Do the girls dress apearance affect competition resluts??

[_ruskitantzor_]

On all the competitions ive been too ive seen great beautiful dresses, but my partner doesnt really have a great beautiful dress. I was wondernig do what the dresses look like and how you present them have any affect on how the judges will judge you.

 

[twodance]

Yes it does !! In competition once you pass the Newcomers level it is 50% fashion and 50% dancing. You are being judged on the whole package. Just like any sport you need the right equipment. outfits,shoes,bats gloves, pads etc. In dancing you need to have the right equipment also. This includes outfits, shoes, hair, makeup etc. If you want to be taken serious about your dancing you have show your serious about dancing.

 

[Adwiz]

I've seen quite a few competitions, and while I believe it makes a difference given two competitors who are closely matched in skill, at the end of the day judges will always award the better dancers no matter how they are dressed.

I'll never forget this lesson, because I experienced it firsthand. My wife and I were in a competition where another couple were college students who obviously couldn't afford a costume. They were wearing street clothes -- not even proper dance shoes. I took one look and shrugged them off as being of no concern. They ended up winning, leaving us in second place with our polished clothing.

The costume is important, because it keeps the judges from doing what I did and forming an opinion about your skills before you start. After all, they only have a few seconds to evaluate each couple. But if you can't afford them don't worry about it. I've seen many couples place very well wearing ordinary shirts and dresses against polished looking competitors. It's about your skills most of all.

 

[pygmalion]

I think you make a good point, adwiz. People often do make assumptions about your skills based on your clothing. And I bet the couple who couldn't afford costumes were still impeccably groomed, weren't they? Grooming makes a huge difference. I keep quoting that judges view video, and with good reason. All the judges talk about grooming, and oh yeah, dancing with the music. Worth a watch for sure. And then there are the articles in this months dancsportcomps.com newsletter, which talk about grooming again. Worth a read.

Clothes? I don't know how much difference those make at lower levels where costumes are optional. I defer to the group's greater wisdom on that. (Although I'm not confident enough to walk out onto the floor without costuming of some kind) But good grooming, I'd venture to say, is essential.

And, btw, there are some less expensive options for costuming, such as making your own -- there's a very nice Vogue pattern referenced in another thread that's suitable for smooth. And there are lots of web sites out there that sell dance exibition wear that you could wear for a comp. Then there's costume rental. There are a lot of options other than street clothes.

 

[Vince A]

As long as the dress - costume,etc. - is legal, I don't think it matters at all. If you've done what they put out in the guidelines, then she is OK.

Just make sure that it is the correct length, stlye for that dance, etc. I've seen ladies get a conference call and points deducted because their dress was too short, or split up the side too much, or the heel of the shoe is too short or too long . . . I've seen it. Believe it!

However, I do feel that . . . if you dress the part, you will act the part!
Or look like a dancer, you just might be a dancer . . .
I wouldn't think of going to a Board meeting without a suit and tie.

While sitting in the audience during an Intermediate Jack and Jill competition, the men's side came up a few guys short. The MC went to the audience to see if anyone would like to pay the entry and dance . . . he looked right at me and said, "Vince, you're an Intermediate dancer, get up here." I stood up and started to walk up, and then realized I had jeans and dance sneakers on . . . turned around and went back to sit and watch. What you wear does play on your psyche . . . doesn't mean I really couldn't dance, it meant that I would be competiting against other guys who had dress swing slacks, dress shirts, and black leather dance shoes on . . . I would have been self-conscious about the situation during the comp.

Just my 2(ents worth . . .