Behold! The list of most popular infractions of costume rules in USA Dance! We figure it’s a great time to remind competitors of these easy mistakes as we round into the last competition of the 2022-2023 Nationals season.
You can find the full rules in our rulebook, but the most common errors are:
- Leads, don’t forget to tuck in your shirts and roll down your sleeves for Latin and Rhythm. UNLESS the costume is designed to be that way.
- A single-color tie is required for Smooth (the tie may have rhinestones that are a different color than the base fabric of the tie). Also, note that this means a tie *is* required in Smooth.
- As always, full-coverage dance briefs are expected.
- Though not an infraction, the costume rules continue to include provisions for gender neutrality. We want to make sure those competitors know they have more options than they would have in years past.
If you have a question about a specific costume, please reach out to the DanceSport Rules Officials: dro@usadance.org. This is an excellent way to know if a costume will work before you arrive!
Do you think a rule is stupid and want to let us know? We get it! The costuming rules are tweaked each year based on feedback from you, our favorite competitors. Following the USA Dance National DanceSport Ballroom Championships, keep an eye out for our feedback and suggestions form. We can’t promise you’ll get what you want, but we can promise we will listen and do our best to balance the needs of all competitors.
We look forward to seeing you at #USADanceNationals, March 17-19, 2023 in St. Louis! #CrowningChampions #Costumes
