2024 U.S. NATIONAL FORMATION TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS
COSTUME SPECIFICATIONS
Below are the costume specifications for formation teams. No entry will be considered fully accepted without final costume approval by submitting photos here. All formation team costumes should be approved by Mandi Johnson by March 1, 2024. Contact info: ballroomdance@byu.edu.
DRESS
1. Pre-Teen/Elementary School formation teams shall be allowed to wear the following for both competitive categories:
a. Boys - dark blue or black trousers, plain, undecorated shirts; optional tie, cummerbund, and/or vest. No sequins, rhinestones, fringe, pearls, or other similar decorations are allowed.
b. Girls - a simple costume provided it does not have any sequins, rhinestones, feathers, fringe, pearls, or other similar decorations in the fabric or as a decoration.
2. Junior/Junior High School formation teams shall be allowed to wear the dress approved for Pre-Teen formation teams in addition to the following for both competitive categories:
a. Boys - a simple costume, provided it does not have any sequins, rhinestones, fringe, pearls, or other similar decorations. No jackets (including tail suits) will be allowed even if attached to the costume.
b. Girls - a simple costume provided it does not have any sequins, rhinestones, feathers, fringe, pearls, or other similar decorations in the fabric or as a decoration.
3. Youth formation teams shall be allowed to wear the dress approved for Junior formation teams in addition to the following:
a. Boys may wear jackets in either division, including tail suits for the Ballroom/Smooth category. Costumes are allowed, including decorations. If tail suits are worn they must be black in color.
b. Girls may wear costumes in either division, including decorations.
4. No change of clothing/costume is permitted once the competition begins.
5. The organizers have established additional dress guidelines as listed below.
MAKEUP FOR GIRLS
Neutral or lightly shaded lipstick is allowed for Pre-Teen formation team girls, as well as mascara and blush. Pre-Teen formation team 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 and Youth formation team girls.
WOMEN
Fabrics/Design
1. Sheer fabric may be used on the arms and the bodice in the front from the bust-line up and in the back from a point five inches above the waist. Straps are not required when colored sheer fabric is used over the shoulders and arms.
2. Cutouts, sheer, and skin-tone fabric will not be allowed if deemed by the organizers to be inappropriate.
3. Unitards are not allowed.
Bodices
1. Straps over both shoulders of at least one inch in width are required. If multiple straps go over a shoulder at least one strap must be the required one inch width from front to back. Halter tops or designs that resemble them are not permitted unless they also have the required one inch straps.
2. Sheer fabric may be used on the arms and the bodice in the front from the bust-line up and in the back from a point five inches above the waist. Straps are not required when colored sheer fabric is used over the shoulders and arms.
3. Lower backs must be covered with a solid (non transparent) fabric from a point five (5) inches above the waist line.
4. Skin from the front to a point several inches behind the sides (axilla-line) must be covered.
5. No low cut necklines.
Skirts
1. Must be a solid (non transparent) fabric that covers the legs to mid thigh when not in motion.
2. Skirts may be broken or slitted from the trunk line down, but must cover the legs to mid-thigh when not in motion.
Trunks/Hose
1. Regular cut dance trunks and fishnet hose must be worn (Fishnet hose will not be required for the International Ballroom style).
2. No skin tone color fabrics may be used for the dance trunks.
MEN
Fabrics/Design
1. Costumes appropriate to the style.
2. Sheer fabric may only be worn on the arm (from the shoulder seam to the wrist).
3. The bodice portion of the shirt must be a solid fabric (non transparent).
4. No sleeveless shirts.
Shirts
1. Latin shirts for Adult Amateur and Youth competitors may be open to a point eight inches down from the Supra Sternal Notch (Jugular Notch).
2. Latin shirts for Junior I and Junior II competitors may be open down to the sternum.
[December 13, 2023]
