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Team: University of Nevada, Las Vegas Rebel Girls
Coaches: Marca DeCastroverde, Brandi Slade and Kaitlyn Thompson
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada 
Style: Collegiate Dance Team

Team: St. Johns University Dance Team
Coach: Christine McCarton
Location: Queens, New York
Style: Collegiate Dance Team, Hip Hop & Jazz

Get to know Orfa, who works on the Production team on Samples and Prototypes here at The Line Up! 

Team: College of Charleston Cougarettes
Coach: Patrice Christian
Location: Charleston, SC
Style: Collegiate Dance Team, Hip Hop

The Minnesota State High School Dance Team Tournament was February 15-16th this year, and not too far from us at the Target Center in Minneapolis!

We had the incredible honor of dressing some of the talented teams that competed this year, and boy did they look amazing! From Totino Grace’s Bohemian Rhapsody jazz look to Spring Lake Park’s Mardi Gras high kick rendition, we loved helping these routines come to life with outfits that enveloped their theme!

Check out the some of the teams we were lucky enough to help create their very own #LineUpLook.

Get to know Teresa, who is a Sewing Lead here at The Line Up! 

Starting early on your custom dance costume design can save you time, stress, and money, but one of the main constraints we hear is, "I don't have my team or money yet!" 

No worries, there are ways to get started even without your team assembled or your funds in place for the year. 

You can take advantage of early bird savings by getting started with your design and prototype before you have your team or your full funding. Then, when you have your team and funding secured, you can place your full order.

Get to know Josefina,  who is a Production Lead in Sewing & Finishing here at The Line Up! 

Here we are in the dead of winter, wishing for days of sunshine, blue skies, and barbeques. And while we dream of brighter days ahead, one bright spot this time of year is that we’re in the thick of competition season! One of the four major skating events sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating took place earlier this month: the 2019 Eastern Synchro Skating Sectional Championships were held in Worcester, Massachusetts.

The event featured teams ranging from Preliminary to Open Masters, all hoping to qualify for the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships held February 28th-March 2nd. We were thrilled to outfit a few of the teams at this year’s competition, check them out below!

Team: Chaska High School Dance Team
Coaches: Kris Rydland, Tara Lindemeier, Tracy Standahl, Lindsay Danielson
Location: Chaska, MN
Style: High School Dance Team, Jazz and Kick  

Get to know Joana, who is a Production Lead in Markers & Contractors here at The Line Up! 

Another season is in the books for North Dakota dance teams, culminating in the 2019 NDADD State Dance Competition.  The competition featured teams from around the state doing their best Pom, Jazz, Hip-Hop, and High Kick dances!

For over 30 years, NDADD has showcased dance teams in North Dakota, regularly highlighting the creativity and artistry of this great sport! We were honored to outfit some of the teams at this year's competition; check them out below.  

Congrats on a great season, ladies! 

The Washington Wizards and the Cleveland Cavaliers have a new addition to their entertainment lineup: senior dance teams!  The teams, aptly named Wizdom and Wine & Goldies,  are made up of dancers 50 years of age or older.  Many of the members have had past careers as dancers and auditioned against 50+ of their peers to make the team. 

The Wizards and the Cavaliers join the ranks of the Pelicans, and Golden State Warriors, Bucks, Heat, and Bulls  - all teams that have added senior dance teams in recent years. The new additions have occurred among a trend of more inclusive changes with NBA dance teams.  The Wizards, Raptors, and Spurs have also re-branded their dance teams and now feature co-ed members.  Who says only ladies can dance?! 

Check out some photos and videos from the Wizdom and the Wine & Goldies first performances this season!  

Team: New York Jets Flight Crew
Director & Choreographer: Denise Garvey
Location: New York
Style: Professional NFL Cheerleaders

Get to know Claudia,  a Production Lead in Markers and Cutting here at The Line Up! 

Nike did not disappoint last year with their first year partnership with the NBA, and they’re back at it again with the second year of the City Edition jerseys.   

Photos by Universal Dance Association 

Are you still basking in the glow and excitement of this past weekend, like us?!  Dance and cheer teams from around the country came together this past weekend to compete in the most prestigious collegiate championship of the year - UDA College Nationals.

It's always an amazing source of inspiration, and we're lucky enough to work with some of these incredibly talented dancers. Check out some of the teams we had the honor of dressing for their big day! 

Photos by Tim McConnell Photography. 

The Iowa State Dance and Drill Association Championships were held early last month in Des Moines, Iowa, and we recently got a few photos of the competition from photographer Tim McConnell.   

The Iowa State Competition is very different from many state competitions because there are colleges that compete, co-ed categories, production categories, light show categories, and more, in addition to the traditional dance team categories. So cool to see such a variety in one competition! 

Check out a few of the teams we were lucky to have outfitted for the tournament, below!  

Team: Trail Blazers Stunt Team
Coach:  Andrea Iverson
Location:  Portland, Oregon
Style:  NBA Stunt Team

Team: St. Cloud State University Dance Team
Coach: Susan Uhrich & Brittany Whittaker
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Style: Collegiate Dance Team

Get to know Julie,  a Product Designer here at The Line Up! 

Photos by EmGrace Photography

Team: Prescott High School Dance Team
Coach: Samantha Schoen
Location: Prescott, WI
Style: Danceline

Get to know Miranda, Surface Designer & Sublimation Production Lead here at The Line Up! 

There's nothing better than a fresh box of apparel, and since it only happens a couple times a year, celebrate it! Make the most out of your purchase by opening your box and checking your order right away.  If something isn't quite right, the last thing you want to do is scramble to fix it the day before competition.  Here are five tips for what to do when your dance costumes arrive. 

Our 2019 Dance Costume Collection is here!  To celebrate we've rounded up our absolute favorite looks and paired them with some amazing and talented dancers (aka our models)!  Get inspired and take a peek below!

The day of competition is one of nerves, excitement, and so. much. hairspray.

Throughout the chaos of running your dances, stretching, warming up and doing your makeup, it can be hard to remember to eat. When you do remember, it’s usually something quick, high in carbs and high in sugar.

When you take the time to make healthier food choices around dance competitions, you’ll find that you have more energy for the day and you'll recover quicker. Try some of these healthier swaps and see if your performance, endurance and recovery increase at your next dance competition.

Team: Washington Redskins Cheerleaders
Coach: Stephanie Jojokian
Location: Washington, D.C.
Style: Professional NFL Cheerleaders

Team: RGV Snake Charmers
Director: Amber Uribe
Location: Rio Grand Valley, Texas
Style: NBA G League Professional Dance Team

Team: Hunnies Cheerleaders
Owner/ Coach: Christin Cox
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Style: Professional

Every year we start designing our latest costume collection by doing a lot of research.  We look at what teams are wearing at competition, what our customers are designing, and the fashion trends on the runway. Despite the diversity, there's always a few clear trends that emerge!  Here's a look at 3 of our favorite dance costume trends for 2019 : 

Team: Brigham Young University Cougarettes
Director/Head Coach: Jodi Maxfield
Location: Provo, Utah
Style: Collegiate Dance Team

Team: Boston University
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Style: Collegiate Dance

Team: St. Thomas More
Director/Head Coach: Nicole Letko
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Style: High Kick

So many dancers and teachers focus on core strength when it comes to turns, balance and stability, but not much attention is paid to the ankles until dancers start pointe or have an injury. Increasing ankle strength is essential when a dancer keeps dropping their heel, hopping in their turns or have a low relevé.

The health of your dancer’s feet and ankles effects the health of their knees, hips and everything else moving upward so I encourage you to take the time to work on these smaller areas as they can greatly improve larger muscles and structures of the body.

Try these three moves to increase ankle strength in your next practice and have your dancers try these at home while brushing their teeth or chatting at the kitchen counter.

Get to know Rozi, our product development saint here at The Line Up! She's one of our oldest employees, since back in the day when we were a 10 person team. She has dabbled in everything from - stitching, cutting, pattern making, production management, finishing to her current roll as a product development support. 

Team: Esprit de Corps
Coaches: Deirdre Driscoll, Dede Wilson, and Erika Hoffman
Location: Lexington, Massachusetts
Style: Synchronized Skating

We caught up with our VIP models Ali and Kate after they wrapped up their whirlwind season of conventions and competitions this summer!  Check out what they had to say about their experience as a Line Up VIP and their busy year full of practices, traveling, modeling, and performances!

Get to know Toni, our administrative & product development support superstar!

Get to know Sara, our extraordinary accountant here at The Line Up!

I get asked a lot as a personal trainer for dancers about hip flexibility and strength. It seems to be an area of concern for coaches and dancers striving for flat splits, high kicks and extended leaps. The biggest issue however isn’t really a lack of flexibility, but a lack of movement in our every day lives. The increased time we spend sitting at work, school, in cars or buses causes our hip muscles to become tighter and shorter. This pulls on our low back and even our hamstrings. With these 5 movements, you’ll see a drastic change in hip flexibility but you can also enjoy some more movement in the back and legs.

Get to know Michelle, one of the product designers for our premier custom design clients!

Team: Hazen Drill Team
Coach: Lindsay Starr
Location: Renton, WA
Style: High School Dance Team - Military

It's that time of year when NBA and NHL playoffs are in full swing, and it's only natural for us to want to root for those teams we helped outfit.  So we were especially excited last week when we heard that the Washington Capitals and the Vegas Golden Knights made it to the Stanley Cup Final - we helped outfit the spirit and ice crew for both teams! 

Choosing the right outfit for your college audition can be tricky - you want to stand out while still adhering to the guidelines of your team's audition. Taking a creative approach when deciding what to wear can go a long way in helping you catch the coaches' eyes and feeling confident at auditions!

While every team's guidelines are different, here are a apparel tips every dancer should consider when choosing an outfit for college dance team auditions! 

Team: Ann Arbor Hockettes
Director/Head Coach: Erin Donovan
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Style: Synchronized Skating Team - Junior 

Timberwolves Dancer photos courtesy of David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images

Team: Timberwolves Dancers
Head Coach: Athenia Williams
Assistant Coaches: Camille Sherman, Gina Hutton, Tracy Schindeldecker
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Style: NBA Dance Team

Team: Branford Dance Team
Head Coach: Jacqui Montano
Location: Branford, CT
Style: High School Dance Team

This post was created by guest bloggers Britt and Jess of ProMotion Dance. These ladies have dancing in their blood - with over 15 years of combined professional dancing experience, they are now small business owners dedicating their time to helping other dancers achieve success with audition prep and choreography services. Read on for their audition advice: the top 3 mistakes to avoid at tryouts! 

You probably have a stretching routine that you’ve been doing for months or even years. Usually the routine starts standing, folding over your legs for a hamstring stretch, spending some time in a runners lunge, and of course a straddle stretch that slides right into the splits.

From studios to dance teams, stretching usually looks the same, but it’s important to follow healthy stretching guidelines to prevent injury and decreasing your strength.

So, how should a dancer stretch correctly? By avoiding these three things, below!

Team: Lac qui Parle Valley High School Dance Team
Director/Head Coach: Lisa Johnson
Location: Madison, MN
Style: High School Dance Team - High Kick 

 Britt and Jess- the co-founders of ProMotion Dance

This post was created by guest bloggers Britt and Jess of Pro Motion Dance. These ladies have dancing in their blood - with over 15 years of combined professional dancing experience, they are now small business owners dedicating their time to helping other dancers achieve success with audition prep and choreography services. Read on for their audition advice: the top 3 mistakes to avoid at tryouts! 

One of the most common questions we get asked about cheer uniforms and team warm-ups is “what type of logo/lettering is best for me?” followed by “how much does it cost?” To answer these questions and more, we’re starting a new series to guide you through the different application types, and what might work best for your team!

First up, we're talking about vinyl - the perfect option for bold lettering on a budget. Learn more, below!

Team: DC EDGE Junior Team
Coaches: Christine Burke, Jenny DeSimone Bacon, Libby Rhoads
Location: Bethesda, MD
Style: Synchronized Skating

Team: Team Delaware - Junior 
Coach: Megan O'Donnell
Location: Newark, Delaware
Style: Synchronized Skating Team

Recently we talked about The 3 Best Color Options for College and Pro Cheer Auditions. But what if your team requires that you only wear black?! How do you show off your personality and style while conforming to this color standard?

The guidelines of "What to Wear: black fitted crop top, black fitted short" doesn't mean it has to be boring. We've compiled 3 ways that you can spice up your all black tryout outfit, so that you can stand out at your college dance team or pro cheer audition!

Team: DePaul University 
Director/Head Coach:  Shanon Lersch 
Location: Chicago, IL
Style: Collegiate Dance Team

The 2018 Washington State Dance/Drill Championship was held on March 23-24 and we are LOVING all the photos from the event!  So many creative dance costume designs came to life on the floor: from Skyline Dance Team's Bruno Mars inspired pom uniform, to Hazen Drill Team's sleek Snake costume for military, these teams know how to design gorgeous and innovative costumes! 

Check out a few of the Washington teams we were proud to have outfitted with their #LineUpLook, below!

Have more photos to share? We LOVE seeing you in action!  Send us your photos here >>>

Team: Franklin High School Poms
Director/Head Coach: Sarah Ward
Location:  Franklin, WI 
Style: High School Dance Team: Pom and Jazz

Team: The College of New Jersey Dance Team 
Director/Head Coach: Jennifer Whitford
Location: Ewing Township, NJ 
Style: Collegiate Dance Team 

This post was created in collaboration with guest bloggers Anna Miller & Carsen Rowe of TRIBE 99 Choreography.  Anna and Carsen have been professionally choreographing high school and college dance teams for 10 years, and are currently preparing for The Dance Combine coming in May 2018!

Team: University of Florida Gators "Dazzlers" Dance Team 
Director/Head Coach: Casey Reed
Location: Gainesville, FL 
Style: Collegiate Dance Team 

Inspiration for your next dance costume can come from anywhere: the runway, your Instagram feed, a sneaker, or even something as random as that gorgeous peach that's sitting on your desk! 

We know it can feel overwhelming to narrow your focus to create a concept that is unique from your competitors.  To help, we've rounded up some of our favorite resources for finding dance costume inspiration.

Competition season has wrapped up, your team's hard work has paid off, and it's already time to begin planning for next season.

Starting early on your custom dance costume design can save you time, stress, and money, but one of the main constraints we hear is, "I don't have my team or money yet!" 

No worries, there may be a solve for you! There are ways to get started even without your team assembled OR your funds in place for the year. Read on to find out how.

It's officially  audition season for pro cheer and dance teams!  It's time to get styled - do you have your audition outfit yet?!  We know you want to look your best and stand out at tryouts with a unique audition outfit.  To help, here is a round up of 6 tried and true companies that offer the best options for tryout apparel!

Team: Wayzata HS Dance Team
Director/Head Coach: Alyse Iorio
Location: Wayzata, MN
Style: High School Dance Team - Jazz

The US synchronized skating season has come to an end at the 2018 Synchronized Skating Championships, held in Portland, Oregon at the end of February. Congrats to all the teams who qualified and competed at the event - such an amazing feat!  

Check out a few of the teams we were proud to have outfitted with their #LineUpLook below, and a fun highlight video from the U.S Figure Skating Organization! 

 Special shout out to KrPhotogs Photography LLC for these awesome pics! 

Team: Academy of Holy Angels Dance Team
Director/Head Coach: Jenny Sweet
Location: Demarest, New Jersey 
Style: High School Dance Team - Hip Hop

Team: Capital High School Cougarettes 
Director/Head Coach: Jaci Gruhn
Location: Olympia, WA
Style: High School Dance Team - Military 

Team: Davies Eagle Elite Dance Team
Director/Head Coach: Sarae Olson & Alexis Allen. 
Location: Fargo, ND 
Style: High School Dance Team - High Kick and Hip Hop

Team: Ohio State University Dance Team
Director/Head Coach: Melissa McGhee 
Location: Columbus, Ohio 
Style:  College Dance Team - Jazz 

Team: Ashwaubenon Dance Team
Director/Head Coach: Rodney Anderson &  Andrew Meinel 
Location: Ashwaubenon, WI 
Style: High School Dance Team: Jazz, High Kick, and Pom

Team: Seton High School Dance Team
Coaches: Theresa Chiodi, Jill Lamey, Anna Miller
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio 
Style: High School Dance Team, Pom

The Minnesota State High School Dance Team Tournament was held last weekend, right in our own backyard at the Target Center in Minneapolis! 

We witnessed firsthand all the time and dedication local dance teams put into their sport - and plenty of gorgeous custom dance costumes, too!  From South St Paul's bright and feminine leotard, to Simley's unique The Price is Right  themed transition costume - MN teams brought it all to competition!

Check out a few of the dance teams we were proud to have outfitted with their #LineUpLook:

Photo credit: Prescott High School Dance Team and RKD Photography.

We're so proud of all the Wisconsin high school dance teams who finished their season competing at the 2018 WACPC State Dance Championship this month! We loved seeing all of these beautiful costume designs come to life on the floor - from Prescott's fiery Jazz costume, to West Bend West Dance Team's colorful look for Pom -  these Wisconsin teams sure know how to design gorgeous and innovative custom dance costumes! 

Have more photos to share? We LOVE seeing all of your team photos!  Send us your photos here >>>

Check out a few of the WI teams we were proud to have outfitted with their #LineUpLook this year:

You've found your perfect outfit for your pro cheer audition and are ready to order! Now the question is, "What colors do I get?!" With endless possibilities for color combinations for made-to-order styles, we get that it is no easy task to decide!

Every year, we get a lot of questions about the best color combinations for tryout wear, so we've compiled a list of the top three color options for your pro cheer audition apparel. Check out the list below!

This past January, synchronized skating teams across all levels competed at the Midwestern and Pacific Coast Synchronized Skating Championships held in Wichita, Kansas! Of course our favorite part about the event is cataloging all of the skating dress trends!  This year we saw a lot of deep-v necklines, plenty of ombres, and the ever-trending vibrant colors that pop on the ice.

Check out a few of the teams we were proud to have outfitted with their #LineUpLook below! 

 Special shout out to KrPhotogs Photography LLC for these awesome pics! 

North Dakota high school dance teams brought their season to an exciting culmination at the 2018 NDADD State Dance Competition last month, competing in Pom, Jazz, Hip Hop, and High Kick!

We love how certain dance communities have created their own costume trends, and North Dakota is no exception! If it's a unitard, or velvet, we know it's probably a North Dakota team! These ladies know how to rock these unique looks.  

Check out a few of the teams we were proud to have outfitted with their #LineUpLook at the state competition, below. 

Congrats on another amazing season, ladies! 

Flexibility is a fundamental skill for dancers and athletes. The ability to move your body freely will make the execution of skills and exercise much easier. Many dancers struggle with flexibility in their hamstrings and hips, but what they don’t know is that tightness in their hamstrings is directly related to a tight back and tight glutes (buttock region).

These four moves are going to pay special attention to hips, back, glutes, and hamstrings. Put all four moves together to increase your dance flexibility for a lower split, longer extensions, and more open hips.

Team: Virginia Commonwealth University Gold Rush Dance Team 
Director,  Coach and Choreographer: Vicki Wells & Assistant Director Christian Edwards
Location: Richmond, VA
Style: College Dance Team

We are SO excited for the upcoming Super Bowl 52 - hosted at US Bank Stadium in our hometown, Minneapolis, MN! The whole city is bursting with energy, and we can't wait to welcome the Patriots and the Eagles to the wintery north!

We don't want to pick a favorite - but our longtime customer, the Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders have such a fun set of looks, we can't help but feature them before their Super Bowl 52 debut! 

Team: Prairie Poms
Director/Head Coach: Natasha Leas
Location: Cedar Rapids, IA 
Style: High School Dance Team- Contemporary 

Many synchronized skating teams across all levels competed at the Eastern Synchronized Skating Sectionals in Fort Meyers, Florida, this month!  From a whimsical La La Land  theme, to an exotic Avatar theme - we had so much fun seeing all of the fabulous synchronized skating dresses from the event!

Check out a few of the teams we were proud to have outfitted with their #LineUpLook below!

Team: University of Alabama Dance Team
Coach: Morgan Williams
Location: Tuscaloosa, AL
Style: Collegiate Dance Team - Pom and Hip Hop

Team: Waupaca High School Dance Team 
Head Coach: Amy Marcom
Location: Waupaca, WI 
Style: High School Dance Team - Jazz and Pom 

As athletes, dancers have the ability to focus their strength and power in many different ways. Being aware of which muscles will be best for a variety of skills will help build strength and level of skill, beyond just technique. These exercises will not only increase jump height and power, but also build long lean muscles in your dancer’s legs!

It's officially audition season for pro cheer and dance teams! That means it's time to get prepared - do you have your audition outfit, routine, and important dates organized in one place? We've compiled a a general timeline to follow before your audition, with a few tips and tricks to keep you on track and looking your best!  Our biggest tip: plan at least 3-6 months in advance of your tryout date to be prepared!  Read on to find out more.

Photo via the Temple Diamond Gems, in the Champagne leotard at UDA Dance Team National Championships

While it was hard to neglect football in Minnesota this past weekend (Skol Vikes, NFC North Champs!!), but we'll admit we were waaaayy more excited about UDA College nationals!  It's one of the most captivating competitions in the season, and always a source of endless inspiration for costume trends.