Tips for Dance Competitions/Performances

Every year, thousands of dancers travel to various competitions and performances.  Many are veterans to the competition and performance world and have learned tips and tricks to make it through the craziness of the weekend.  To help those parents and dancers who are new, I asked current and former dancers, parents, and teachers about what tips they would give or what they wish they knew their first few years.

From Dancers

Be organized

• Hang your costumes up and put inside a garment bag.  This will keep them safe, clean, and together.  As our teacher says, "You would rather find your costume in the bottom of a garment bag then run over in the parking lot."  Garment bags lay them out a little nicer than just in a duffel bag.
• Make two check lists of everything you need to pack: costumes, hair stuff, make-up, shoes, etc.  Use one list to pack at home.  Use the other list to pack when you are leaving the competition.  
• Remember to double check your bags and car before leaving your house or competition.  You do not want to leave anything behind.
• Put everything away or at least back in your bag as you are done with it.
• Pack your bags a few days ahead.  You will still need your dance shoes that week, but you probably won't need all the make-up, hair stuff, and costumes a few days before.  Pack your car the night before.  The earlier you can start packing, the more relaxed you will be and less likely to forget something.
• Shower and prep your hair the night before.  This will relieve some stress the morning of the competition/performance.  (And do not forget to shave.)
• Do not forget to put your name on/in everything.  

Be patient

• Bring something to do like a book to read, coloring books (no markers), or a pack of cards.  It will be a long day.
• Do not forget a blanket and pillow.  You may want to take a nap or rest in those long down times.

Misc tips

• Dress comfy.  Dancers probably have a warm up to wear.  If not, dress in something you can sit in all day.  Parents should do the same.  You do not have to wear your nicest dresses and suits like you may see on TV.  Bring extra clothes, just in case.
• Do not forget your tennis shoes.  You may have to park and walk a good distance just to get to the dressing room.  This does not include the number of times you go between the dressing room and the audience.  
• Use the buddy system when going anywhere.  
• You may need to reapply make-up, especially your lipstick.
• If you start to forget your steps, just keep dancing.  The judges might not ever know.

From Parents
Be organized

• Label everything including make-up, brushes, shoes, bags, etc... EVERYTHING. 
• Hang your costumes up and put inside a good sturdy garment bag.  This will keep them safe, clean, and together.  Garment bags lay them out a little nicer than just in a duffel bag and are easy for transport.
• Be prepared to have things misplaced and lost.
• Pack a bag small parent bag.  Include things like a refillable water bottle, snacks, Kleenex, pen to mark your program, an extra sweater, headache medicine for the loud music, something to do during those long breaks between dances.
• Pack a small dancer bag.  Include things like travel pillow and blanket, coloring book and crayons, snacks, refillable water bottle.
• Buy a program to help keep you on time and to mark when your dancer is on.  
• Bring a garment rack.  You can purchase a garment rack just about anywhere or make one yourself.  You can also put it in your duffel bag, like Dreamduffles.  These run a couple hundred dollars. 
  
  
  
  There are DYI's available online on how to make garment racks inside a duffel bag.  These are a cheaper option but you have to put it all together.  
• Put your make-up and hair stuff in a bag, caboodle, or something.  We like to use a tool box on wheels that will hold everything plus some.  They are at Home Depot, Walmart, Lowes, or online.  They can run between $50-100.  (Get creative and paint it in your own style.)

Help each other

• Practice doing the hair and make-up requested by the teacher.  Each time you do it, you will get more comfortable and a little faster.  If you are struggling with either, speak with the other parents and see if someone has suggestions to help you or are willing to swap kids.  We usually have a few parents on hair duty while others are on make-up duty and pass kids around.
• Not good at hair or make-up?  There is still plenty to help with.  Help with costume changes, putting away left out items, taking kids to the restroom, spraying down hair with hair spray, etc.  There is always something, just ask.
• Be in the dressing room and help your child.  Even if your dancer is older and does not need as much of your help, be there even if it is just to hang up their costumes or hold a mirror.
• Help your dancer pack.  You do not have to do the packing (especially if they are older) but have them read you the check list while you find the item in their bag.

Communicate

• Stay with your child.  If you are leaving the dressing room or auditorium, let your child know where you are going or how to find you.  Also, let another parent know in case of an emergency.  Do not assume someone else is watching your child.
• Let at least the teacher know of any allergies your child may have. 
• Get to know the other parents.  You will be spending a lot of time together over the weekend.  Get their cell phone numbers in case of an emergency and for basic communication/updates.
• If you are the first to arrive, stake out an area of the dressing room for you team.  Communicate with the other parents and teacher where you are. There are lots of other studios there, so do not take more area than you really need.

Misc tips

• Bring cash.  Not all competitions or food vendors take credit cards or have multiple machines to keep things running quickly.  Be prepared for high prices at the onsite food vendor.
• Pack some food your dancer will eat.  Food vendors maybe a good distance away or not have anything your dancer will eat.  Ask your teacher about the competition's policy on bringing in outside food.  A few snacks and waters in their bag will probably be fine.  A buffet of sandwiches and side items might not.
• Watch your giggles.  When in the audience, try not to start laughing.  The parents around you do not know that it was from a text you just received and not their dancer on stage.
• You know your dancer best.  Trust your instincts on when they need to eat, chill out, or even nap and plan ahead.  

From Teachers

Be patient

• You are not their only student of the day.  Teachers have many other things to handle, especially first and last thing of the day.  Do not attack in crazy eagerness when they walk through the doors.  Give them space to make sure the competition has everything they need for you to dance that day.
• Think for yourself.  Asking questions is awesome and always encouraged.  However, asking which color of tights or how your hair is suppose to be is something you should have written down.  
• Relax if you are ready and your teacher is still working with another student/group.  They will get to you much faster if you are patient and let them finish with what they are doing.

Be organized

• Make notes of the costume, hair, shoes, tights, accessories, props, or anything else you may need to know for each dance.  You can put this all on a note card and put with the costume. 
• Put your name on/in everything!
• Keep track of time.  Competitions are striving to run ahead of schedule, so start getting ready earlier than you think.  Touch ups are much easier than rushing to do all of it.
• Remember to double check your bags and car before leaving your house or competition.  You do not want to leave anything behind.
• Pack your bags a few days ahead.  You will still need your dance shoes that week, but you probably won't need all the make-up, hair stuff, and costumes a few days before.  Pack your car the night before.  The earlier you can start packing, the more relaxed you will be.
• Keep your area of the dressing room picked up.

Be respectful

• Do not decide your way is better.  You teacher has reasons for doing things a certain way.  Teachers are often willing to explain their reasoning if you ask.
• Be respectful to all competitors, judges, staff, teachers, parents... well everyone.  Everyone is just as stressed out and tired as you.
• Do not be afraid to tell another competitor good job or that you liked their music/costume/dance.
• If there is an issue with anything, speak to your teacher first.  Allow your teacher to speak with the competition staff.

Misc tips

• Parents should communicate with their child(ren).  Do not just leave (even to just make a phone call) and not let your child know.
• Watch your child.  Do not expect everyone else to watch your child so you can watch the other dances, run a quick errand, take a break, etc.  Someone will probably be happy to if asked, but be willing to do it for them.
• Do not just run or dance around the competition.  This is wasting energy they will need on stage.  Mark your dance a few times and then relax.  You will perform better if you are relaxed.
• Be careful with pictures.  Most competitions do not allow pictures or videos to be taken during the performances.  Getting caught may get your routine disqualified.  Pictures can usually be taken in the dressing rooms, hallways, lobby, and during awards.  Pay attention to your surroundings when taking pictures in the dressing room.  Be mindful of how much time you have before the dancer needs to be somewhere when taking pictures.  
• Be prepared for anything.  Rule of thumb, if it can happen it probably will.  We plan for costume malfunctions and music messing up, but what about the first period, unexpected rain shower, or ripped contact?

These are in no means an end all be all for competition tips.  

Remember, the most important thing of the entire weekend... Dance Your Best!  In the end, you will probably not remember the score you got but the fun you had.