Formal Ball

You must adhere to  Tekko’s code of conduct at all times.

You must wear a face mask at all times in the Formal Ball Room. The mask must fit snugly from over your nose to below your chin. No bandannas, gaiters, or exhalation valves. If you are wearing a helmet, partial mask, or fursuit head, you must wear an additional medical face mask underneath. A small number of masks will be provided at the door. N-95 or equivalent masks are highly recommended. There will be no exceptions to this rule.

Follow the dress code listed below. Those who do not follow the dress code risk missing out on the event. If you have questions about your outfit, please contact staff at formal@teamtekko.us . NOTE: A "casual half-hour" will begin at 10:30 PM where these guidelines are loosened, except for mandatory face masks.

Adhere to hygiene and sleep guidelines from the convention. Shower, deodorant, and overall cleanliness are important when asking people to dance!

Drink lots of water! There will be water bottles provided by the convention as well as a routinely-sanitized drinking fountain and bottle filling station across from the room. Feel free to bring your own water bottle.

Take breaks if you need them. Walking around all day plus two hours of nonstop dancing will probably make you sore, so be sure to take care of yourself!

The dance floor is for dancers only. Please move off the floor quickly and carefully for any non-dance activity.

No lifts, large group circles, or moves that endanger others (such as breakdancing or flailing arms without looking).

Sexual harassment and harassment of any kind will not be tolerated at the Formal Dance. This includes but is not limited to:

We’re here to dance and have fun, not intimidate or harass others. We ask each participant to treat others with respect and dignity throughout the evening so that we can continue to hold this fabulous event!

You’re not required to dance the style displayed on the screen, or even to dance at all! All ages and skill levels are welcome if you’d like to try social partner dancing but please don’t feel obligated. You can also attend for the ambiance or the fun of dressing up.

You’re not required to bring your own partner. Anyone may ask anyone to dance. Your dance partner does not have to be a romantic partner. We’re here to have fun and dance as a community!

Please follow the Dance Floor Etiquette image below. Line of dance means the leader is facing and traveling counter-clockwise on the floor. Some songs might have two or more dances that can be done simultaneously. Pay attention to where spot dances vs. traveling dances are taking place. The screen will provide guidance as to what dance(s) you might want to dance to each song.

New dancers should stick toward the inside, as more experienced dancers are more likely to use the outside of the floor.

If you’d like to be asked to dance, try standing toward the front or on the direct sidelines of the floor. Sitting down or standing in the very back of the room makes you look unavailable to potential dance partners.

We suggest asking both “Would you like to dance?” and also “ How would you like to dance?” We’ve found this to be a great way to discover whether your partner would rather lead or follow, which can help you avoid some awkward moments later on.

Anyone has a right to decline to dance with anyone else, for whatever reason. However, if you decline a dance from one person, ballroom etiquette considers it polite to sit out the rest of the song rather than accepting a different offer. Because there are lessons held in connection with our event, there will be many folks at the social dance who want to apply what they've learned and grow as a dancer in addition to making friends. We’ve found that declining an offer without sitting out for that song may be taken poorly, even if that's not what you intend. An exception to this is if you have already promised to dance the current or upcoming dance with someone else. Please check out other ways to decline politely provided by our guest host at https://trickssi.com/lessons.php . However, if you are declining because you are feeling uncomfortable with the specific person asking or their behavior, please talk to ballroom staff or contact the harassment helpline ( hro@pittjcs.org ).

Bottoms must be no shorter than mid thigh or a few inches above the knee.

Slits must not show anything inappropriate.

No mesh or sheer materials in inappropriate areas.

No extremely low cut or “plunging” necklines. When in doubt, test to make sure your neckline is well-fitting at all times as you move without a possibility of slippage. Think: a neckline that would not require the use of double-sided tape.

Strapless tops are permitted as long as they are well fitting.

Avoid or bustle trains on dresses as they can be stepped on.

No jeans or cargo pants. Dress pants only.

Collared dress shirts are permitted but cannot be open. T-shirts and tank tops are not permitted.

Formal neckwear is encouraged but not required. Examples of formal neckwear include cravats, ties, and bow ties.

Suits are encouraged but not required.

Undergarments should not be visible.

Movement guidelines

Tidy appearance guidelines

There will be a floating floor at this event as well as carpeted areas, so please plan accordingly. To gain a better understanding of what you might want to wear, please read a guide on shoes for formal dances.  ( https://trickssi.com/resources-shoes.php )

The following are considered appropriate formal footwear: dress sandals, pumps, flats, boots without thick or scuff-making soles, high heels, and dress shoes. Please make sure the footwear does not come off when dancing, or wear shoes with a strap or ties.

Sneakers, tennis shoes, outdoor sandals, and flip flops are not allowed.

Stiletto or platform heels and boots that have thick or scuff-making soles are STRONGLY discouraged.

If you have medical restrictions on footwear or movement, please contact  formal@teamtekko.us  as soon as you can to discuss options.

You are not required to cosplay at this event.

Cosplay must follow the dress code as listed above. If a fictional or nonfictional character wears an outfit that “almost but not quite” follows the guidelines (a character that wears a tuxedo with tennis shoes), the cosplay must be modified until it meets the dress code. If you are unsure whether it meets the guidelines or if you need suggestions on how to modify your cosplay, email cosplay@teamtekko.us .

No props that will get in the way. This includes swords, wings, staffs, tails, horns, hats, or guns.

Whole-head latex masks will not be permitted on the dance floor for the safety of all dancers. You may be admitted to the event, but unless you remove those elements, you will be asked to leave the dance floor.

Eye patches over one eye are permitted as long as the other eye is unobscured and has peripheral view.

Body paint and face paint must be sealed.

If wearing a wig, you can keep it secure with hair pins, bobby pins, or a velvet band.

Japanese clothing, Lolita, and other Asian formal wear is also welcome as long as it meets the guidelines above.

Dress Military Uniforms are welcome as long as they are formal Military Uniforms. Battle Armor and Fantasy Armor are not Dress Military Uniforms and are not allowed.

Fursuits will be permitted if attire is dressed over the fur suit and follows all of the above rules. (For example, a fox fursuiter has a gown or tux over the fursuit that matches the formal guidelines.) Suiters still must follow mask mandatory guidelines. Heads will only be permitted during photo opportunities as we must be able to see your face mask.

No obscene graphics, including 'parody' images, are permitted on any item of clothing.

Decisions made by formal staff are final.

Tennis shoes, sneakers, and trainers will be permitted.

Dressy jeans and khakis will be permitted in addition to dress pants.

Polo shirts will be permitted.

More casual military uniforms will be permitted.

Other portions of the dress code will be unchanged and remain in effect for Casual Half-Hour.