So, your ready for your first competition:or so your instructor says. You don't know what to wear; you don't know what to expect and right about now you're forgetting your routines. It's ok calm down, take a deep breath. We have all been to our first competition and it is always a bit intimidating, so here is some information that you will need to know.

First of all, don't forget to register before the deadline otherwise you will have to pay more or you may not be able to dance at all. Once you have the paper work out of the way, you can start getting ready for the big day. Here is a list of what is absolutely necessary to take with you followed by some detailed explanations. (L will denote for ladies and M for men, otherwise it's for everyone).

1. Dance Shoes (L: with heels taps/guards)
2. Costume/costumes
3. L: All the make up you own (I'm not kidding)
4. Jewlery
5. Hair gel and Hair spray (even if you did your hair at home)
6. L: extra hair clips/pins
7. extra safety pins (to pin numbers or to fix costume issues)
8. Bottled water or sports drinks (They aren't always available at the venue)
9. Paper towels (trust me it gets sweaty)
10. Warm-up clothes (Jacket/sweatshirt, sweatpants, legwarmers, etc)
11. A snack and/or money for food (Competitions have been known to run over)

If this is one of your first competitions and you do not yet have a specialized costume, or aren't allowed to wear one, here are some suggestions. Latin: Ladies should wear a cocktail dress or shirt and skirt that shows movement and is above the knee. Bright colors are better than darks as they will help make you more visible on the packed dance floor. Men should wear black dress slacks with a button down shirt (white or black) or nice fitted T-shirt. It is of utmost importance that men wear BLACK or dark socks. Standard: Ladies: A long flowing gown or skirt (however, not so long that you will trip on it as it mops the floor) with an elegant top. Men again should wear dress slacks. Button down shirts are a must (white) with the optional bowtie.

As you progress in dance you may choose to get custom made costumes or buy secondhand (much cheaper). Though costumes are a very expensive investment, especially as the amount of decorations increase, they are usually resold after a few uses. Also, a couple in costume always looks more professional on the floor than one without.

Now that you know what to wear you need to focus on how you look. You have probably noticed that professional couples go out on the floor looking very dark. This is not because they particularly like the smell of self tanner. It is expected in the dancesport world that competitors do everything they can to get into character. This means, especially in latin dancing, to look tan. The tan look is usually achieved by using drugstore bought self tanners, Mystic Tan spray, paint on make up, or more expensive professional tanning products. Even men should use something to darken their faces. The tan will look more natural under bright competition floor lights. Couples are judged on everything, appearance, as well as dancing, and a pale couple under bright lights will look exactly that: pale.

Tanning is about as far as a man's make-up should go, ladies, however, have yet to begin. It is important that a lady make her facial features stand out. This is not subtle daytime makeup we are talking about. Everyone, the judges and the audience, should be able to see the ladies features. Heavy eye make up is a must. Many competitors choose to wear fake-eyelashes to exaggerate their eyes. If you still recognize yourself with make up on, your probably need more! Put on blush and a bright lipstick over a lip liner. Finish the whole look of with shimmer. The more bronzer and shimmer, the better! Ask more experienced competitors for help with your make up.

The most important rule of hair is that it be neat, and not get in the way of your dancing. A tightly pulled back low pony tail or bun is customary for the lady. Use large amounts of hair spray to hold it in place and provide shine. Men usually gel their hair to give it a wet look and hold it in place. Long hair, whether on a man or a lady, should always be pulled back. Again, the more seasoned competitors can be of great help here.

While the reflection starring back at you may scare you to death and look nothing like the sweet person underneath, by now you are probably ready to go out on the dance floor and impress your friends, family and the judges. One last thing:don't forget to put the number on the man's back and give yourself time. Be ready early otherwise you could miss your chance!