Shoes first, then everything else
In these classes the wrong shoe causes most of the trouble. Jazz students wear black or tan jazz shoes, with no socks. Tap students wear black lace-up oxford tap shoes, because the sound and the fit both depend on them. Lyrical students dance in dance paws, half-sole shoes, or bare feet with footless ballet tights.
Clothing matters just as much. Jazz, tap and lyrical teachers all ask for fitted attire, since loose clothing hides the line of the body and makes it harder to see what a dancer is doing. Hip hop is the exception: it asks for loose, comfortable clothing and clean tennis shoes kept for indoor use only.