A show choir (originally known as a "swing choir") is a musical ensemble that combines choral singing with choreographed dance, often with an overarching theme. It is most relevant in the Midwestern United States and was popularized by the American television show Glee. Location Show choir is a type of performing arts that is primarily a secondary school activity in the United States. It is typically a co-curricular activity (part of a class or connected to the academic curriculum) or an extracurricular activity. Alternate examples include organizations formed outside of a school, such as community choirs that make use of students from multiple schools in the surrounding area. Though usually a high school activity, show choir exists at all levels of school from elementary through the collegiate level. Outside of the United States, show choirs can be found in countries such as Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Ireland, Philippines, and Argentina. Overview While there is no standard requirement for the number of performers or demographic of its students, a show choir typically consists of 30 to 60 singer/dancers. Factors like school size or director preferences may impact this number. Larger schools with more advanced programs may have more than one competitive show choir ensemble. Show choirs composed entirely of students of one gender usually compete in separate divisions from mixed-gender show choirs, with the exception of "open" divisions, where groups of different types compete against each other. Show choir performers traditionally wear a costume, though the definition of what is considered a costume in this context is broad and ranges from jeans and a T-shirt to extravagant period costumes or flashy dancewear. Costumes can be conservative (such as formal tuxedos and ball gowns) or edgy (such as modern head-to-toe uniforms or revealing clothing). Additionally, many larger groups include two or more costumes in their show. Singer/dancers typically wear stage makeup and shoes conducive to dancing (called "character shoes"). Uniformity in look among performers is also common; generally, there is consistency in costuming and makeup from person to person. In most regions, this consistency even extends to things like hair, where female participants will all style their hair in a visually consistent way. The choir usually has a backup band ("pit" or "combo" if it includes a horn section) providing instrumental music to complement the singers' voices. Instrumentation selection often varies between choirs and even from one group's song selection to another,