Costumes have gotten shorter when dressmakers started imitating those from the professional shows. The Irish Dancing Commission made a rule that dresses can be no shorter that four inches above the knee. If a dancer fails to comply with this rule, points may be deducted, or depending on the adjudicator, she can be disqualified from the competition. Dancing itself has evolved over the years. Competitions take place in schools, hotels, or fairgrounds.
Bigger stages allow for different techniques in dances.
Now, dancers are judged on their use of the stage. Adjudicators like to see a dancer who moves around the stage and uses every part. Steps that need a lot of space, especially in light dances, are now possible. These jumps should carry the dancer across the stage. At the same time, the dancer should focus on the height of the jump over.