Syllabus Events

Elementary, Junior High, and High School

• Ladies
  • Skirt and top must be worn
  • Skirts:
    • Skirt must be black and at least knee length.
    • Plain or pleated with minimum 1 to maximum 3 half circles. One plain simple underskirt allowed which is no larger or longer than top layer, and is the same or similar color as the outer skirt.
    • No uneven hem lines, no use of boning, frills, splits, openings, fishing line or edging (including lettuce edging). Edging or trim of any kind, including ribbon, satin, lace, sequins, etc., is not allowed.
    • A simple hem is required.
  • Top
    • Necklines
      • Boat/scoop, high neck, v-neck, sweetheart, ‘peter pan’ collar, and regular collar are allowed. No lowcut necklines.
      • Edging or trim of any kind including ribbon, satin, lace, sequins etc. is not allowed on the neckline.
      • Gathering or shirring on the bodice in parallel rows is not allowed.
      • Edging or trim on the bodice is not allowed.
    • Sleeves (required)
      • Long, short, elbow length, cap, or puff are allowed.
      • Cannot be replaced by trimmings, frills, or edging on the shoulder line.
      • No “finger loops” allowed.
  • Materials
    • No glitter, metallic thread, or fabric creating pattern effects.
    • No use of feathers, fringes, bows, belts, frills or sequins.
    • Any use of color coordinated ‘see through’ fabric must be lined from waist to shoulder; for use on arms no lining is needed
    • Lace (or similar fabric) is not allowed. Lycra, spandex, polyester, velvet, satin or jersey is encouraged.
  • Shoes and Socks
    • Shoes – Elementary School girls must wear shoes with heels that are no higher than 1.5 inches, including if they dance up a level. Junior High School and High School girls are not restricted by any heel height.
    • Socks: White ankle socks (lace allowed), natural colored pantyhose, or fishnet tights.
  • Other
    • No use of arm bands, chokers or headbands.
    • No decoration is allowed on skirt, top or in hair.
    • No jewelry is allowed, other than one earring in each ear (no dangling earrings allowed)
    • Neutral or lightly shaded lipstick is allowed for Elementary School girls, as well as mascara and blush. Elementary School girls are not allowed to wear eye liner, eye shadow, false eyelashes, lip liner, and severe or extreme colors of lipstick (including, but not limited to, hot pink, red, black, brown, etc). Competition makeup is allowed for Junior High School and High School girls.
    • Gathering or sheering on the bodice is not allowed.

• Gentlemen
  • Trousers
    • Black color only.
    • High waist optional.
    • Underfoot strap optional.
    • Satin stripes allowed.
  • Shirts
    • Plain white long sleeved collared shirt only (no wing collars).
    • No pleats or ribbing.
    • Sleeves to be worn at wrist length.
  • Materials
    • Fabrics must be plain, i.e.: cotton, polyester, cotton/polyester blend, wool blend.
    • No satin or shiny fabrics.
    • No rhinestones, glitter, metallic thread, patterns or sequins allowed.
    • Decorations – not allowed.
  • Tie
    • Black color only, may be either straight or bow.
  • Socks
    • Black color only.
  • Shoes
    • No restrictions.
  • Makeup
    • Not allowed.
  • Hairstyle
    • Long hair must be worn in a ponytail.
  • Other
    • Sweaters and vest not allowed.

Adult

• Gentlemen: Dress shirt, tie, slacks (optional bow tie and/or vest or sweater, suspenders or cummerbund). Plain black Latin pants or tails pants may be worn only for Gold level events.
• Ladies: Nice dress or skirt and top with no sequins, rhinestones, feathers, glitter, fringe or similar decorations. Length must be at least to the knee and slits not to exceed 3 inches. No accessories. Hose or fishnets are required.

Competition organizers may determine syllabus attire constitutes a costume and ask couples to change. Couples who continue to wear attire determined to be a costume in a syllabus event will be subject to disqualification.

Open Events

Pre-Teen 1 and 2

• Gentlemen:
  • Trousers
    • Black or dark blue color only
    • High waist optional
    • Underfoot strap optional
    • One satin stripe (no wider than 1″) is allowed on the outside of each leg, and a satin waistband is allowed if it is sewn as part of the trousers.
  • Shirts
    • Plain white or black long sleeved collared shirt only. Tuxedo shirts are allowed.
    • Sleeves to be worn at wrist length
  • Black or dark blue vests are allowed, but sweaters and jackets are not allowed
  • Tie must be worn – black color only, may be either straight or bow
  • Socks – Black or dark blue color only
  • Shoes- Heel height not to exceed 1.5 inches (must be black)
  • Materials – Fabrics must be plain
    • No shiny fabrics
    • No rhinestones, glitter, metallic thread, patterns or sequins allowed
    • Decorations – not allowed
  • Makeup – Not allowed
  • Hairstyle – Long hair must be worn in a pony tail
• Ladies:
  • Skirt with top or simple dress with attached under garment or leotard top with full skirt
  • Skirts
    • Plain or pleated with minimum 1 to maximum 3 half circles, including godets and/or extra panels. One plain simple underskirt allowed which is no larger or longer than top layer, and is the same or similar color as the outer skirt
    • No uneven hem lines, frills, splits, openings, ruffles, or sequins
    • Horsehair/Crinoline may be used only inside the hem of the skirt, but must be either clear or the same color as the skirt
    • Ribbon on the skirt is acceptable, but no other trim is allowed
    • Length of skirt must not be shorter than 3 inches above the knee cap
    • At least one of the layers of the skirt must be solid (not sheer)
    • No diagonal cuts or pieces on the skirt allowed
    • The yoke of the skirt must be one consistent fabric with no additional design
  • Bodice
    • Shoulderless bodices are not allowed
    • Necklines: Boat, high neck, v-neck, sweetheart, ‘peter pan’ collar, and regular collar are allowed. Simple edging or trim is allowed on the neckline. One simple ruffle is allowed around the collar of not more than two inches in width, but must not extend past the collar.
    • Belting, as well as gathering or shirring is permissible from the waist down for a 2 maximum of two inches, provided it is part of the dress itself and not an accessory
    • Edging or trim on the bodice is not allowed
    • No backless bodices allowed
    • Piping is allowed
    • Top stitching is allowed
  • Sleeves
    • Long, short, elbow length, cap, puff. or sleeveless styles are allowed
    • Cannot be replaced by trimmings, frills, or edging on the shoulder line
    • No “finger loops” allowed
    • Piping is allowed provided it is no larger than 1/8 of an inch across
    • Top stitching is allowed
    • Bell sleeves are not allowed
    • Ruffles on the sleeve or at the end of the sleeve are not allowed
  • Materials
    • Fabrics must be one constant color throughout
    • No iridescent fabrics.
    • No rhinestones, glitter, pearls, appliques, patterns, sequins, or similar materials allowed
    • No use of feathers, fringes, bows, belts, frills or sequins
    • No flesh color fabric
    • Any use of mesh, lace, or any other ‘see through’ fabric must be lined in a solid material of the same color from the waist to the top of the bust line, as well as a corresponding height in the back. When mesh, lace, or any “see-through” fabric is used on the arms no lining is needed
    • Burnout (also called Devoré), or similar fabric, must be lined with a fabric of the same color. Lycra, spandex, polyester, plain velvet, satin or jersey is encouraged
  • Shoes and Socks
    • Shoes: Heel height not to exceed 1.5 inches, and must be block heel style if a dance shoe. If the shoe comes with rhinestones on the buckle then they are allowed. If the shoe comes with glitter on the shoe then it is allowed
    • Socks: White ankle socks (lace allowed), flesh colored pantyhose, or light pink or white tights must be worn
    • No Fishnet Tights
  • Accessories, jewelry, and makeup
    • No use of arm bands, gloves, chokers or headbands
    • No decoration is allowed on dress or in hair
    • No jewelry is allowed, other than one small earring in each ear, to be no larger than 1/4 inch
    • No makeup allowed
    • No spray tan, make-up, glitter, or any similar materials, etc allowed anywhere on the body.
    • Use of fake eyelashes, colored or glitter hair spray is forbidden
    • Separate belts are not allowed.
• Sponsor logos are allowed on Pre-Teen costumes.
• For pre-teen one-dance or two-dance events, competition organizers may require that the shirts/tops be all white or all black, and the trousers/skirts be black.

*Pre-Teen 2 competitors who dance up to Junior categories must remain in the approved Pre-Teen costumes.*

Junior, Youth & Adult

• Gentlemen: 
  1. Back and sides of the shirt may be of a sheer fabric. Front of the shirt must be of a solid non-sheer fabric. The front of the shirt must also come to a closed point.
• Ladies: 
  • Shoulders
    • Shoulders require stoned straps or fabric. Straps must be a minimum of 1/4 inch in width. Flesh colored fabric must be heavily stoned.
  • Bodice
    • Bust must be fully covered, including the sides, with no plunging necklines.
    • Front and sides of the bodice must be covered with solid non-sheer fabric.
    • Back of bodice must be covered in solid non-sheer fabric from three inches above the waist down.
    • Open backs must taper inward to a point no lower than three inches above the waistline.
    • Flesh-tone fabrics require heavy use of rhinestones or similar decorations so as not to reveal the skin or create a similar effect.
    • Halter tops are not allowed.
  • Skirts
    • Must reach mid-thigh in length.
    • May not use transparent fabric above mid-thigh for the Latin, Rhythm, and Cabaret styles.
    • May be broken or slitted from the trunk line down and fully cover the legs when not in motion.
    • Fringe skirts must reach mid-thigh in the front, back, and sides and must be thick enough to fully cover the legs when not in motion.
    • Flesh-tone fabrics require heavy use of rhinestones or similar decorations that do not reveal the skin or create a similar effect.
  • Trunks
    • Full coverage dance trunks are required.
    • No flesh tone fabric.
  • Fishnets
    • Fishnets or tights are required for lady competitors in the Adult Amateur Cabaret.

* Organizers reserve the right to require costume adjustments if deemed unacceptable, and also to cancel any entries for a couple who refuses to comply with the costume requirements.