There She Is...

Miss Dance of the United States! SequinsDirect.com(TM) is providing the fabric for the gown for young woman who is found to be worthy of the crown at the United States Tournament of Dance Nationals, which will take place in Atlantic City. Besides possessing talent, poise and grace, Miss Dance is required to be a positive role model for other young dancers. There will be many special crowning moments, but a surefire highlight is going to be Kat DeLuna's live performance. Giulia Griffith did an amazing job as the titleholder this year, so we congratulate her for showing her spirit and Power of Shine. Good luck to all the competitors... we can't wait to see who wins this year! 

All American

The 4th of July is just around the corner. But before you head to the beach and barbecues, check out our new partner, American Dance/Drill Team. They've been serving the dance industry for over 40 years by providing quality dance education in the form of summer camps, winter clinics and competitions. Joyce Pennington, President, is a living example of the Power of Shine. She provides weekly "American Inspiration" to keep her dancers motivated. One of this week's thoughts: "Real success is finding your life's work in the work you love."-Davis McCullough 

Check us out on their site. 

Tony Who?

When you hear the name Tony, two words may immediately come to mind: Italian male. So naturally the Tony Awards were named after a strapping male actor, right? Nope. The Tony Awards were actually named after a beautiful-but-tough actress named Antoinette Perry. Tony succeeded in producing and directing in the 1930s, a time when this was unheard for women. 

Another woman we love? Liza Minelli. Billy Elliot The Musical may have taken home the most awards (10 total!) but icons Liza Minelli and Elton John stole the show with their mere presence. And of course, Liza's glamorous black sequins don't hurt either! 

What would you wear on the red carpet? Share your sequins dresses dreams below. 

A Passion for Fashion

Anne Marie Gabalis is the head custom costume designer. If you're in the market for custom, Gabalis is your gal. Her creations are original gorgeous works of art and are bound to get your dancers noticed. However, Gabalis doesn't stop at dance costumes. She'll whip out the perfect mini dress or long evening gown for your next special event. All you need to do is pick out the fabric. 

Email us at info@sequinsdirect.com with your ideas. We look forward to seeing how you shine. 

What's your dream custom costume or dress? Did you ever have custom designing nightmares? Tell all below and share your tips and ideas with the SHINE community. 

Wanna be a VIP?

You already are, so you might want to start being treated like one, too. Sign up for the Sequins Direct VIP Club. You'll get:

• Monthly email newsletters
• Exclusive promotional offers
• Design tips and tricks
• Dance industry news

If you're a dance teacher, dance studio owner, dance parent, seamstress, costume designer or crafter, the VIP Club is perfect for you. Sign up to start reaping the benefits. 

So You Think You Can SHINE?

We all know how much shine sequins can bring to any costume. And with vivid colors like teal and spotlight silver, you're guaranteed to catch even the most wandering eye in the crowd. 

This season of So You Think You Can Dance is bringing superior talent to the stage each week, from styles like Latin Ballroom to contemporary to Kathak. The fringe that Kayla is wearing, seen at left, helped her shimmy her way to a successful samba. Get fabulous fringe like Kayla's with our Fluorescent Cerise. 

Is this dress hot or not? Comment below. 

Dancing with the Stars

The champions may have been crowned, but their shine lives on. If you didn't watch the most reason season of Dancing with the Stars, you missed out on some sequins-adorned competition.  

17-year-old Olympian Shawn Johnson was the youngest competitor ever on the show. It was a tight race between the last couples standing, but Johnson and her partner, pro Latin Ballroom Mark Ballas, secured their win in a dramatic season finale episode. While the stars and pros alike made their marks by executing close-to-perfect routines, flashy sequins costumes made their performances even brighter. 

If you want to be as flashy as your favorite DWTS performers, visit www.sequinsdirect.com to check out the latest fabric, fringe and trim.