UVa Ballroom’s Official Style Guide
Competition Makeup:
Competition Clothing:
Hi Broomers! If you are planning to go to an upcoming competition and you need help deciding what to wear, please read this carefully. If you’re holding out for a later competition, put this in your pocket and keep it for later.
First off, Tim has taken a lot of pictures of DCDI competitions- check them out here for ideas of what competitors have worn in the past: http://photos.timothyhnat.com/f642797961 . Here’s what you need to know:
Girls:
For standard dances, you want to wear something long and flowy. You want to be able to take large steps, so it shouldn’t be too constricting, but you also want to be able to see your footwork, so it shouldn’t be too loose. Dresses and skirts that hit mid- to lower-calf look lovely. Any color/colors that catch your eye in a graceful way are especially nice.
For latin dances, you want to wear a top and skirt or short dress which will show off your hip action. This means it should have a defined waist, either naturally or with a belt, and there should be lots of movement when you turn or spin, but not so much movement that you flash the judges. Catch their eye with your charm and technical prowess, not your undergarments. Lots of people wear red and black in latin, so if you want to stand out, I would steer away from these colors, but there is nothing to say you can’t do so.
Guys:
For standard dances, black trouser pants and a solid colored dress shirt, such as white, look great. If you have a solid black vest, that looks nice, but especially at the Newcomer level it is not necessary.
For latin dances, some of the more advanced guys wear long sleeved black underarmor tops with black pants. At the Newcomer level, a black dress shirt and black trousers look great.
Further questions should be directed to current Costume Chair Shannon Ellis
–Kate Colwell, former Costume Chair