GENERAL RULES GOVERNING
COSTUMES, MAKE-UP, MOVEMENTS AND THEMES
1. GENERAL COSTUME RULES FOR ALL AGE DIVISIONS
Costumes must cover the intimate parts of the dancer’s body during
the whole performance.
Intimate parts: buttocks, bust and pubic areas (see picture 1)
The intimate parts of the body must be covered with non-transparent material
of any color except tan or flesh color. When transparent material is used
to cover these areas, it must be lined with non-transparent material.
A.) LOWER BODY:
| Buttock: | The buttock is defined as the area from the crease between the leg and bottom up to the hip line across the body. |
| Hip line: | panties top line (how low) Streight horizontal line, top of line between buttocks muscles (interlineal line) must not be visible. |
| Panty Line: | panties bottom line (how high) The panties’ hip line should be high enough to completely cover the vertical crease between the buttocks.The panties should cover the entire buttock in the back side (see pictures 2 and 3). In the front, the panty line should follow the line between the body and flexed leg. The distance from the hip line to the panty line should be at least 5 centimeters (2 inches) when measured from the side (see picture 1). Abbreviated bikini bottoms, thongs, thong appliqués and any shorts imitating a thong look are prohibited in both males’ and females’ costumes. The dancers should make sure their costumes fit properly, as ill-fitting shorts or panties can wedge or otherwise expose the buttock in a way that is prohibited. It is recommended that all male dancers wear a men’s dance belt underneath their costume. A costume consisting only of a men’s dance belt is prohibited. |
B.) UPPER BODY
Abbreviated bikini tops, tube tops and tank tops are prohibited in all age
divisions (see pictures 3 and 4).
Female dancers: Exposing the breasts beyond what is shown in
picture 4 is prohibited.
Male dancers: Male dancers are allowed to perform bare-chested.
 |
2. GENERAL RULES GOVERNING MAKE-UP, MOVEMENTS AND THEMES
a.) Make-up and costume have to be age and gender appropriate, and they
must suit the discipline in which they are used. Make-up and costume may
never be offensive to the public or other competitors. Music must also be
appropriate for the age division of the dancer/s.
Explicit sexual lyrics and guttural sounds are prohibited. All dancers must be
aware of the lyrics in the music they use.
b.) Teachers and choreographers should pay close attention to age appropriateness
when choosing themes for children and juniors, making a special effort
to avoid sexually inviting moves, morbid themes, brutal fi ghting, killing, etc.
c.) If religious or political symbols are used as decoration and/or costume,
they must suit the theme and choreography in which they are used.
Such symbols must always be in good taste, and they may never be offensive
to the public or other competitors. Personal jewelry should not be worn unless
it is a part of the costume.
d.) All dancers and coaches should be aware that if the Chairman of Judges
gives a warning for an infraction of the above rules (governing costumes,
make-up, movements and themes), the infraction should be removed
immediately. If the warned competitor(s) repeats the infraction in the
next round, they will be penalized.
3. SPECIAL RULES FOR THE CHILDREN’S DIVISION
In addition to all the general costume, make-up, movement and theme rules, the following applies in the children’s division:
- Children should be encouraged to dress as children and not like teens and adults. Make-up should be used to bring out the features of the face or to portray a character. Hair should be neat, under control unless it is being used to portray a character, animal, rag doll, etc. Hair extensions, pieces or wigs should be of the kind commonly used by children. Hair extensions, falls, pony tails and wigs may be used as long as they do not distort the age of the child.
- Costume materials that suggest sexual, deviate, sadomasochistic or other adult themes are prohibited in the childrens division.
- Costumes made entirely from see-through materials are prohibited, but the same material may be used for sleeves and to cover legs. (for example: Aladdin-style pantaloons and sleeves).
- Dancers in the children’s division may never appear nude or in a costume implying nudity. Therefore, flesh,nude, tan, beige, or bone colored bodysuits, leotards, tops and pants may not be used in a way that implies nudity. Net, lace or any such material may never be used to cover the intimate parts of the body unless lined with a non-nude colored material.
4. SPECIAL RULES FOR THE JUNIORS’ DIVISION
In addition to all the general costume, make-up, movement and theme rules, the following applies in the juniors’division:
- The special rules for the children’s division (above) also apply in the juniors division. Juniors should always be dressed age-appropriately and their image should be that of a junior and not that of an adult.
5. SPECIAL RULES FOR THE ADULTS’ DIVISION
All the general rules governing costumes, make-up, movements and themes
apply in the adults’ division. Adult dancers should bear in mind that they are
the ones setting the trend for the younger dancers, who look up to them and seek
inspiration from them. This is why it is very important to be dressed in good taste.
apply in the adults’ division. Adult dancers should bear in mind that they are
the ones setting the trend for the younger dancers, who look up to them and seek
inspiration from them. This is why it is very important to be dressed in good taste.
6. ADDITIONAL COSTUME RULES FOR PERFORMING ARTS DISCIPLINES ONLY
Tan or flesh colored materials may be used to cover the intimate parts of the
body in the junior and adult division, if it suits the theme of the performance
and if it is not sexually suggestive in any way. However, a costume consisting
only of flesh colored panties and a bra is not allowed.
body in the junior and adult division, if it suits the theme of the performance
and if it is not sexually suggestive in any way. However, a costume consisting
only of flesh colored panties and a bra is not allowed.
GUIDELINE AND SPECIAL RULINGS FOR THE ADJUDICATIORS:
A judge should always be very careful when commenting or deducting points
for visual things that they personally do not like.
It is not judges’ duty to judge morality; judges’ job is to judge talent.
If the costume, theme, choreography and presentation are offensive to judges’
personal taste, he/she may take that consideration into his/her mind when
marking but a better method would be to bring what is offensive him/her
to Chairperson and let him/her make ruling on how it should be handled.
for visual things that they personally do not like.
It is not judges’ duty to judge morality; judges’ job is to judge talent.
If the costume, theme, choreography and presentation are offensive to judges’
personal taste, he/she may take that consideration into his/her mind when
marking but a better method would be to bring what is offensive him/her
to Chairperson and let him/her make ruling on how it should be handled.
Rulings by the Chairman: If a Chairman finds inappropriate costuming, grooming,
music, gestures or otherwise offensive behavior by the dancer they may give a
warning to correct the situation and subsequently penalize or disqualify
the dancer/s if the Supervisor and Organizer agree.
Total Image: The total image that a dancer creates should be within the limits
of good taste and not be offensive to anyone in the audience.
NOTE: Inappropriate music, theme, choreography, costume or total image
may result in point loss, and gross misuse or abuse in these areas may
result in disqualification.
CODE of ETHICS for ADJUDICATORS – see in the Section “General Provisions for Adjudicators and Judging”.