Own the Dance Floor: Tips and Tricks for Competition and Showcase Readiness

A large part of growing and developing as a dancer is participating in Showcases, Competitions, and many other performances. We know it can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially if you might not feel entirely ready. We put together a few of our favorite tips for feeling ready and prepared before your next performance. 

1. Create a timeline

A great way to ensure you feel ready before your next competition or showcase, is to make sure you are managing your schedule ahead of time. This will help you and your instructor understand where you are headed and when, so that you can adjust appropriately. Working backwards will enable you to create a timeline that is realistic, manageable, and effective. 

2. Set realistic goals 

Having set goals will keep you focused and excited while ensuring you push yourself out of your comfort zone. When you know exactly what you’re trying to achieve, it becomes easier to show up on the days you don’t feel like it. Sometimes having a written goal is all you need to ensure you commit to yourself and your desires. As you work towards your competition or performance, you are bound to run into days where it would be easier to stay home and avoid practicing, these days are always easier to get through when you know exactly what you’re trying to achieve. 

3. Set a manageable practice schedule and commit to it 

Life is busy, and the best way to manage this is to anticipate the business, and prepare for it. We recommend setting scheduled time both at home and at the studio that you dedicate to practicing and developing your technique and choreography. While your lessons will always remain the most important aspect of your dance trajectory, it is essential that you practice on your own so that you can develop your own body awareness, coordination, and balance. Doing this will also help you make the most out of your individual lessons because you will likely arrive at your next lesson with questions and inputs of your own. It will encourage you to think for yourself and be an active participant in your learning process. Since you’ll have a timeline in place as we discussed before, it will give you the opportunity to look at your upcoming schedule and block off time in advance that you will prepare for practicing. Another good habit is to arrive at each lesson about 15 minutes early. This can give you time to go over what you learned in the lesson prior, warm your body up, and get your mind focused on dancing. If you take notes after your lesson, this is a good time to review them and think of any questions you might want to ask your instructor once your lesson begins. 

4. Get your costume ready

A big part of feeling ready is looking ready. Your look will play a big part in your overall presence, so it is smart to start looking for costumes early on to ensure you can find a costume you feel confident in. It’s also a good time to start thinking about the other small elements that create a whole, cohesive package. For example, for ladies, you’ll need to think about hair, makeup, tanning, jewelry, and other accessories. When you pay attention to the small details, the overall result looks stronger and more impactful to the audience and/or judges. 

5. Attend practice rounds 

Each time you push yourself to be a part of practice rounds, you’ll walk away having gained something. If you’re not familiar with the concept of practice rounds, it is designed to mimic the flow of a traditional Ballroom dance competition, where you’ll get to practice each dance multiple times. But even if your goals don’t include enrolling in a competition, it is still extremely beneficial. Why? Because not only are you rehearsing your choreography, but you are increasing your overall stamina and endurance. You’ll also develop your spacial awareness as you’ll become accustomed to dancing full-out while other dancers are on the dance floor. 

6. Have fun 

Remember, although achieving a goal can sometimes be tough, it’s important to have fun along the way. Even challenging performances can be made better with a positive attitude. Make sure to leave time to attend studio parties, have fun with friends, and give yourself some grace as you learn and grow in your dancing.

With all this in mind, you undoubtedly have a better performance experience. 

We are here to help you all along the way! As always, you can call or text us at (862) 200-8680 with any questions that you might have. See you on the dance floor!