Recommended equipment

Equipment for drama and singing classes:

• Pencil
• Eraser
• Highlighter
• Physical Notebook
• Tablet/Laptop
• Audio recording device/Phone voice notes are fine
• Rep folder with removeable pockets and room to expand
• Comfortable rehearsal clothing.

Dancewear for Dance classes:

It is essential you wear correct clothing to all dance classes – this will be checked regularly:

• No jewellery at any time.
• No socks, except for specific conditioning exercises.
• Female presenting students should invest in a pair of black character shoes.

You do not need to have the full dance equipment during your first trimester (ballet will start in Trimester 2 and Tap in Year 2).

The following lists are mainly a guide line, we have suggested black as the base colour as it’s more versatile and it will look more professional for assessments and makes a good unified base for showcases and productions.

On the Musical Theatre course we believe that having a disciplined approach to correct dancewear and footwear in class and rehearsal settings is vital for two main reasons:

• Health and safety: different dance styles require specific footwear to be able to safely and freely execute the movements you will doing, incorrect footwear can lead to injuries.
• Professionalism: being aware of the correct dancewear and look required for different dance styles will help you gain a better understanding of the subject, and industry, you will be studying.

For Trimester 1 your main dance class will be on the Specialist Skills module, please follow the brief for technical jazz and other dance styles.

Please do ask your dance tutor at the beginning of your module if you have any additional questions.

Technical Jazz

• Longer hair: slick back or secure in a classical ballet bun or ponytail
• Shorter hair: in tidy style that keeps it away from face

For girls/female identifying:

• Black classical leotard or tight-fitted top
• Black footless tights or leggings
• Bare feet, foot thong or black jazz shoes, and black or tan character shoes

• Footless men’s black unitard, black tank top or a fitted t-shirt
• Black leggings or black joggers
• Bare feet or black jazz shoes

Ballet

For girls/female identifying:

• Longer hair must be secured in a classical ballet bun with a hair net and grips, shorter hair in a tidy hairstyle that keeps it away from your face.
• Black classical leotard suitable for dance (you need to ensure that it’s not a fashion or swimwear brand).
• Convertible ballet tights.
• Canvas ballet shoes with elastic. Matching your ballet shoes and tights to your specific skin tone creates an unbroken line from hips to toe, visually elongating your legs.

For boys/male identifying

• A tidy hairstyle that keeps it away from your face, or long hair slicked back and secured
• Footless men’s unitard in black or black men’s ballet tights (long or short) with a white tank top
• Men’s dance belt
• Black canvas ballet shoes with elastic

Other dance styles (Lyrical Jazz, Audition Class, Tap Class, Commercial, Contemporary)

• Your hair needs to be off the face and suitable to dance. If it’s going to get in the way secure it in a ponytail or half ponytail etc.
• For specific dance styles (contemporary, commercial…) hair might be allowed down
• Lyrical and tap: your clothing must be tight and form fitting. Black is encouraged for Year 1, more colours for Years 2 & 3
• Commercial, contemporary and audition technique: your clothing does not need to be tight and form fitting but should be appropriate to the specific class. For these classes you don’t have to wear strictly black
• For girls/female identifying: items you might need include black crop top, black hipster shorts, black joggers, and black jazz pants
• Shoes: black tap shoes, black jazz trainers, trainers (for commercial dance, no need to be black)