Preparation for dance competition season...what do you need to do?

 

 

The dance competition season is almost among us and this means long weekends and busy schedules.  Life as a competitive dancer isn’t always easy, but the rewards are long lasting and worth all the hard work.

So, what do you need to do to do as a competitive dancer to prepare for this busy time of year to make it easier and more productive? 

First, making sure that all costumes and needed personal items are all neatly put together will help that morning of your first competition.  Putting small items, such as hair bows, gloves, tights, foot paws, etc., in sealable plastic baggies will help keep small items from being lost and will be easily accessible.  The night before your competition make sure all needed items are found and put into the proper places in your bag.  Other items that may be useful to have in your dance bag would be hairspray, makeup, eyelash glue,  extra set of lashes, bobby pins, safety pins, snacks for in between dances, Q-tips, extra elastics, a brush and a comb.

Make sure you get to bed early the night before to get plenty of rest, so you aren’t feeling sluggish and tired.  This will help keep your mind alert and you will give a top notch performance.  Eat a nutritious breakfast and plan ahead so you will arrive early to your destination, with plenty of time to check in and find your team’s dressing room. 

When you arrive at the competition, make sure you are professional and have a smile on your face.  Creating a positive and professional atmosphere can help your team and your own personal performance.   

Here are some tips to help with your dance team’s competition:

·         Don’t fear the judges – know that the judges are human and they’re there to watch you and your team have fun.  Show them all the hard work you have been doing over the last 5-6 months.  Make eye contact, smile and show the judges that you love to dance and are having a fabulous time.

·         Have faith in the choreography – even if you have flawless technique and breathtaking leaps, choreography is very important.  This will create amazing balance and flow.

·         Be thankful for all those hours of practice – practice, practice, practice, this is the answer to perfecting any talent or technique.  The hours of practice will show in your performance.

·         Use your face – amazing dancing isn’t just using your body, but you need to use your entire body.  So smile and show expression in your face and watch how much it will affect your performance and the audience.

·         Warm Up – when you get to the competition find a large area to stretch and warm-up your body.  You might be tempted to observe the crowd, but know that warming up is very important for preventing injury and for calming your nerves.

·         Keep your cool – remember competing isn’t everything.  What is more important is having fun and doing your best.  The judges will be able to tell if you love your craft and doing it for total enjoyment.  When you love what you do it shows through and this is what makes a true winner.  So keep calm and show the audience and the judges exactly why you spend countless hours practicing every week.

Lastly, always behave in a manner that would be representing the mission and vision of your dance studio.  You are representing the best and you should behave like you are the best.  Be humble, be confident and always be positive.