aoda fayetteville - Frequently asked Questions
What should my children wear?
Students taking Ballet/Tap (ages 3-6) or Ballet/Jazz (ages 3-6) classes may wear any colored leotard with ballet pink or skin-colored tights and an optional skirt; girls ages 3-4 need to have the skirt attached to the leotard. They will need both leather ballet shoes (either pink or skin-colored, leather or canvas) AND either skin-colored jazz shoes or black tap shoes depending on the class. Please note that one color of tights or shoes may be required for recital.
Boys (ages 3-6) should wear sweat pants or stretch shorts and plain colored t-shirt. If they are in a ballet/tap or jazz class, they should wear black ballet shoes AND either caramel/skin-colored jazz shoes or black tap shoes, depending on the class.
For ages 7+, stricter dress attire is expected; you can view our full dress code here for more details on other styles and ages.
Where can I buy dancewear and shoes?
Through our store, we are able to provide high quality tights at special discounted rates! These items have been handpicked and are used by many of our staff and dancers. If you are uncertain of sizes, you can often find shoes for little ones at Target, Walmart, Amazon, etc, (they also generally carry leotards, tights, and skirts for low prices). If you’re looking to support local businesses, you can try Fayetteville’s dance store The Dancer, which has a variety of tights, shoes, leotards, skirts, dance bags and more for dancers of all ages! Make sure to tell them you’re from AODA! For pointe shoes, you must speak with your teacher beforehand.
Don’t forget to also check out our front office for a selection of high quality AODA merch so you can rep your dance studio in style!
How should their hair be fixed?
For students ages 3-6, we ask that their hair is pulled back from their face; hair should not be left down. We would prefer no part-ups or pigtails as it can distract young dancers, but buns, ponytails, and braids are all acceptable!
Boys of all ages should have hair pulled back and out of face for dance classes.
For ages 7+ hair must be pulled back in a bun for all ballet classes; other classes have different requests. See our dress code for full hair guidelines.
What do they need to bring?
Students ages 3-6 who are taking Ballet/Tap and/or Ballet/Jazz classes should bring both pairs of shoes to each class, as they will switch styles halfway through the class. PLEASE LABEL all belongings! It’s easy for shoes to go home with the wrong owners. Our staff will help them change shoes. We suggest not letting students ages 3-6 bring snacks, as they are not allowed to eat in the dance room and it can cause distraction.
Students 7+ who are in back-to-back classes can eat in the lobby/waiting area during their class break, but please make sure snacks are non-messy and non-greasy that won’t get on their clothing or cause their stomach to hurt while dancing. We suggest small items such as apples, granola bars, small crackers, etc. We also have water and small snack options for sale at both of our studios!
Dancers of all ages should also bring a water bottle, especially during hot weather or if they are taking more than one class. For young dancers please ensure it’s in a non-spillable bottle and labelled.
What time should we arrive?
We recommend coming about 5 minutes early, as that allows children enough time to get their dance shoes on and not feel rushed getting into class. Please do not come earlier than 10 minutes, as too many people in the waiting room can cause distraction to an ongoing class.
**PLEASE NOTE: Students who are more than 5 minutes early must be attended by a responsible guardian. Unless they are in a class, no student can be left unattended without permission of a staff member. If a student is consistently dropped off too early or picked up too late, extra fees may be applied.**
Should I or can I stay at the studio during class?
We do not require parents to stay during the classes — in fact, students ages 3-6 actually do better if their parents are not present, so feel free to drop them off at the start and pick them up at the end (see above for guidelines). Our teachers and assistants will help with changing shoes and any bathroom breaks. Just remember that the classes are 55 minutes long, not a full hour. If you would like to stay one week (or if grandparents are visiting and want to watch), our waiting room is designed with windows so that you can watch the class without distracting the students.
What if I’m going to miss a class?
If possible, please notify your teacher ahead of time if you will miss a class. You can also contact the front office to let them know you will be absent. If a student misses several classes in a row without telling us, we will try to reach out. Any classes missed can be made-up in another class of similar age or appropriate level; these must be scheduled through our front office (this does not apply to holiday closures).