Who should wear the pants?

[wyllo]

What do you all think of follows wearing pants when in syllabus events that do not allow costumes? The reason I ask is that there are very few ankle-length full circle-type skirts/dresses on the rack right now. But, wide-legged palazzo pants are just about everywhere (I just saw a really cute pair for $15!). I know you can always get practice skirts from Chrisanne or another ballroom company, but they are very pricey. Lyrical skirts also are an option but I don't like how they bunch up at the waist.

I personally think that a follow could look more professional wearing a pair of palazzo pants and a nice blouse than another person wearing a tea-length prom dress. But I wonder if I am alone in this opinion? Is it possible that wearing pants could give judges the wrong impression or even offend them?

[Another Elizabeth]

Check the rules for your competition - some of them restrict or prohibit followers wearing pants.

[wyllo]

Good point. Although, many of the competitions I go to are collegiate and there dress codes are more suggestions or guidelines than a detailed list of what competitors can/cannot wear. I should check what USABDA has to say about this...

[Another Elizabeth]

Good point. Although, many of the competitions I go to are collegiate and there dress codes are more suggestions or guidelines than a detailed list of what competitors can/cannot wear. I should check what USABDA has to say about this...
Actually, I've seen restrictions on followers' pants more often at collegiate competitions than at "adult" ones. Brown in particular used to be notorious for disqualifying competitors in pants - I'm not sure if they still do it since Christina Cryan died, since she was the one who had really strong feelings about it.

[Chris Stratton]

Practice skirts are easy... didn't your partner's mother teach him anything?

[wyllo]

USABDA does not prohibit pants, allthough they only refer to skirts in their description of what can be worn, so I'm not sure what that means. I guess I am less worried about what the rules are than what people think of the idea in general.

[wyllo]

Practice skirts are easy... didn't your partner's mother teach him anything?

:)

[Waltzer]

I personally think that a follow could look more professional wearing a pair of palazzo pants and a nice blouse than another person wearing a tea-length prom dress. But I wonder if I am alone in this opinion? Is it possible that wearing pants could give judges the wrong impression or even offend them?

I do like the look of palazzo pants, however, I think you would be taking a risk with the judges. The expectations of a certain kind of appearance are stronger in standard than let's say in latin where almost anything goes.

[pygmalion]

I thought pants were pretty much out of the question because they obscure leg lines. Not true? :?

[Joe]

I personally think that a follow could look more professional wearing a pair of palazzo pants and a nice blouse than another person wearing a tea-length prom dress. But I wonder if I am alone in this opinion? Is it possible that wearing pants could give judges the wrong impression or even offend them?

I do like the look of palazzo pants, however, I think you would be taking a risk with the judges. The expectations of a certain kind of appearance are stronger in standard than let's say in latin where almost anything goes.
In Latin I want to see some leg...

;)

(where's the drool emoticon?)

[delamusica]

I should wear the pants! 8)

I wouldn't wear palazzo pants for latin not because they would obscure the line of your leg, but because they would obscure the movement of your leg. In latin there are so many stops and starts and changes of direction, you don't want your clothes flopping all about when you're trying to show clear rhythm of movement. You'd be more likely to get away with pants in latin than in standard, yes - but they'd have to be pants that were close fitting enough not to obscure you.

Personally, I wouldn't wear pants for standard no matter what style they were. I just don't think the legs look nice often in standard - better to cover them up with a nice skirt and show off pretty footwork. But that's just my own opinion.

Also, I've never been to a collegiate comp, so I have no idea what would go over or not.

To sum up - I vote no on pants in standard, and yes on pants in latin as long as they're relatively fitted. Not tight, necessarily, but not flopping around too much, either.

[Waltzer]

I personally think that a follow could look more professional wearing a pair of palazzo pants and a nice blouse than another person wearing a tea-length prom dress. But I wonder if I am alone in this opinion? Is it possible that wearing pants could give judges the wrong impression or even offend them?

I do like the look of palazzo pants, however, I think you would be taking a risk with the judges. The expectations of a certain kind of appearance are stronger in standard than let's say in latin where almost anything goes.
In Latin I want to see some leg...

;)

(where's the drool emoticon?)

Oh, yes! I agree that in latin ladies usually want to show the legs (the drool factor is not applicable to me though ;)
I don't advocate dancing latin in pants, the intended meaning was that in standard the 'rules' regarding the look are more rigid than in latin IMO

[kdogg]

I personally think that a follow could look more professional wearing a pair of palazzo pants and a nice blouse than another person wearing a tea-length prom dress. But I wonder if I am alone in this opinion? Is it possible that wearing pants could give judges the wrong impression or even offend them?

I do like the look of palazzo pants, however, I think you would be taking a risk with the judges. The expectations of a certain kind of appearance are stronger in standard than let's say in latin where almost anything goes.
In Latin I want to see some leg...

;)

(where's the drool emoticon?)

Oh, yes! I agree that in latin ladies usually want to show the legs (the drool factor is not applicable to me though ;)
I don't advocate dancing latin in pants, the intended meaning was that in standard the 'rules' regarding the look are more rigid than in latin IMO

Is it the dancing skill or dresses the judges are interested in?

[fascination]

truly unless thouse panst are skin tight from waist to ankle...it can really obscure the line...ie how bent/straight is that knee?

[Standard Dancer]

Everyone talks about pants obscuring leg lines, but men wear pants for everything! Also, the woman's skirt in standard would be so long it would cover the same length of leg as pants would anyway. As long as the pants are somewhat fitted, I don't see them obscuring leg lines, for either the man or woman ... but perhaps I'm just used to seeing people practice in pants and it doesn't really bother me anymore. However, I can see how it would be easier to see bent/straight knees in latin for a girl when she's wearing a short skirt, but I think you can also see the same technique in pants, you just have to look a bit harder.

In competition, I don't think a woman would get much support for wearing pants in either standard or latin. That's not to say that you wouldn't get called back/place in a smaller comp that doesn't care too much about dressing up, though. As a warning, I have seen rules that prohibit followers from wearing pants (suggesting the fact that it's been tried before ...)

In practice, I think it's fine, though practicing in a skirt before you compete is a good idea to get the feel for how it moves and whether it's comfortable, etc.

[wyllo]

For standard, I honestly can't see how pants would obscure the legs more than a skirt. I guess my confusion is what a non-costume comps wants. If practice skirts are allowed -- why not pants, which are acceptable for lessons/practice? (And I'm just talking standard here -- for latin I agree that loose pants would be self-defeating and not allow the judge to see what your legs are doing.) Or, are the comps looking for something in between practice and full costumes?

I have practice skirts, so I'm not worried about not having something to wear. I just don't see that they are any dressier than slacks and wonder if there is a point to the 'no pants' rules.

[Standard Dancer]

My guess is the "no pants" rule was just carried over from back in the "old days" (yes, I know, so specific) when ballroom dancing was first danced, and women wearing pants would be considered scandalous.

[fascination]

Everyone talks about pants obscuring leg lines, but men wear pants for everything! Also, the woman's skirt in standard would be so long it would cover the same length of leg as pants would anyway. As long as the pants are somewhat fitted, I don't see them obscuring leg lines, for either the man or woman ... but perhaps I'm just used to seeing people practice in pants and it doesn't really bother me anymore. However, I can see how it would be easier to see bent/straight knees in latin for a girl when she's wearing a short skirt, but I think you can also see the same technique in pants, you just have to look a bit harder.

In competition, I don't think a woman would get much support for wearing pants in either standard or latin. That's not to say that you wouldn't get called back/place in a smaller comp that doesn't care too much about dressing up, though. As a warning, I have seen rules that prohibit followers from wearing pants (suggesting the fact that it's been tried before ...)

In practice, I think it's fine, though practicing in a skirt before you compete is a good idea to get the feel for how it moves and whether it's comfortable, etc.yep I was just talking latin....

[Standard Dancer]

Everyone talks about pants obscuring leg lines, but men wear pants for everything! Also, the woman's skirt in standard would be so long it would cover the same length of leg as pants would anyway. As long as the pants are somewhat fitted, I don't see them obscuring leg lines, for either the man or woman ... but perhaps I'm just used to seeing people practice in pants and it doesn't really bother me anymore. However, I can see how it would be easier to see bent/straight knees in latin for a girl when she's wearing a short skirt, but I think you can also see the same technique in pants, you just have to look a bit harder.

In competition, I don't think a woman would get much support for wearing pants in either standard or latin. That's not to say that you wouldn't get called back/place in a smaller comp that doesn't care too much about dressing up, though. As a warning, I have seen rules that prohibit followers from wearing pants (suggesting the fact that it's been tried before ...)

In practice, I think it's fine, though practicing in a skirt before you compete is a good idea to get the feel for how it moves and whether it's comfortable, etc.yep I was just talking latin....

gotcha :D

[bjp22tango]

What is so amusing about this subject is that women have been wearing fitted pants in WC Swing competitions for ages. You see many more pant outfits than dress or skirt outfits in competitions. http://www.usagrandnationals.com/photo_gallery.htm

It just shows you what develops over time in the different genres of dance. WC Swing developed out of social dance and close fitted pants showed off the movements more than dresses and allowed for more athletic moves.

Heidi & Benji Schwimmer
http://www.worldswingdancechampionship.com/world-benji-heidi.jpg

[Joe]

Different strokes for different folks. If sure if ballroom ladies were being hoisted up in the air they would prefer not to be wearing skirts.

[mamboqueen]

I wore a pants outfit last year at a comp (latin). Didn't appear to get marked down for it....and it was VERY comfortable. I had been dancing in three sessions prior to it, and frankly, would have worn my pajamas if they had looked decent enough.

My new teacher says "no pants," though.

[Ms_Sunlight]

It shouldn't be hard to find an appropriate skirt surely? I have recently bought several bell-shaped skirts -- cut slim to the hips and flaring out lower down -- they seem to be having a bit of a fashion moment, and they're great for dancing.