This illustrates the effectiveness of wearing a high cut leotard to lengthen the look of the legs
	The longer costumes make my legs look short

"The costume that an athlete wears can affect performance. A runner's shoes or a skier's boots can make a difference in the time it takes to complete a race. Speed skaters wear smooth outfits so as to reduce friction with the air. Now there are even full-body swim suits with a texture similar to that of sharkskin, designed to reduce friction with water. But there is a more subtle way in which costume might influence the outcome of a contest or performance. It takes only four seconds for a person to make a first impression… "

Jennifer Bryan
Schlumberger Alumna

It takes only four seconds for a person to make a first impression. This includes social, business and performance environments. First impressions can be calculated on how a person walks, stands, shakes a hand, body language, voice and even dress.In fact, many of our prejudices stem from the clothes we observe other people wearing around us. For instance, we notice when someone is wearing Versace in comparison to Walmart clothing. It is human for us to make a judgment based on this observation about the personality of the person, who is wearing this clothing. This is the same prejudice performers’ face every time they have to perform in front of an audience, whether it is an audience of judges or the public.

The different brands of costumes may not be common knowledge for the general public or possibly even for a judge, but we all know when something looks flattering on someone in comparison to a paper sack. As a result, we make judgments based on this one observation, which helps formulate our first impression and eventually our overall impression of the performer.

I became aware of this, when I first started auditioning for dance school placements, and summer workshops, when I was 11 years of age. I recall the first time I arrived at my first audition. It was at a dance school in downtown Houston, Texas. I wore my standard dance leotard and tights, nothing particularly special or flattering, with my hair properly up in a bun. In the audition, the judges first had each girl line up in numerical order, according to the audition number each of us were given at registration. They had us all stand in a basic position, while they walked around and took notes. I discovered later that they were assessing our bodies and basically making their first judgment based on what they observed.

Throughout the audition, the judges would “favour” girls and boys who they were likely to choose at the end of the audition. I noticed I was amongst the unfavoured. So, instead of getting upset because, after all, this was my first time, I decided to try to understand why the judges chose particular dancers. To be fair, each girl they chose was a credited dancer, but I noticed they all had a special quality – they all looked really good. I don’t mean good as in pretty – they all looked professional and wore flattering outfits.

At my next audition I decided to test my theory. I noticed there was a girl, in particular, who basically was just like me – our technique and qualities were roughly the same except she had one thing I didn’t – a flattering costume to her body type. She had short legs, like me, but hid them with a high cut leotard and as a result, got the position.

Throughout my theatrical career, I made the same observation time and again. Super tall girls shortening their look and short ones, lengthening theirs with different outfits. They would also hide “fat” arms with longs sleeves and short necks with low necklines.

Granted there are always many factors that are calculated into judgments of talent, but none more so than the first impression. It is as the old song sings in A Chorus Line, “Dance 10, looks 3”.

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