Competition dress choice; heel height; re-wearing dresses; & salsa/mambo question


This is from one of my waltzes at the April mini-match, while I was wearing the pink Chrisanne dress in question. The skirt didn't let loose of my heel until the ronde (about 11 seconds into this clip). And that wasn't the only time it happened.

But I didn't fall over! Actually, I don't remember the problem affecting my dancing that day...probably because at a mini-match, I don't worry as much about costuming as when I'm at an actual NDCA comp.
raindance said:
What other dress options do you have? Anything else in your closet that's appropriate for the singles?
Click to expand...
I have only one other smooth dress that fits right now, and it's the other hot pink dress I also wore at the April mini-match (it's sleeveless and backless and very comfortable). But Pro doesn't think it's as good for competition as the pink Chrisanne, since the skirt has 3 tiers (layers? ruffles?) at the bottom, which he doesn't think is "smooth" enough. And I don't like it as much as the Chrisanne, since the design is not at all to my taste (big bling-y buttons down the front and a big bling-y bow at the base of my spine and another big bling-y bow at my left shoulder), but as I said, it IS very comfortable. Good color, stretchy, moves well, looks appropriate even if not my preferred style. I'm bringing it with me anyway, whether as my backup dress or what I'll actually wear for the singles.


I mean...bottom line here, people, is that these are GOOD problems to have. I'm just overthinking as usual. It'll all be fine.
 
One reason you didn't fall in the first clip was because you only took one forward step while your heel was caught in the skirt. I couldn't tell from the video if you stepped onto the heel on that step, because the skirt covered the view. If you had to take more forward strides on that foot with heels striking first, the fall risk might be higher. Would depend on whether or not you had good traction with the skirt covering the heel of the shoe.
 
ProgressNotPerfection said:
I have only one other smooth dress that fits right now, and it's the other hot pink dress I also wore at the April mini-match (it's sleeveless and backless and very comfortable). But Pro doesn't think it's as good for competition as the pink Chrisanne, since the skirt has 3 tiers (layers? ruffles?) at the bottom, which he doesn't think is "smooth" enough. And I don't like it as much as the Chrisanne, since the design is not at all to my taste (big bling-y buttons down the front and a big bling-y bow at the base of my spine and another big bling-y bow at my left shoulder), but as I said, it IS very comfortable. Good color, stretchy, moves well, looks appropriate even if not my preferred style. I'm bringing it with me anyway, whether as my backup dress or what I'll actually wear for the singles.


I mean...bottom line here, people, is that these are GOOD problems to have. I'm just overthinking as usual. It'll all be fine.
Click to expand...
Do you usually change dresses for the finals?

I personally would be worried about the alterations and tacking up things and the length, so unless I could have it hemmed I wouldn’t want to dance in a competition in it. I tripped myself on my practice shoelace and went down in Viennese waltz. That was enough. Lol. I air on the side of shorter.

I want to wear my favorite dress as long as possible so I’d probably wear my new one the whole time. But in my category and age everything is straight to finals so I’m probably not dancing as much anyway.

Maybe you need a second new dress!
 
Is there a female pro in your studio who could do the hemming? Many of these girls have experience working with dresses....could Pro convince someone to help out here since your seamstress is away? Pick the one that easiest to hem????
 
The backless & sleeveless pink dress doesn’t need hemming or any other alterations. It’s ready to go as is. Despite the ruffles (idk what else to call them), it’s still a perfectly good smooth dress, so I may decide to wear it for the singles.

Or maybe I’ll change my mind next week. Either way, all 3 dresses will be with me at the hotel.
 
When I said I can’t sit down in the aqua dress, that’s not literally true. I CAN sit down in it, but I don’t like to, because it’s very uncomfortable; and the skirt is so delicate and floaty that I don’t want to crush or crease the fabric by sitting on it, or leave sweat marks on the skirt from the backs of my thighs, or put additional stress on the zipper at the back of my waist. And the thin flesh-toned shoulder straps are very tight, pressing down into the tops of my shoulders, which is emphasized when I’m sitting.

But this tight fit is one of the main reasons the dress looks so great! The short torso and tight shoulder straps pull everything in and up, creating the illusion that my figure is better than it actually is. And ohmygosh the dress is so beautiful in motion. Definitely worth the moderate temporary discomfort.

When I first got the dress, I experimented with adjusting the shoulder straps to lengthen the torso and make it more comfortable. It was not a good result. It drastically lessened the magical illusion I mentioned above, because the bodice no longer pulled everything in and up. So I put the shoulder straps right back where they were and accepted what people have been telling me for years: ballroom gowns are SUPPOSED to fit tightly. Now I get it.

Anyway, I talked to Pro some more about the two pink dresses at my lesson yesterday, and it turns out he doesn’t object to the backless one; he just prefers the Chrisanne because of the skirt. And he hasn’t been a jerk about the dress issue, either. He told me his opinion, explained his thought process, and said ultimately it’s my decision. He isn’t pushy with me about costuming, but since I respect his experience and expertise in that area (& many others), I take his opinions seriously.

(Except about hairstyles. We have never agreed on that, because he likes weird edgy extreme looks that I would never ever EVER wear in public [and I don’t think anyone should, except maybe at a sci-fi cosplay event]; and he doesn’t really understand that the thickness of my hair limits my options.)

So please don’t blame him for my current preoccupation with the dresses. This is allllllll me.

And it makes me chuckle that my OCD tendencies & overthinking have sparked a discussion that already covers 5 pages in this thread. :p
 
Omg that looks so gorgeous I can’t stand it!!!!!

My first pro’s wife told me at my very first competition NEVER to sit on your dress! She always reminded me to move it and sit just on the bodysuit. Apparently one of her pro friends sat on her ballgown and created a huge sweat stain that was very visible on the floor during the next heat and it wasn’t a good look….
 
It’s literally so so so beautiful. But you looks great in all of them. I mean I wouldn’t want to take it off because it’s so beautiful but if it’s uncomfortable to sit in then you know how comfortable or not you’ll be. I’m glad your pro said he’s good with the pink one, hopefully that’s the one that’s not too long.
 
I’m at the hotel for the Manhattan comp, competing today in smooth. Last night at dinner, Pro said that if any part of my consciousness while dancing is going to be worried that I might step on a too-long hem, then it’s a no-brainer that I should wear the shorter-length dress (the backless pink one with the 3 tiered skirt). I grimaced and said, “but it has that big bow at the base of my spine and another one at my left shoulder.” He shrugged. “They’re not that big. The one at your shoulder won’t show when you’re in hold, and the one on the back may not be exactly your taste, but it won’t interfere with your dancing. You’ll forget about it as soon as you’re on the floor. That’s not a real problem, compared to a skirt that’s too long. I mean, the Chrisanne has a cleaner line overall, but I don’t think you should risk it.”

Boom. Decision made.

P.S. In response to several requests, I’m gonna start a separate thread soon to narrate my comp experience this time, like I did in the past for OSB. Consider yourself warned, You’re welcome. ;)
 
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