballet shoes, pointe shoes, jazz shoes, dance sneakers, leotards, tights, warm-up wear, bags and other dance essentials for dancers at different stages of their training.
Has Your Dancer Grown Over the Summer?
For younger dancers in particular, don’t assume that last year’s size will still work.
Dancewear needs to fit correctly. A leotard should allow the dancer to move comfortably without being excessively loose, while ballet shoes need to fit the foot properly. Buying shoes several sizes too large simply to allow a child to “grow into them” is not a good solution for dance class.
Try everything on while there is still time to replace what is needed.
If you are unsure about sizing, ask us. The Ballet Shop operates online but we can also arrange appointments where fitting is required.
Starting Ballet for the First Time?
If September 2026 marks your child’s first ballet class, welcome to a rather wonderful world.
You do not need to buy everything imaginable before that first plié. Start with the requirements provided by your dance school. Most schools have a prescribed uniform, particularly for younger students and graded classes.
Your basic kit may include a leotard, ballet tights or socks, ballet shoes and possibly a skirt, belt or crossover. Requirements vary between schools, so check before buying.
And don’t worry if all the terminology initially sounds mysterious. Every experienced dancer once had a first lesson.
Moving Up a Grade?
A new dance year can also mean progression.
Moving into a new grade may bring a different uniform or additional footwear. Older students may be adding jazz, contemporary or other dance styles to their timetable.
For some ballet students, the coming year may also bring the exciting prospect of beginning pointe work. Pointe shoes, however, are not simply another item of dancewear. Students should only begin pointe work when their teacher considers them ready, and appropriate fitting is particularly important.
Don’t Forget the Small Things
The leotard and shoes usually get all the attention, but it is often the smaller things that disappear just when they are needed.
Hair nets, bun holders, pins and other accessories are worth checking now. A dedicated dance bag also makes life much easier when several classes, shoes and changes of dancewear enter the equation.
It is also a good time to wash reusable items and clear out anything that has been sitting forgotten at the bottom of the dance bag since June. We make no promises about what you may discover down there.
Dance Schools and Companies: Think Ahead Too
The beginning of the dance year is busy for teachers and schools as well as students.
The Ballet Shop supplies individual dancers, but we also work with dance schools, theatre groups and dance companies. If you need quantities of shoes, dancewear or other items, contact us early so that we can discuss your requirements and, where necessary, source products that are not already in stock.
Ready for the 2026/27 Dance Year
There is something special about returning to the studio after summer: the familiar barre, the music starting again and that first class when everyone discovers exactly how much — or how little — stretching they did during the holidays.
With less than a month to go, now is the ideal time to check the dance bag, try everything on and replace anything that has been outgrown or worn out.
Browse The Ballet Shop for ballet shoes, leotards, tights, dance shoes, bags and other dancewear essentials, or get in touch if you need help finding the right item.
Here’s to a happy, successful and dance-filled 2026/27 year.
Made for Movement.
