I just celebrated my 25th annual... here is my list!

Curtain Call-Good quality, good service, no complaints

Kelle - Love them! GREAT customer service, great costumes!

Weissmans- Cheaper quality, but cheaper prices, no complaints

Wolf-Fording- Nice, no problems

Marcea-No problems, but used rarely...I love her designs, but pricey

Art Stone- Love the costumes, never had any problem

The Line Up- nice, but pricey!

NEW this year for me ~ REVOLUTION! AWESOME...ordered numerous costumes! WOW!!! Very impressed...great quality, prices, service! They took a big chunk of my business away from the competition this year & I will continue to use them if they keep up the good work and expand their line! CHECK them out! You will not be disappointed!

They will custom make anything for you, too, like if you ask for #120 with the fabric from the #310 costume on the legs and the collar in silver metallic with the #530 fabric on the sleeves, and please add fringe down the legs of the pants so it looks western. I actually did that. Mixed two styles of costume, three totally different fabrics, and added fringe to make a boy's costume. And, the price for the alterations was VERY reasonable.

I didn't know they did that. I ahve tons of costumes from them. Good to know.

AdrenalineDance, that made me cry. It's nice to know there are some companies that care.

And to everyone that ordered from revolution, what kind of garment bags did they come in?

Two years ago we were majorly burned by the whole Dansco/Fina fiasco. We stayed away from them for recital last year. Did anyone use them? Have they gotten their problems fixed. We are loving their new costume catalogs...but are still very nervous to use them. Help from anyone!!!!!

I used both of them last year. I didn't have a problem but I ordered real early. If they have any costumes that fit in our recital theme, I will use them.

I too have continued to use Dansco, even through the Fina acquisition and have had no issues. Everything on time as usual. They have even been able to get late add ons to me on time and I usually ask for at least one just about every year. Other companies are not so helpful in that area.

How early did you order? In 2007, we ordered Jan. 1st for delivery by May. We didn't get our costumes until June...some in July. Did you order even earlier than that?

My costume order generally goes out the first or second week of January and our recital is usually around May 15.

Ok, my "Always" and "Never Again" lists:

ALWAYS:
Costume Gallery - on time and good prices
Weismann's - LOVE THEM!!!!
Wish Come True - great customer service
Curtain Call - good variety, prices and ships on time

NEVER AGAIN:
Dansco/Fina - didn't send 90% and what they did send was wrong or falling apart. We had no costumes for some of our classes for our recital. When we tried to call, got no response. We lost alot of students because of them. DON'T GO ANYWHERE NEAR THEM!!!!

Just a note, I recently went to the dance costume show, and I was most impressed by the quality and professionalism of the following (I will even give them star points!):

_Revolution (****)
_Curtain Call (****)
_Art Stone (***1/2)
_Ferreira (***1/2)

Everything else at the show was like ** hahaha...mwah! Jess

Dear Californiadancer
I am very sorry you are having any problems. We are using the same chart for the last few years and most of our customers love it. Ater reading your post, we called a few of our local teachers and they seem very satisfied.
I will be in my office on Monday and if you would like to call me, I would love to talk to you about it. I am pleased that you like our styles and I want you to like the way they fit too.
Sincerely,
Art Stone

Revolution costumes come in a clear plastic zip-up bag with a plastic hanger that has a metal swivel hookey-part. NOT crammed into a ziploc bag. They also come with ALL of the accessories you see pictured as well as clear AND nude straps and fasteners for all accessories--like, even hair pins! And, the costumes, last year anyway, were mostly under $40.00. Don't know how they can do it, but it's way awesome.

Art--We ALWAYS order from you guys for something. We've also won costume awards at competitions (kinda funny, we won best costume at a competition that you advertised with--can't remember which one. Guess they had good taste!) I can't remember last year, but I know the year prior to that we had costumes that were larger than we had intended, but it was okay because we use them all competition season, so they grow into them in a year. We have never had an Art Stone costume tear or fall apart, and I like that you don't use velcro to close them. They are very concise and well thought-out. I know when I get a costume from you guys that it will hold together and be of good quality fabric.

REVOLUTIONS! Great costumes for younger dancers, great prices, great customer service. Simply the best costume company we've ever worked with - check them out!

I love The Line Up! You get to pick your own fabrics and they make everything to your own specs. If they don't have a fabric that you want, they will find it for you to use. They are actually pretty reasonable for competition costumes. The studio pricing is less than the posted online five or more price.

thelineupstore.com

Otherwise I really like Wolff Fording costumes as well.