Smooth Competition Dress

I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about ballroom competition – what it’s like, how to pick costumes, etc.  So, here are a few of my thoughts on the subject of competitive dancing.

The most common question I get is, “why do you do it?”  Well, that’s a really good question.  For me, it’s about having goals and pushing myself to be a better dancer.  Nothing makes you practice more than having a show or a comp to get ready for.  Then, there’s the desire to get out there and strut your stuff on stage!  Being in a competition is really an amazing experience.  The adrenalin rush is tough to beat.  You step on the floor under the lights and look around at the other dancers, the judges and the audience and you feel this amazing rush of being a part of something extraordinary – something most people could only dream of.  And it really sweeps you away.  I love the role-playing, I love the costumes, I love the connection with my partner and the excitement of creating something wonderful with him.  I want to make the audience really FEEL something… I want them to get a sense of what I’m feeling when I dance.  And of course, I want the judges to think we’re just fantastic!!

I compete in International Latin (Cha-Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble and Jive) as well as Smooth Ballroom (Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot and Viennese Waltz).  Each dance style is of course very different and I love them both for different reasons.  Latin just stirs my soul – the music itself is a celebration of life.  We wear extremely sexy, brightly colored dresses that make you feel like celebrating your body in ways that nothing else can!  We spray-tan and wear outrageous make-up.  Every inch of fabric and skin must sparkle, glitter, shine and glow.  Stepping onto a floor with Latin competitors is like being a jewel in a huge box filled with stunning gems, each one trying to outshine the other.  Dresses aren’t chosen so much for how they look to an outsider as they are chosen for how they make the owner move.  The costume really is a huge part of what happens out there, but not really for the reasons most people might expect.  The dress is chosen for the way it makes you dance, what it offers the dancer to play with.  A great dress can camoflauge your weaknesses and highlight your strengths on the floor.  Short fringe on your ribs or hips can make any small movement look more dramatic.  High slits can be used to slowly reveal a leg extension and make it seem that your legs go on forever.  A deep V top held together by clear straps can make anyone look twice (but real wardrobe malfunctions are a no-no and you get deductions if you REALLY reveal something you shouldn’t).  Color is key – the lights wash out everything, so bold, bright colors that complement your skin and hair are a must.  And of course, glitter and rhinestones cover everything.  It’s all about using whatever you can to attract as much light and attention as possible.  The more sexy and daring you can be, the better.  And each dance is so different:  Cha-Cha is flirty, Samba is about raw sexual power, Rumba is passionate, Paso Doble is powerful and Jive is pure energy and fun.  And the dress must help you to showcase all of them.

Smooth ballroom on the other hand, is a completely different experience.  The goal is to be more beautiful and elegant than sexy and bold.  Fabrics are soft, with long flowing skirts that float up around you when you spin.  Smooth dresses must make you feel like a princess.  Still, you want to feel sexy and the bodice should show your shape.  But the sexiness isn’t as “in your face” as it is in Latin dancing.  Smooth costumes must match the emotion of Waltz (romantic and elegant), Foxtrot (flirty), Tango (powerful), Viennese (like Cinderella at the ball with her prince).  The flutters, flails and floats on many dresses enhance the light, flowing feel of the dances.  In Smooth, the goal is to travel and to show tremendous control and power while appearing as light as a feather.  Smooth dancers seem to float effortlessly over the floor in amazing shapes… let me tell you, it isn’t effortless!  Smooth requires constant, complete muscular strength from your core, your back, your legs, your arms, your neck… there’s not a second to rest.  In Latin, you can use your joints and inertia quite a bit… in Smooth, it’s all muscle.  It’s exhausting.  But also fantastically fun!!!

Ballroom dancing competitions are a great way to test your stamina, your confidence and your resolve.  It takes a lot of guts to get out there and compete, but the rewards are tremendous.  Don’t worry about the scores or anything else.  Just celebrate the experience, enjoy the moment and have a BLAST!!!

Think good thoughts for me… I’m competing TONIGHT!!!