How to Pin Your Dance Number with Nick Kosovich

It is often the case that when dancers attempt to attach their competition numbers to their costumes, they unintentionally damage their costumes by pinning their numbers incorrectly.

This tutorial by Nick Kosovich demonstrates the correct way to apply your competition number to your dancewear.

When attaching your number to your costume it is a common error to safety pin your number to the fabric of your dancewear by feeding it through the corner holes. There are two major problems with this.  

Firstly, by relying on the holes to secure your number to your costume, this allows for the paper to be loose and move around freely.

Secondly, competition organizers are now laminating the numbers so they will not rip off when you are performing. This poses the greatest threat to your dancewear because when your number is pulled, the laminated paper is stronger than the fabric on your costume; causing it to snag.  

This guide is about to teach you a more efficient way of securing your number without damaging your dancewear!  

Supplies:

·     Dancewear

·     4 Safety Pins

·     Competition Number

Step 1: Take your competition number in hand and bend it in half without folding it, so that the printed side of your number is facing the inside.

Step 2: Firmly pinch both the top and bottom sides of your competition number. There should only be a slight crease to the edges to your competition number. Make sure the paper is not folded all the way through. This may/will effect your presentation.

Step 3: Line up your competition number with the center seam of your dancewear/costume so that the paper with your number is perfectly aligned parallel to the floor.

Step 4: Once you have your number in place, puncture/pierce your dancewear through a corner hole on your competition number with one of your safety pins; one safety pin per hole.

Step 5: Now take your safety pin and feed it back THROUGH the paper so that it fastens securely to your dancewear.

We hope you enjoyed this week’s tutorial on How to Pin Your Dance Number with Nick Kosovich. Tune in next week for even more insights into house of LeNique!

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Nick Kosovich is the former United States and World American Ballroom Champion. After competing for 36 years he retired from competition dancing in 2005. 

Nick is an Emmy Nominated Choreographer for Dancing with the Stars He also was a professional dancer on Season 2 and Season 3 of Dancing with the Stars.

He is from Perth, Australia  and the Co- Founder of LeNique. He currently resides in Los Angeles, Ca with his wife and co-founder Lena Kosovich.

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Did you miss anything from September? Checkout below for even more great tips from the House of LeNique!

Competition Hair Styling Q & A with Snow Urbin

Styling your hair for a competition or performance is important. No one wants to have their hair flying around their face while they’re dancing. Judges don’t like it either and they will take away points for it.

They can deduct points for any of the following reasons: if it distracts from your routine, if you are touching or fixing it during your performance, if it falls out, or if it hits other people on the dance floor. Needless to say your hairstyle can directly impact your score.

Stylist, Snow Urbin, offers her advice for competition hair styling in this week’s Q & A. Watch her style Wendy from Arthur Murray Valencia and answer a few questions in the video below.

Question: What do I need when getting my hair styled?

Answer: Before you start, make sure you have the essentials: elastic hair ties, hairpins, hairspray and hair jewelry (optional).  

Question: How should I wear my hair?

Answer: If you are dancing rhythm, I would suggest you do it low. If you are dancing slow, I would suggest you do it high.

Question: What’s the best advice you can give competitors about their hair?

Answer: I would always ask a professional to do your hair, even for the simple things, just because It takes the stress away. I think [when] doing your own hair, you cannot see the back, so you cannot make it as neat. Also, I think it’s always important to take that extra edge off and go to a professional and make sure they take care of you.

Question: What should I do before I meet with my stylist?

Answer: I think it’s very important to come with your hair dry, this way it stays better. It’s also important to style your hair before you come in, so we can see how it holds; it creates your own personality.

Question: How much time should I give myself to style my hair?

Answer: I think you should always have two hours before you have to warm-up.  It gives you time to have a coffee, not stress in the chair, wake-up a little and let your body readjust to your surroundings. It also gives you time to say hello to friends and other dancers and look beautiful.

Question: What is the biggest problem you come across as a stylist?

Answer: I think the biggest problem is expectation. If you have an expectation, you’re more likely to be disappointed. Bringing pictures often does not help. Instead it breeds confusion as to what you really want. Sometimes the pictures have different styles and it can be complicated to satisfy a client if there is not enough hair. I think you should just enjoy the ride and let the stylist help you to be beautiful.

I always think it’s important to invest a little bit into some bling-bling for your hair. It adds a little spark. Just make sure to have the applications ready for your stylist and that they match your dress.

Question: How do I care for my hair after the competition?

Answer: Don’t brush after competition. Just go straight to the shower to wash and condition it because the hairspray can be rough on your hair and cause it to break.

With a special thank you to Wendy from Arthur Murray Valencia for being our model in this video! We hope you enjoyed this week’s feature on Competition Hair Styling with Snow Urbin. Tune in next week to learn how to dye your dance shoes.

Snejana "Snow" Urbin is a dancer, Choreographer and stylist from Russia. She has appeared in music videos for Madonna's "I'm Going to Tell You a Secret", and Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie." She has also appeared on season one of Fox's So You think You can Dance and ABC's Dancing with the Stars. Movie credits include Enchanted (2007). She is married ti Nurtitionist , John Urbin. They have a daughter named, Jetaime together.

For any business inquiries for Snow Hair and Makeups call (914) 325-0088