A lot of the parents here just feel desperate and pressured about it. They conform because they're worried - with good reason - that their children will get excluded/ridiculed if they don't.

Someone is behind this - I'm betting that it's those who stand to make money from these unnecessary "requirements". I'm not clear enough about the dance-competition hierarchy, or who carries what authority, to know who it is that allows (encourages?) this practice, but they could put a stop to it in the morning simply by banning wigs and makeup in the competition rules. But they don't. Why? I know a lot of parents who would be grateful.

How many people are staying out of dancing altogether because of this?