How to Design and Submit the Fashions for Dancing With The Stars

Dancing With the Stars has a popular contest for fans who love the show and have a talent for art and design. You can submit your artwork consisting of designs for costumes that will be featured during one of the dances. The Macy’s “Design a Dance” contest is a fantastic way to showcase your work to a national audience. Winners not only get their designs used in the show, but they will be brought to Los Angeles to attend the taping of the show that is using their designs. If you are over 13 years of age and a legal resident of the United States, find out how to create and submit your designs to ABC’s Dancing With the Stars.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Art materials, such as paper, watercolor paints, colored pencils, markers or charcoal
• OR imaging software and a computer
• Large envelope and stamps, if submitting by mail

1. Watch the Dancing With the Stars, beginning with the first episode, for announcements about the “Design a Dance” contest. They will tell you which segment of the contest is being offered that week for the fans to vote on. It will also give you an idea of the types of costumes used on the show with the different dances.

2. Check the website often for updates on what has been decided. You need to know what dance is being performed and the song that it will be danced to. Once you have that information, you can begin designing your outfits. They must match the character of the dance, as well as the song.

3. 
   Dancing with the Stars

   Familiarize yourself with the character of the dance chosen for the current season. For instance, the Paso Doble is about a bull fight. The man is the matador, and the lady is his flamboyant cape. The man’s costume must show strength and masculinity. The lady’s costume usually has a skirt that is billowy and can swirl and twirl about her legs. If you are unfamiliar with the dances, the Dancing With the Stars website has examples you can view, or you can find them on Youtube. Watch a few dances to get the feel of how the costumes work to portray the character of the dance. The designs must exude the character of the dance. Skimpy and sexy for the Latin Dances. Wacky and fun for dances like the Jive. Elegant and flowing for the Waltz.

4. Listen to the music that has been chosen for the dance this season. Again you can find it on the show’s website or any other music site on the web. Pay attention to the mood that the music creates and what the words are talking about. The message and the mood that the music conveys should be an important component of your design for Dancing With the Stars costumes.

5. 
   Dancing with the Stars

   Create one design for the male dancer and one for the female dancer. The costumes usually compliment each other in color, materials and design. Don’t be afraid to go a little outside the box though. You never know when an innovative, visionary design will win out. Draw your designs in both the front and back view of each costume. Clearly label each image, identifying gender (male or female) and views (front or back). Include comments about your vision, a list of suggested materials or constructions specifications, but it can be no longer than 100 words. If your comments exceed this limit, your entry will be disqualified.

6. You can use any artistic medium you are comfortable with. Paint or draw either by hand or by using imaging software. If create your designs by hand, but want to submit electronically, scan them into imaging software. Electronic submissions must be placed on ONE file, and they must be in one of the following formats; JPEG, GIF or PDF. Anything else will not be accepted. The size of your file can be NO BIGGER than 3 MB. Your comments about your designs can be included in the file, but must be no longer than 100 words.

7. If you submit by mail, your entries must be no larger than 11x17 inch paper. Legibly PRINT, in BLUE or BLACK ink, your name, age, address and phone number on each sheet submitted. Clearly label your designs identifying the male and female costume, and front and back views. Again, you can include your comments about the materials and construction of your costumes, but it must be no longer than 100 words. Make copies of your artwork before you mail it, so that you have a back-up copy if something is lost.

8. 
   Dancing with the Stars

   Submit you design electronically to Dancing With the Stars, through their website. You must be a registered member in order to do this, of any of these sites; ABC, Disney, ESPN, or Family Fun. Follow the links to the Macy’s Design a Dance Contest to find the submission form. Fill out the entry form and attach your file Read and agree to all of the rules of the contest. Make sure you submit your designs before the deadline for your entry to be considered.

Tips & Warnings

• You must read, understand and agree to the rules of the contest in order to submit.
• • Submit your designs before the deadline
• • Double-check your format, size of submissions and labeling
• Website Entry: Go to http://abc.go.com/shows/dancing-with-the-stars/design-a-dance
• Mail in Address: ABC/Macy's Design a Dance Contest Entry", c/o LeadDog Marketing Group, 159 W. 25th St., 2nd floor, New York, NY 10001

[edwardvance]

on 10/30/2009 Great article on Dancing with Stars! 5* and I recommend.

[vixxen]

on 10/29/2009 cool article 5*