Sensory Issues and Dance Costumes: My Top Five Most Hated Dance Costumes

In this episode of the Leta’s Tap Styles Podcast, Leta and Amanda look at Leta’s Five Least Favorite Costumes, and the roll Leta’s complex sensory issues had on the list. They discuss the lack of understanding and knowledge most dance teachers have about sensory issues, and how those can affect a dancer’s ability to perform onstage. They touch on the challenges faced by autistic kids in traditional dance environments, emphasizing the importance of understanding the spectrum of sensory sensitivities. The episode also delves into Leta's personal experiences with various recital costumes, counting down her Top Five Most Hated Costumes, and discussing why they caused discomfort and explaining how these issues impact performance. The discussion aims to raise awareness among dance studio owners, teachers, and neurotypical parents to better accommodate the needs of neurodivergent dancers.

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Transcript

0:01

This is Wea and this is me and my mommy's my mommy, and there's me and I'm just talking about this stuff. And there's me tap dancing because this is the tap Dancing Autism podcast and there's bunch animals and I'll be trying to in my hair and there's bunch saying, and. Dancing. Oh, also, they're my boots. My boots are amazing. Also, dance, me trying not to have a panic attack. Also, this is a podcast that we autism and kept dancing and blah, blah, blah. I'm A DHD. This thing also. This your adorable puppy. Hey, Leta, welcome to this week's tap Tuesday, where you're like going, no, no, I won't use it for evil, because Riverside has a new thing toy for you to play with. Yes, Uh, so if anyone sees any clips on the internet, especially on li's uh, socials of her as a panda bear while doing. I could tell myself I do. I the experience in, well, hello. Yes. People have, who have been on our podcast before you come back. Okay, so best I can tell from Riverside's email this morning, it's only clips. It's not the entirety of the podcast, but you wanna mess around with turning the clips into pan bears, so, yay. Um. So today's tap Tuesday. Can we, you're like, I'm stuck on the email we just got from Riverside. I shouldn't, into a cartoon for the whole no, you can't for right now. I'm sure they can make that work at some point. Uh, please do it. I wanna be a. so, uh, fun thing we are going to discuss.. So what we're going to do today is we're going to discuss something very important for TAP Tuesday. Um, I think a lot of dance studios and dance studio owners and dance teachers do not completely understand sensory issues and autism. Oh. was just gonna say, go to the flag fabric store, take the fat flag fabric, and then turn it into a costume. Even though it's noted on the fabric, fabric not suitable to be in context for long periods of time with human beings skin, or else you will become itchy as hell. So that's a sensory issue. like sandpaper. So the sensory issues. Go gammut sensory issues, not just, oh, this feels bad on my skin, which is a sensory issue. It can even be the cut of a fabric that can make, uh, someone have sensory overload. It can be the fact that you've got nylon, um, thread holding on the sequence. It can be where the sequence is placed in a costume. people, the, the person can forcing you to put stuff over your belly button and you just felt like, uh, what? What's the That's, no, that's, yeah, but that's a sensory issue too. You do not like showing your mid rift. That's a sensory issue. It's not just an image. Wait, what now? Wait, It some Okay. Up the showing of mid, well, you said your costume being high up, so I assume that was your tank tops, nos, or crop tops. St. Things to be on my. No, I meant forcing me to have my skirt around here, you yeah. No, that's a huge stomach Feels like it's being pressured and too tight and, um, what, no, like even, well, let me fix my camera real quick. It's, yeah. That's bloated. Uh, no, but that is a sensory issue having where you like wearing those waistbands. it feels like I can't breathe and then I do stop breathing. So they wanna fade. A child, they succeeded.'cause I have actually almost faded before on that one leg that Lily happened. But that's a, that's where I think a lot of the dance studios, and that's one of the things I'm hoping our podcast can help. The dance studio owners, dance teachers, and neurotypical parents trying to deal with it. They're neurodivergent kids. Sensory issues can be even be where your waistline is on a costume. And when you're dealing with the sensory issue, you are not thinking about your choreography. You are not thinking about that next step. And I know a lot of times the statement is, Hey, you just have to get over it. It's just for this one piece. Yeah, but did you want me thinking about where my waistline is and how odd and uncomfortable that feels? Or would you like me putting forth the best effort I can on the choreography? Right, Leta? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So what we're gonna do today is we are going to go over your top five most hated. Recital costumes of all times. And, um, since it's recital season, this is kind of something that's probably a little bit more, um, relevant come August, September when everyone's figuring it out. But, you know, this is something a lot of kids across the country are dealing with right now. Is this sensory three issues with her? right now? It's 5, 4, 7 Yeah, but I mean specifically right now with taking recital, costumes, putting them on stage.'cause it is recital season. Yeah. Anybody who wants to go for that? I, I, I, I'm, so, I, I, so sorry. Doesn't even, I, I, I, I, I feel, felt, feel, I don't, Let's be honest. just sorry. You have to live. Outside of your number one costume on this list, most of these costumes are not bad if you don't have sensory issues. Like they're not terrible looking costumes. They're not like Except the one that was too small for me. that's, but if it wasn't too small for you, that one would, it looked great on stage on everyone else, correct. Yes. On everyone else. Um. Maybe listen to Mommy that the kiddos going to grow in May or in April, may. It seems to be your grow time. I am pretty sure all these ketchup like on me. I, I, I, I, I'm bad at pay pictures. Let's just make that I'm bad You're not bad at pictures. Please see last week's my, in my my neck scratch. Please see last week's, uh. do you mean? See last week's imposter syndrome episode where you swore you don't have imposter syndrome while saying you're bad at dance. Can we get back to the important part here? Um, these costumes as they are most neurotypical kids. Actually outside of them being too small for you, which I think would annoy a neurotypical child. Most neurotypical kids aren't gonna have a problem with these costumes and a lot of autistic kids because autism is so different. Each kid is going to have their own sensory issues. But let's get into the fund. So this is your number five on the list. This was hip hop in 2021, I believe. What was your biggest issue with this? Costume? As a jacket was like way too tight, Pants. Okay. Can you elaborate on the pants? pants are evil. Is there a particular reason? Because pants are evil. I mean, if people know you, you are wearing shorts in the middle of blizzards around here because you absolutely, positively cannot handle pants. What? weird between my legs. It feels like somebody's really taking their hand and squeezing my kneecaps. You have worn pants that aren't too, like, that normal people would not think are too tight. And then, um. Then they too tight and one my waist sees. Okay. And I'm going to regret asking this. Is there any way you can explain, because this is just, uh, for people who aren't, uh, watching on YouTube, but are, um, listening, it is literally just normal legging type. Well, it wasn't quite legging material, was it? For these pants, but just normal jazz ish type pants for the hiphop deal. A uh, loose blue shirt and a normal, more like silky feel, um, jacket. So what about it being over your waist was a problem? My tummy felt like somebody took a rope, decided to do it like a horse, and then just kept, kept pulling and pulling and pulling and pulling, and wouldn't stop. You've also, time I felt like my lungs had no air and my lungs had no air. um, you also mentioned. And this is with every pair of pants you wear. Even if you could put your ankle all the way up to your butt in the pants, you feel like the knees and the pants are too tight, don't you? Can you describe in your own words what you feel when there's something around your knees? I. Like a SO'S expanding me or B Zone, like, like something's like squeezing my knees into oblivion. Even if the pants are not tight, do you feel like something's squeezing your knee into oblivion? Like you wear boot cut jeans when you're doing tap? Um, does, does it feel like I. The looser your genes are, does it feel a little bit better or a little bit worse? Eh, race because then it feels weird when I bend my leg because it'll feel like there's a bunch of loose, skinny, but isn't skinny, but it feels like that, but it doesn't feel like skinny. It just feels like loose stuff. And the sensory issue there. It, and this is where I don't think a lot of, and we're gonna pull back from this. I don't think a lot of dance teachers and dance studio owners and even neurotypical parents understand what you were just saying. The fact that it bunches up. Oh, I know they don't. the things that I will say because I've had multiple teachers ask me and all of them tell you don't have that. Effing problem at me going, I do have that ING problem now. I think that is a problem 'cause I've tried to explain to your dance teachers and dance studio owners, even the ones who. On the surface are pretty sure they understand it come recital time. Yeah. I love that. Look me, um, come recital time, they almost without a doubt, or when the costumes arrive and they're like, here's her costume. And I'm like, uh, you do understand. You just checked off almost every single one of her sensory issues. You'll do it, you'll suffer through it, but you are suffering while you're in that costume, are you not? I trying not to faint not to cry. A lot of this stuff, I don't think, because I think a lot of people don't see that bunching up of the fabric behind the knee is a sensory issue. They're like, well, that shouldn't be an issue, ALeta. That's just how pants are. And I'm like, that's a sensory issue. We have picked and chosen our battles with your autism. I'm not dealing with that one. Thank you very much. There are other issues. when you did deal with it? We tried for a little bit just to see if it was possible. That sunny Well, part of it was were both miserable. both were, and it was, You were trying to keep a child from not crying. Get let's explain. At that point in time, I couldn't tell that it was a sensory issue for you. Are we talking about when you were a lot younger? that then when I was 11, okay. Okay. Uh, in case you're wondering negative degree temperatures, sorry, honey, but I don't care. negative degree temperatures, sometimes you have to maybe deal with the sensory issue for five seconds. the way to make it where you just cut off the leg portion of it and make them like socks. Okay, that would be fine. Can we go check and see what he's doing real quick? Um, I wanna go on, we had to go grab a puppy for those watching on YouTube to, uh, keep him from being, uh, in getting into stuff upstairs. Yeah. Um, okay, let's move on to the next one because this one's another one that if you on the surface, look at this one, it looks perfectly fine. If you ask you, it doesn't look perfectly fine and it's the jazz one. Should have it on your screen now. Can you explain what your problem with this one was? Yeah. Oh, so what was your problem with this one? Uh, everything also, plus I had to wear tights and tight tights such as evil is evil. Okay, so can you. plus where that skirt is, it's really where, again, I just don't like seeing, touching where, going where my belly button is and that skirt stops where my belly button was. So, um, I was trying not to faint. Well stop being breathing because but something goes above or where my belly, but is I stop. Oh no, I mean. That's one of the things we wanna discuss today is that problem of you do have an issue once it goes to your belly button. I think it's like once it goes, breathing. Oh. as much as I'd like you to wear stuff at your hip that's a little too close to your belly button for you. No. Sometimes it's like, honey, it might fit not fall down sometimes if you wear it close to your hip, but no. Can we get back to the tights here? Can you in detail explain the tight issue because you, are just pants for tighter. Jackie Poo. Jack. Jack, come lay down. Come lay down. He's just being a Jackie Poo today, isn't he? Yes. Is. Okay. Um, can you kind of, I mean. I have not met yet anyone who is autistic who can handle pants, I don. Okay. Tell me one single animal on this earth. I said, me one time before we invented machines that human beings ever wore pants but this one is like, so. This one is so freaking universal. Uh, and it seems to also go with leggings too. confused as how you wear pants. I prefer pants to a lot of other things, but notice I only wear jeans. I cannot handle dress slacks. I, I really can't. And I don't like leggings at all. I mean, I will, I tried it the last time I was in top class 'cause you needed leggings and all this for it. But honest to God, you've noticed I even teach tap in my jeans le but I like a pair of, well, well, well worn jeans that are breaking apart. Uh, once they're well worn and they're pure cotton. I'm good with it. Are you doing over there? Okay. Okay. My computer can, I can actually say, I know it's really tight now on this one. I'm sorry. Let's see if I can expand it. Oh, there, you're right. I didn't zoom in for you. Okay. We learn stuff. It's called the Zoom in feature. Okay. Let's discuss this top. Because most people would look at this top like they would've looked at the skirt and gone, there is nothing wrong with this skirt. What could be a problem with the sensory issue on this skirt? Because your tight should have been above your skirt, so you shouldn't have felt the material for the skirt at all. And they were, and I couldn't breathe, But, um, let's discuss the top.'cause you also had a problem with the top. The top. If it did have those straps, it would've been fine, but those straps were literally leaving a mark in my skin. Again, these costumes were too small. Those straps were leaving, literally being red as marks in my skin. They were really as red as my blood. Okay, so that brings me to another thing that's kind of off topic here, but I had tried to warn your dance studios more than one that you grow like by inches every year when you grow and they're like, oh no, she, we know how kids grow I every time I grow you. Do you? above. Um, yes. Okay. So, but with someone like you, they're like, well, if it's just a little snug, she can live with it. You can't live with a little snug, can you? You were sitting there constantly focusing on that little snug. A I wasn't ill because I, I've, I've dealt with a little snug before that. That was little, that was so low. Who, who put me in a peanut shell last time I checked. Okay. Let's talk about those ruffles on that, uh, shoulder. What'd you think? I liked playing with them. They were fun to play with. You're like, thank you for the fidget toy on my costume. Yes. Pretty fi A bunch of people were complaining about that, and I'm like, you gave her a fidget toy. What did you expect from her? The ones who decided, Hmm, you're like, what'd you expect? Fidget toy? They did. They put a fidget toy on there for you. Um, see, you are not necessarily a huge fan of sequence. Psychologist, just evil overall. I am not disagreeing with you. I got too many paper cuts. I absolutely used to hate the fact that I could feel the thread from each one of those pieces of sequence that was on my costumes and it'd be like a torture device inside. some of the seiquins was on the inside of the costume where my chest is. I mean, that was my thing is back then, like all of it was like that and we didn't get to wear, uh, those nude leotards that you can wear in a lot of,'cause I think the nude leotards two a point because you cannot wear leotards. I get it. just question why, why we were wear, renew, tights and my, my tights were not right. I, I dunno They don't make tights for your color. Leta, you mean whites I sure I off as normal level white tides. those brown tights, right? we're tan tights that we're supposed to work for all of you and it. I mean, I'm not, can you go check on him? Yes. I'm not tan. Check. Children are allowed to get the tan. Yeah, let's go check on the Jack.'cause I just messed up really badly. Any who? Because, uh, I, I had a microphone mishap, um, and then stupidly did one way, uh, part two. Um. No, those tights were not, but they were uniform with everyone else and everyone else is not. Uh, yeah. All right. And I'm gonna get this because number three is coming up. Number three, right? Yeah. Um, and this is not dissing whoever picked out these costumes, 'cause these costumes did look great on stage. The thing is, most of your teachers did only half of her go into, okay, not number one. Number one you can go off on. But the rest of these Leta, they did look good. The thing is you were having sensory overload the whole time you were wearing them, and if you're having sensory overload, one, you're never gonna think you look good. That is called. That is called dance can Dance. Absolutely cannot get away from, oh, but we've done this forever.'cause jazz is usually done in tan tights and therefore we do jazz and tan tights because dance isn't innovative. And I think I. That is cool. Tan, tan tights. Tan, tan, tan, tan, tan, tan, tan, tan, tan. No, but think about it. I mean, dance is so not innovative that a lot of girls that are, um. Not white who are older are still having issues with the fact that you can now wear, uh, point shoes that are the color of your skin or closer to the color of your skin. And it's like, but this is not how it's done. And it's because they have been drilled into them that we follow tradition and dance. But that's what's going to kill dance in the long run is it's so tradition based. Outside of dance comps, which is also going to kill dance, that's a whole different deal. But you are so tradition based. You are so rooted in tradition that you can't change with something as simple as a sensory. Yeah. But a lot of the cultural dances are different. Um, let's go on to your next one. Because this one is another one. That was a great costume, just not for you. It looked great on stage. The sparkly tights there. Tights. I, I was just Okay. Sparkly leggings, pants. Okay, so let's go over what your problems were with this costume. Yeah. Yeah. Let's go onto your next. Let's get on just not for you. It looks great on stage. The sparkly those aren't tights. Okay. Sparkly. They their pants. Okay. So, yeah, That's a sensory issue right there. Leta, let's see. Eh, yeah. I wasn't the only one who had a problem because neurotypical people can technically have sensory issues. were really stiff. I love that look you're giving me. They just don't have them. At the same rate that autistic and neurodivergent people have it keep going. on the statues costume, stiff. That's a sensory issue. I wasn't the only one who had that sensory issue, but neurotypical. I mean, Oh yeah. yes, but so what about, what about the applique on that costume? Could drive with that, that jacket I went on and stiffen There's another one where you're like, thank you for the built in fidget toy. for flags and went st I forgot to say costume, then I, I just said st then I, yes. Uh, said stuff out right. It was, um, Oh, but I go back to we should have an entire sensory. where you're like, oh, also, plus, I don't really, a plus. I don't really like that habit because it it, it was, it was, it was, it was, uh, it, it was, it was like tight. It felt like it was killing my hair. Okay, kind of killing my hair though. let's dive into that just real quick, you feel, uh, because I have the same sensory issue because people are like. Oh, and that, and you could zip all the way up to your neck and. Yeah, I, I don't give a damn if I Or turtlenecks. to get over it. It's not, it's not happening. It's not happening. I like not choking. like not choking. What's, So much. Like I have had people get mad at me 'cause I can't wear turtlenecks. And I'm like, I feel like I am choking. And they're like, no, you can't feel that way. And it's like, um, if something is touching my neck, I am going to feel like I'm choking the entire day and I'm going to be tugging at it. And you don't want that. just look weird. And B, those, those ones just look weird unless it's thel. Yeah, so like you were saying, this came up really close. Well, it came up to your neck and you had that collar right around your neck the whole time. Instead of being loose, I mean, I'll wear collared shirts, I'll wear pearl snaps. Do not expect me to snap the top two buttons on a pearl snap.'cause even the. Second to top. I mean, ugh, I'm gonna be dying if I snap this button. Um, I prefer V-neck or low crewneck. Not too low, but you know what I'm talking about there. Like, I don't like the colorway up here. Like what you're wearing right now with your Nike. Um, yeah. Well, mine's as low as I could find for, uh, these crew tops I needed. Yeah. Yeah, but that's the thing is it's just below where I would go crazy. Literally, if it was a little higher, I could not wear this shirt. Like, like if I was wearing But no, that's the thing. I, I would still not be able to breathe. I don't know why that one That's the thing that I don't think a lot of dance teachers understand is this looked great on stage. You were in sensory overload the whole time you were, um, dealing with this because you had that all the way up here. It is going to choke you as far as your brain is concerned. at your street isn't the only place not paid for autistic people. But that's the thing. I don't think they understand that your brain said it is choking me.'cause I don't think they understand that part. Is that sensory? Issue is that your brain is inputting something totally different than what the neurotypical world's brain would be inputting. Does that make any sense at all? So for you, because that color was up so high, your brain inputted, I am choking. Does that make any sense, li Yes. Can you maybe, but like you said, you're sitting there still focused on the Panda Bear stuff, aren't you? But I go back to again, the fact that Tool U, this was nothing short of a torture de. I was focusing, I was a ADHD in life. I would. Um, but that's the thing. I don't think, 'cause how do I put this nicely? A lot of dance teachers aren't thinking of the sensory issues around the neck. They're thinking it's okay if it's high cut 'cause it's not going to cause lead to sensory issues where. It does actually cause you sensory issues. And for those listening on the podcast, I forgot we should possibly discuss this. It is a jacket that's a zipped up jacket with a high collar there that is zipped up all the way to your neckline, which is what's causing the issue there having issues with your hair. Uh, been there, done that by the t-shirt. It can even be your own hair that can drive you buggers. Yes. Yes. And I've never, never, if anyone said that, I've never carrying this hair. Okay, so back to so, and that hat, it's just a baseball cap, which a lot of people are like, it's okay, it's a baseball cap. It doesn't matter how tight it is, and you're sitting there going, hmm. Yeah. it does actually matter how tight that hat is. Yes, yes. And I am never, never, And that applicate came up and off the jacket like it was attached to the jacket around the zipper, and then it started being where it wasn't completely laid down and attached to the jacket, correct. Which made an absolute perfect fidget toy. Fidget toy. And that's what I also don't think some dance teachers and dance studio owners don't understand is fidgeting is a, it is a part of stemming. Stemming involves fidgeting, um. Fidgeting is what you know normal people do. Stemming is what autistic people do, and you are already having severe sensory overload. So you're going to fid stem by fidgeting with your applique and try to calm down over the fact that they're trying to kill you. Right? Leta. You're nodding while you're playing with your hair. This is going great. All right, we are going to go onto the next one. Um, this is number two. Once more. It is a beautiful, it is a little bit on the fuzzy side because yeah, mom was messing with a new camera and was not perfect on this, but we're going to pull this up. Here's the thing. This is another one that's beautiful. I'll probably put in a different one. Wait, what was the number one thing you were complaining about on this one? I. Okay, so yeah. one. Wait, But let's, because you were, yeah, you were nine when you were wearing this costume. itchy also. our teacher kept telling all What about that neckline right there? we should also think about going on the on the dead. a fidget toy, but you also had the straps. I mean, yeah. I already felt fat. No, you were already felt fat enough in the costume I mean, I mean, or felt fat enough or you were already making us feel fat enough. Preston, you were already making us all feel fat enough. Eh, It, it did. toy. It was See, and that's another autism thing right there. This isn't just sensory deal. Your low cut right there with those, uh, sleeves hanging off, it was a beautiful costume. Your response is that should have been on a teenager or an adult. That is a kid's costume, not a teenager costume. There eLeta. don't, that looks odd on a nine child. See? Um, but that, that was what I was talking about is that cut, cut. Okay, so for those who are listening on the podcast, it is a romantic tutu. You can't tell because on YouTube, I don't think 'cause of how I'm putting this up. Um, but the it's my neckline, it's an off the shoulder piece or, uh, tu or leotard piece, costume, whatever you wanna call it. And it cut. Fairly low across your chest at nine. Um, it was not up high, so at least it wasn't that, but I was wanting to put body tape on it to make sure it didn't fall. Unfortunately, that wouldn't work with the leotard wearing underneath it for the actual show. That's a sensory issue though. Yeah, also blessed when I wasn't really focusing on the But let's, it's not anything in a way that is a sensory issue because you need it to not be so low cut that you're worried about exposing yourself while you're on stage. Yeah. it. No, no. girl picked a, another adult woman picked out You were not Sabrina Carpenter dancing on stage at night. You were nine. You were not. Sabrina Carpenter in her current tour. a Yeah. Um. Yeah. Yeah, I die. That unfortunately is a dance culture we still have. And then dance teachers are like, but why do parents not want their kids involved? Because you're giving 'em body issues. And that's another discussion. weird. Had weird righty. Also find weird to tell a bunch of eight This is not the best picture 'cause it's one I took like just outside. We are going to get to your least favorite costume of all times, absolute least favorite costume of all freaking times. yeah, And here you go, Leta. Some, So the neck has a choker neck, like it's got a, um. Totally overlay. Yeah. Podcast. It's got a choker that cut buttons right in the back of your, uh, neckline and then it's got loose fabric that's very nice, very flowy, covering up a leotard that is sequenced all the way around the leotard, including in the groin area. Um. Oh yeah. Podcast. Yeah, podcast. It's got a that, that one was hard. It cut really low. Um, you were one of the younger kids in this, so for the, there were other younger kids. Yeah. All the way around the lead target. Yeah. Yeah. but where do we dance? The older kids had, how to put this nicely? Something to help pull that up just a little bit.'cause they had developed on the top region, you had not developed on the top region yet. So this laid flat When it's mint not to lay flat, this design is not for a lay flat top. just kind of felt weird You're giving me a look. I'm trying really nice to, uh, would you like to just laugh into your microphone for me? I mean, the way you're laughing, it's meant something front of you as a. This one is meant for girls who have already gone through puberty. It was, you could see it in the design. It was designed for an older, more mature, uh. That was bad designs by obviously a guy who does not care about, uh, rubbing up stuff or other people. That sequence should have stopped where you couldn't see,'cause the bottom of the skirt. You could not see the sequence in the crotch area, um, from stage or from anywhere.'cause that skirt doesn't flow up enough where you needed to keep that sequence flowing the entire way around. It was just a way to probably add more money to the costume in the long run. Full sequence body is going to cost more than cutting that off. Where at that waistline where you could no longer see anything, not like you could really see the sequence, it was just a little, still a sequence. In fact, I probably, I'm not even, I probably would have only done sequencing right there where you could see it in the, uh, fabric. But hey, that's where I would've gone with that. But, um. It's another one of those. It's between the collared neck and you've got two pieces of fabric flowing over you, and then the leotard starts fairly lower down because it's supposed to have a little bit more fabric there than it's going to have in that lay flat. It was not designed for that body type. Yeah. Yeah. Let's, well, let's discuss the other thing that we've kind of flitted around. You are not a fan with leotards, period. I mean, if you've, if anyone's listened to our podcast, you don't do leotards. Yes. also, plus I also had the other thing not designed for that by time, and that was just weird because yeah, I, I do the sports version better. It's you don't do it. Yes. And I'm just this one. So, because even. Because, um, yeah, Even the, the people on YouTube aren't gonna see this, that costume where that skirt is definitely covering it up where you cannot see the sequence at all. Um, at the bottom here, and I'm going to try nicely do this because I'm bringing up a little bit closer in image of the, uh, neckline real quick. I mean, it doesn't cover that. High up. You can definitely tell. But the problem was that sequence goes all the way down through the legs and at the chest area. They kindly put some bias tape so that it wouldn't scratch right there on your chest. That bias tape was not on the bottom of that leotard, and that sequence was hanging off the side of the leotard, was it not? You are nodding. Um, so that sequence was right in that groin region hanging half on, half off. Um, and the way they had it done, 'cause I looked to see if I could take some off without totally messing it up. If you took one sequence off, you were going to. Man, or like came in, it would've unraveled the entire thing, the way they, uh, sewed it all together. Um, but that was not, I mean, that in and of itself was not good, was it? And how do I put this nicely? Um. But this was like, you will never forget how bad this costume was, will you? No. It was pure evol as a plus question. Why the color was red since the red didn't really go, was the same of the music. I'm. It, it didn't, but that's, um, that's another one. Podcast for another day. Um, dear Dance Teachers, I know you love how picking out costumes by just picking out costumes, but music and the you maybe think of the moon of the music more maybe. Well, but I mean, so what? We could do a whole whole thing on that one. Um, but. Yeah, I mean, dance teachers are amazing. Choreographers are amazing. Maybe lean on your costume directors if you've got one, because they may have color theory. more. I do. About. Yes. Yeah, we're bunny trailing here, but let me, you went to one? Yeah. to studio with costume directors But you went to one, uh, studio where the costume director flat out told one of your teachers, uh, no. And the teacher went Y and the costume director went this. Costume. Either you can change the piece or you can change the costume. You have a choice. But since you've already choreographed the piece, may I suggest we just and started teaching the piece, may I suggest we just change the costume on you? Um. And that one, uh, as much as you hated the costumes from that studio, 'cause that studio made a, uh, couple appearances on this list, um, you have to admit, most of the time those costumes fit. The piece. Yeah. You're over there saying, yeah, 'cause you're braiding your hair real quick. But those costumes did fit the piece. So for you, they were sensory or overload The overlord, they were sensory overload. They were torture devices. They were terrible things. But in the long run on stage, they worked for the piece and the costume director. Uh, the wardrobe mistresses did amazing keeping the, uh, choreographers. On, um, in check. In check because yeah, there have been places that I have gone, even in competition. I'm like, did you think this through next week? I wanna do your top five favorite costumes of all times. And that includes costumes you have, uh, done for, um, video shoots you have done where you've been able to pick out your costumes. How does that sound? You just said, woo. All right. This week on Friday, we have Jennifer Briggs coming back on the podcast. She is the author of watching Sarah Rise. Uh, she has been on the program before. She's coming on to discuss the Sunrise program, which is a program that, uh, does in-home therapy that's run by the parents. And a bunch of volunteers coming in to help you with your autistic child and just trying to reach the level two, level three.'cause it is definitely for level two, level three though I think it could work for level one. Um, they've had some amazing results with I. Uh, training parents also how to deal with their neurodivergent child. Um, it's a great one. Ginny is always an amazing guest. We had a great conversation, I think, and we will, uh, see everyone later. For those of you going into the last days of your competition seasons and two recitals. Say that, um, see what I'm hearing is if you're watching on YouTube, comment down below what your worst sensory issue costume was. Yeah. And, okay. Go ahead. Comfort cut costumes. I, I, I, I'm sorry. And I, I, I think, I think I. And if you're listening on your favorite podcast deal, you can hit text us and drop us some fan mail to tell us about your most annoying. Dance costume. We will see each, everyone on Friday. Have a good week. I, I, I just need confirmation that I'm not the only one creeped out, but if you have the cuts on on me when I was younger. 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