It’s finally here! All the hard work you’ve been putting in to learn and perfect your routine is about to pay off. Whether you’ve gone to lots of competitions or this is your first one, we have tips and tricks to make your experience the best it can be. Here are some things to keep in mind for your upcoming competition.
Practice Makes Perfect
The nerves leading up to the competition are normal. Practicing as much as you can the day before the competition is great. Keep in mind that once you are at the competition, you can over-practice your routine. If you over-practice right before you go on stage, it can lead you to forget your routine. Be confident in the skills you’ve worked on all season and don’t over-stress yourself out. You got this!
Dance Competition Survival Kit
This is a must! Since you can end up spending all day at dance competitions, you need to be prepared for mishaps that could arise. Always have extra bobby pins, hair ties, hairspray, and make-up essentials to touch up your look throughout the day. Having a small sewing kit and safety pins can be a lifesaver when it comes to costume mishaps. Sometimes award ceremonies are later than expected. Make sure you have water, snacks, and meals to keep your body fueled and at its best throughout the whole day.
Plan to Be There Early
Competition moring can be hectic. With call times being so early, it can be hard to be there on time. Hair and makeup always take longer than expected, so plan sometime in advance for things to go wrong. That way if things take longer than expected, you are still on time. Being early will give you extra time to warm up, take off your warm-up suit and get into costume, and feel ready to go on stage. It will also give you a chance to go check out the stage and make sure you are ready for what’s to come.
Have Fun
Dance competitions are fun and provide you the opportunity to show off the awesome skills and routines that you’ve been working so hard on. The adrenaline you feel the day of is helpful and will help you perform to the best of your ability. If you are overly stressed, it can hurt your performance. Dance competitions give you a chance to push yourself and push past your nerves. Have a go-to way of calming down and releasing stress before you perform. This could include a deep breathing exercise or a team cheer to release the nerves. Dance competitions can be nerve-racking, but they are worth it!