How to measure a Juvenile

Measuring for a juvenile dancer

Ask a parent or guardian to help. Use a dance dress that fits the child comfortably now, with the usual dance underwear. Allow comfortable movement; do not choose a tight fit or assume extra stretch will compensate for a smaller size.

Compare like for like

All listed dress measurements are in centimetres, taken with the garment laid flat and unstretched. Use a flexible centimetre tape. Fasten your comparison dress as worn and lay it on a flat surface without pulling the fabric. Where a shoulder seam is absent, contact the studio to confirm the starting point.

1. Shoulder to gusset: measure from the top shoulder point down the garment to the centre of the crotch/gusset. This is a one-way length, not a full body-loop measurement.
2. Shoulder tip to wrist: measure from the outer shoulder tip along the sleeve to the wrist edge. For an arm check, keep the arm relaxed with a slight bend.
3. Bust, waist and hips (seam to seam): measure straight across the flat garment between side seams at each level. These are flat widths, not body circumferences. Do not compare a body circumference directly with these figures. If a seam is absent, confirm the measurement points with the studio.
4. Shoulder to Latin / Ballroom hem: measure from the top shoulder point to the corresponding finished skirt edge. Use only the hem relevant to the dress.
5. Waist to Latin / Ballroom hem: measure from the waistline down to the corresponding finished skirt edge.
6. Shortest and longest hems: for an uneven skirt, measure separately to its shortest and longest finished edges, starting at the shoulder or waist as labelled.

Measurements are a guide only. Fabric stretch, cut, posture and individual proportions affect the final fit. If you are between sizes or uncertain about any point, contact the studio before ordering.