Whether you've only been a competitive dancer for a few months or a competitive dancer for a lifetime, there are certain things that you absolutely hate to hear. From sequined costumes to fishnet tights, you can bet that if someone were to mention one of these things to a competitive dancer they would be heading for the hills! So to save them some running, and you some time from hitting any sore spots, here is a list of topics that you should avoid when talking to competitive dancers.

1. Sequined Costumes

One word: ITCHY. Sequined costumes are the bane of the dance world. One costume can wreck an entire dancer's life by making them itch like crazy! Not to mention, the sequins themselves scratch your arms senseless. Ultimately, sequins are a big NO.

2. Glitter Everything

To make the matter of the sequined costume worse, I have to note that they are often times combined with glitter--in all forms. Glitter eye shadow, glitter lipstick, even hair glitter! You name it, there's probably glitter involved, and the worst part is that it gets everywhere, especially when you're wearing glitter lipstick! I mean a mouth full of glitter is always a no go.

3. Rehearsals

Competitive dancers often have a more rigorous schedule than normal dancers. With multiple numbers to compete, we often have to stay at the studio 50 percent longer than anyone else. What exactly do we do during this time exactly? REHEARSE! Now, don't get me wrong we definitely need these rehearsals a majority of the time, but the real killer is when all of your dance rehearsals are back to back and you feel as if your legs will fall off if you have to practice one more turn sequence.

4. "We'll Keep Doing This Until Everyone's Together."

Ah, the glorious sound of having to repeatedly run a section of a number and or a whole dance again until everyone is in sync. This simple sentence not only makes dancers want to head for the hills, but it also separates the dancers into 'those who are together' and 'those who think they are together' because let's face it, everyone thinks they're right when it comes to timing.

5. "One More Time And Then You Can Go."

This sentiment makes competitive dancers physically cringe during rehearsals in their studios as often times, the phrase 'one more time' is a lie. When you hear this sentence, it usually means that you'll have to do the dance at least 12 more times before they'll even consider letting you go home early tonight, and even then they might make you stay later.

6. Conditioning

As competition season roles around, so does conditioning. From full on cardio sessions at the studio to group rotations, conditioning makes all dancers feel like they're going to die. Especially when the workouts are intense and the McDonald's you crammed into your mouth before heading to the studio is not sitting too well with you at the moment. To say the least, conditioning is a dancer's worst nightmare.

7. Did I Mention Glitter?

Honestly, glitter is absolutely horrendous and it is always incorporated into every aspect of competitive dance. Although it looks pretty on stage, it is so messy and it sticks to literally everything! Your costume that you just put on--drenched in glitter. Your hands that you used to apply the glitter--covered! There's just no escaping it!

8. Fishnet Tights

Fishnet tights are the epitome of awful. While they look great under some costumes, they are genuinely terrible to wear. From the rips that they receive so easily to the crooked seams in the back from how they were put on, competitive dancers are always having to change their fishnets or adjust them right before they go on stage.

9. Breaking In New Shoes

Having to break in a new pair of dance shoes for competition is not pleasant in the slightest. The way that they haven't formed to your feet quite yet or the way that they make you slip and slide across the dance floor is certainly not how you want to be practicing, let alone competing. Needless to say, breaking in a new pair of dance shoes before competition is exhausting as you have to wear them almost everywhere you go in order to get them even remotely perfect for the next competition.

10. False Eyelashes

While dance studios often encourage their dancers to wear false eyelashes when competing, I see no purpose in them but to glue your eyes shut before promptly falling off. So infrequently do false eyelashes actually stay on your eyelids that you don't have to reapply glue and stick them back on before heading to the stage.

11. Slick Dance Floors

Sticky dance floors dancers can do. Slick, not so much. Slick dance floors are always a problem for dancers because although you can turn easier, there's a greater chance of you falling down. Now, combine slick dance floors with brand new competition shoes and you have an absolute recipe for disaster.

12. Quick Changes

Quick changes are absolutely nerve wracking for competitive dancers. The thought that you're not changing fast enough or that your number could go on without you can certainly makes a person anxious. Mix this with nerves and you have a dancer who might possibly have a meltdown in the next few minutes if they don't finish getting changed.

13. Hair Changes Amidst Quick Changes

Did someone say that we're changing from low pony to high bun??? Well it looks like that meltdown will occur after all. Having to do hair changes in the middle of quick changes is something that no one should have to do PERIOD. Trying to change one's hair and costume in under two minutes is almost impossible to do, even with the help of fellow dancers.

14. Late Night Competitions

Late night competitions are at the top of the dreadful list because although it's midnight and you have one more dance to go before awards, it's very likely that you'll still have to get up early the next day for another portion of the competition. Even though your second wind hit around 11 p.m. and you're having too much fun to care, I can guarantee that you won't be having fun tomorrow morning when you have to compete your solo at 8 a.m.

15. Sunday Night Competitions

The worst of the worst...the Sunday night competition. The Sunday night competition is always the hardest to endure because much like the previous night you're still dancing at 1 a.m., only this time, you have school the next day. Despite all of the begging and the pleading that you do with your parents in order to get them to let you stay home the next day from school, the answer is almost always no because "you can sleep in the car on the way home". Although this does help some, it doesn't help too much when you're falling asleep in Algebra the next day and all you long to do is lay in your bed and sleep.

Now regardless of all of the dreadful things listed above, competitive dancers don't actually hate these things TOO much. Amidst the pain and the suffering cause by itchy costumes, conditioning, and late night competitions, competitive dancers genuinely don't care what they have to undergo so long as they still get to dance.

So, while we all may complain about the little things as if they're life ending, just remember, we wouldn't change it for the world.