Dress Rehearsals

[Dancebug]

Do you do dress rehearsals for competitions or showcases? If you do, how do you do it? I mean, do you dance all the dances you will do or just pick one most costume-challenging dance of each style and done with it?

[Katarzyna]

Never actually did that, but there were many times when i was tempted.. A lot of times dancign in costumes feels very different than in practice clothes... wearing stoned gown and tails, might feel very strange for the first couple times.. you keep sliding on each other..

[redhead]

Do you do dress rehearsals for competitions or showcases? If you do, how do you do it? I mean, do you dance all the dances you will do or just pick one most costume-challenging dance of each style and done with it?
We do dress rehearsals if we have new costumes or get very different routines - to make sure nothing falls out :). We run through all the dances (it's generally a good idea... the only time I practiced all the dances but skipped jive because I was sure there is no way anything can happen - my heel got stuck in my dress during the comp)

[Twilight_Elena]

Whenever we present choreographies in my studio we always rehearse our clothes beforehand. Many times accessories have proved to be extremely uncomfortable or dresses ride up and/or show more than they should. :rolleyes:

Twilight Elena

[Alskling]

We've started running practice rounds in costume before each comp. It was a suggestion from our coach, and a good one. We dance Standard, and the connection between the bodies feels totally different in tailsuit/ballgown, so it's been helpful to practice that as well...

[caityrosey]

You never know how different clothes will affect your dancing. When I first got a costume we practiced our routines with it just to make sure that no one got tangled up in my skirt. We didn't but you never know. I remember when I tried on an older costume once (one with a heavy skirt and feathers) I was amazed how I had to adjust to the weight of the costume itself, especially in spins. When my dance partner got a tail suit we made sure to practice in it so that he could get used to the way it fit and the way it felt as he moved. I don't think I would want to discover any costume-related problems on the day of the competition. It's much better to try things out earlier when you still have time to make adjustments.

[Keelzorz]

Before our last competition, we did a full dress rehersal a few days/lessons beforehand and videotaped it. That way we could look back over it, see where we needed work, and also see how the costuming worked together. A handful of places I was able to add skirt flourishes in smooth, etc. It also let us get into the competition-presentation mindset for our practice. I know I feel different in a satin gown than in my khakis, and it really shows in your dancing. It helped us feel prepared, that we had done everything beforehand. All of Smooth, Standard, Rhythm, and Latin, including both styles of V.waltz and everything.

The confidence boost kind of went both ways - it helped me immensely, but it hurt my partner. He looked at the tape and got caught up on some of the frame imperfections....but we were able to make our next lesson a "confidence booster" where we focused on stylings and flourishes.

We were able to compare our dress rehersal to the competition later on, see what we left out in competition, see where the segmented floor messed us up (curses BU!) and most importantly, isolate whether the problems were from lead/follow, nerves, stress, distraction, costuming, etc. Call it the scientific method of dancing. :-P

[waltzgirl]

Always. Even if I've worn the costume before, I do a practice with it right before the comp (but I only compete a couple times a year, so I need to remind myself what my dress feels like).

[deewoman]

I think it's a great idea! I hate to get them sweaty, but you can never tell what might happen in all that garb you don't usually dance in. I had to wear it when I competed with my amateur partner because he acted like such an idiot when I was wearing a latin dress.

[deewoman]

Also--jewelry is importantb. I've had to ditch some jewelry I wanted to wear because it would get caught on costumes or change a wristband to the other arm because it worked better for my partner (pro or am) and our connections.

[waltzgirl]

I also "practice" my hair. I don't usually wear my hair up, so I put it up when I practice in my costume--not fancy, just off my face and neck, with any hair jewlery I'm going to wear. A couple lessons before the comp, we also start rehearsing the dances in the same order we'll be doing them at the comp. For me, practicing in as close to comp conditions as I can really helps with nerves.

[delamusica]

I always try to practice in my costume (with hair and jewelry) before a competition - at least one full run of all the dances in order.

Also, I start doing my hair for lessons a few times before we compete, to make sure that the style I'm going to use won't fall down while I'm dancing or get knocked down by my partner's arm or anything.

[RhumbaWaltz]

I always "rehearse" dress, hair and makeup. Here are some things I've learned in dress rehearsals:
1. The straps of my dress were loose.
2. My rhinestone bracelet pulled the fabric of my dress, so I had to be careful of that.
3. One brand of false eyelashes made my eyes run
4. The rhinestone hairpiece slides around too much without extra bobby pins.
5. The chiffon wristlet gets caught in my right hand in closed position.

The one time I didn't "rehearse" a dress resulted in disaster. I had worn it for my first comp with no problem so I figured it was fine for my showcase. I had it taken in a bit because I had lost some weight. At the end of the routine I stretched backwards and...you guessed it...wardrobe malfunction a la Janet Jackson!

[Yliander]

Always have a dress rehearsal - to make sure everything fits as it should and won't interfer with the dancing.

I ususally try and do this at least 2 weeks before comps to all time for adjustments to costume to be made by the dressmaker if needed

i remember watching a masters couple and and her dress was one of those only on one shoulder styles and it kept slipping and to be honest most of the audience spent more time watching to see if/when they would see her nipple than the actual dance! - if only they had done a rehearsal

[mamboqueen]

I always "rehearse" dress, hair and makeup. Here are some things I've learned in dress rehearsals:
1. The straps of my dress were loose.
2. My rhinestone bracelet pulled the fabric of my dress, so I had to be careful of that.
3. One brand of false eyelashes made my eyes run
4. The rhinestone hairpiece slides around too much without extra bobby pins.
5. The chiffon wristlet gets caught in my right hand in closed position.

The one time I didn't "rehearse" a dress resulted in disaster. I had worn it for my first comp with no problem so I figured it was fine for my showcase. I had it taken in a bit because I had lost some weight. At the end of the routine I stretched backwards and...you guessed it...wardrobe malfunction a la Janet Jackson!


And I trust the strap on your crash helmet stood up?!!

This is all a good idea. The most I've done is danced in the anticipated costume. I feel kind of funny being in the studio mid-day "in drag". I guesss I should get over it.

[fascination]

did at first and it was a good idea...pretty easy to step on a long gown...but after a while I donte really see the point