Hi, I’m Julie and I have a problem.......

As a dance mum, I have a sparkly little secret that I just can't keep under wraps any longer: I am completely and utterly obsessed with costumes covered in sequins and rhinestones. It's like a disease, I just can't resist the allure of a shiny, bedazzled ensemble.

In fact, my addiction to buying sparkly costumes has reached new heights. I've lost count of how many I've purchased over the last 18 months, but I'm pretty sure the number is well into the double digits. My daughter has lost count too, but I think she's secretly thrilled to have a mum who is just as obsessed with dance wear as she is.

It all started when I joined a Facebook group called "NZ Dance Wear Buy and Sell" At first, I was just browsing for ideas for my daughter's debut in the competition scene in late 2020. But before I knew it, I was buying a new sparkly costume every two weeks. I couldn't help myself, I was like a magpie attracted to shiny objects.

Now, my house is overflowing with glittery leotards, and bedazzled dresses. And let's not even get started on the collection of sequinned accessories I've amassed over the years. I mean, every dance mum needs a good pair of sparkly leg warmers, right?

But it's not just my daughter who's getting in on the glittery fun. Oh no, I've been known to rock a sparkly pair of pants or two myself. After all, dance mums need to shine just as brightly as our little performers.

So go ahead and judge me for my love of all things glittery and my addiction to buying sparkly costumes. And who knows, there may be many more to come, thanks to the endless selection on "Dance Costumes NZ." In fact, I've had to dedicate an entire room in my house to storing all of these shimmering treasures.

Dance mums (and their babies) gotta shine, no matter how old we are..... right?

image shot at Ara Ha