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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. 

Two dance costumes with floral and lace appliques that can also be used as a hairpiece: Mika Top Applique (left) and Jupela Leo Applique (right). 

If there's one dance costume trend that doesn't seem to be going anywhere soon it's appliques - and for good reason! Appliques are a popular choice because they add a layer of texture and depth to any costume, as well as a feminine touch.

If you are looking to use appliques on your next dance costume, there are a few technical things to consider though - like cost and their delicate nature. To help, we've created the definitive guide to using appliques for dance costumes!

Homecoming for the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders

Several weekends ago, the Miami Dolphins had their first regular season game, and the homecoming could not have been more rewarding for the team after weeks away from home.  

In the aftermath and recovery from Hurricane Irma, the team's first home game was rescheduled to later this season, and earlier in the season the team traveled across the pond to London, where they took on the Saints as part of the NFL's London Games. 

Along the way, the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders patiently waited to debut their new signature uniforms this season. Now the team is back on home turf, and looking better than ever!

Team: Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders
Director: Stephanie Judah
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Style: NFL Cheer

Styles: 202 Long Line Crop, Brookfield Short Skirt, Jolynn, Roseangela Leotard

For all our color lovers and trend watchers, The Line Up chose a color of the year that embodies the current mood in dance!   We surveyed our designers, researched competitions, and took a nod from pop culture to determine the trend setting color for 2018. Here it is:

Rhinestones are the perfect finishing touch to any costume, but often the biggest question we hear is: how many rhinestones do I need? It's a tough question to figure out especially when:

• 100 gems sounds like a lot, but is actually on the low end of the price spectrum,
• Design illustrations can be poor representations of a finished rhinestone design because it's difficult to represent gem size and placement accurately,
• Minor tweaks in spacing can drastically effect the quantity of rhinestones.

Behind the scenes at one of our recent photo shoots at Steve Lucas Photography

Once fall rolls around, we know the first thing on the to-do list as a newly formed dance team is pictures!  When it comes to photoshoots, TLU has definitely had lots of practice.  With over 8 photoshoots a year, we've got things down to a science!  

And we don't do it alone either!  With a little help from the experts below, we've compiled some of our best tips for getting your best photos as a dance team. Read on to hear what the experts have to say.

• Pam Gleason - Our photoshoot choreographer, Pam, is a master at creative posing!  When not working at The Line Up, she's also an instructor at Dance Arts Centre and co-founder of Matrixx Pro.

• Steve Lucas - We've been working with Steve Lucas Photography for over 10 years, and with his 20+ years of experience, he has perfected the art of capturing the perfect dance action shot!  

• Dawn Ruschmeyer - Our resident photo editor and Photoshop Wizard, Dawn is also Steve Lucas's assistant and photo editor.

When it comes to synchro skate dresses, the skirt is the one design element that rules!

Our synchro customers insist on getting their skirts right and for a couple very good reasons: a great skirt can emphasize choreography, enhance the perception of speed, and create crowd appeal!  What team can resist all of that?

Check out some of our favorite synchronized skating skirts from the past couple of seasons below! 

If we have to pick one single piece of advice it’s this: don’t be afraid to wash your costume!

We know, we know! The thought of something going wrong and potentially ruining your costume is enough to make you want to ignore the stinky mess! But not cleaning your costume can potentially cause more damage than just the smell factor.

Laundering your garment to promote longevity and to keep it sparkling fresh. With proper care, a well-constructed garment should last you several years. Rest assured, you can easily do it yourself without risking damage to your costume.

Check out the video tutorial and tips below from the experts in our laundry department on how to wash a dance costume, cheer uniform, or skating dress without worry!

When it comes to dresses, skaters know how to perfect a sophisticated and elegant look.  So it's no surprise that when a skating trend takes off, it's usually classy and not likely to immediately fade out of style.  As you start planning for the upcoming season, here's a look back at some of our favorite trends that we predict will have serious staying power!