How to Prepare for a Dance Competition

How to Prepare for a Dance Competition

Krista Hanessian

May 28th 2021

Although it may seem like performances are effortless, dance competitions take, what some people would say, an overwhelming amount of preparation. There are many different factors that play into a performance. Here are 5 tips to make sure you are ready when it comes time to compete:

1. Practice to be performance ready: The more practice you put in beforehand, the better prepared you will be. Make sure everything is in order by practicing with your costume and music. It can also be helpful to perform in front of peers or family to practice performing under pressure, so you learn how to manage your nerves.

2. Eat well and hydrate: In order to give your best performance, you must nourish your body with the right fuel. Dancers need food and water to sustain their energy. Try and avoid foods that will cause you to crash, such as caffeine and sugar. Foods like vegetables and whole grains are great for creating long lasting energy in the body.

3. Pack a bag: The morning of competition is hectic. You are already preoccupied with choreography, hair, makeup, etc, so the last thing you want to think about is forgetting something! Pack a bag the night before competition with everything you need. Include water, snacks, a jacket to keep warm, shoes, and costume.

4. Warm up: Warming up a key component of preparation. Your body needs to be warm in order to reach its maximum potential. Preparing the body to dance by stretching and moving also prevents dancers from injury.

5. Mark the choreography backstage: In order to be extra prepared, mark the choreography before going on stage. Nerves can cause dancers to freeze and forget choreography, so going through choreography before can be reassuring that we are ready to go and give a great performance.

Competitions require hours of practice and planning. These tips will help you perform to the best of your ability. Taking care of your body and making sure everything is set before the day of the competition allows you to focus all your energy on dancing.