Competition Students

Getting There

Make sure you arrive early enough to:

• Dress
• Apply make-up and fix hair (if you haven't done it before arriving at the competition)
• Stretch, warm up and calm down
• Get a practice round in with your partner
• Get a feel for the floor. Brush your shoes if it's slippery, smooth them with dust from the corners of the dance floor or with talcum powder if it's sticky/slow.

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What To Bring

• Costume for each style you're competing in. At minimum, your latin/rhythm costume and your smooth/standard costume. Also a costume for any solos you may have. For ladies, this will usually be a dress. For men, this will be dress pants, shirt (white and/or black), tie or bow tie, and vest (optional). Men might also want to bring an extra shirt.
• Dance shoes for each style.
• Shoe brush
• Small bag to keep with you in the ballroom. See section below on what to bring in this bag.
• Safety pins
• Thread, needle and scissors. Specifically thread to match each of your costumes.
• Towel. This is to blot perspiration in between dances.
• Comb and/or hair brush
• Makeup
• Hair spray. Aveda Firmata is recommended.
• Food and water. See section below.
• Contact lenses, rewetting drops, saline
• Pain Killer such as aspirin or Advil
• Pen or pencil and highlighter
• Flesh colored fish-net stockings and dance pants if costume does not have them built in.
• False Eyelashes
• Extra Bobby Pins

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Food and Water

Water may not be easily accessible at the competition so bring your own water bottle.

Food/snacks may not be easily accessible (or reasonably priced) either so bring foods that are easy to transport and high in carbohydrates such as:

• breakfast bars
• power bars
• bagels
• peanut butter sandwiches
• bananas

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Hair/Makeup Tips for Ladies

• It is recommended your hair be put up in a bun at the top of your head if it's long enough to enhance your neckline.
• Not one hair should be loose on your head. Make sure any loose strands are either secured with a bobby pin or with hair spray.
• Apply make-up so your features (especially eyes and lips) are enhanced and can be seen from a distance.
• Fake eyelashes help to further enhance your eyes.
• Nails should be groomed. Fake nails and nail color is optional. Women who do use fake nails usually have them French manicured.

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What Not to Wear

• Belt buckles
• Brooches
• Rings
• Bracelets
• Watches
• Loose necklaces

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Dance Bag

It is recommended you bring a bag to keep with you in the ballroom to keep the following things easily at hand:

• Shoe brush and/or talcum powder
• Food and Water
• Hair spray
• Makeup
• Towel
• Pen or pencil and highlighter

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The Most Important Thing To Know

Have fun!