When we head into competition season we are usually engulfed in setting pieces, rehearsing, ordering costumes and perfecting every last detail so that it is show ready. We spend countless months coming up with concepts for our dances, organizing schedules and ensuring that our dancers know their choreography and are performing with their hearts. We take great pleasure in watching them onstage; not so much for the fact of where they place, but to see their progress from where they started to where they currently are.
Occasionally, while our attention is on focused on the performance aspect of competition, we forget to teach our students the etiquette of being at a competition. A common oversight, but one too important to neglect. It's so important to teach our dancers they ways in which to interact with fellow peers, friendly competitors and how to represent themselves. It's also so important to demonstrate professionalism and showmanship. This is not only a behavioral set of values that they will carry with them throughout their lives, but a direct reflection on you, the studio owner. It demonstrates how you are training your students and the lessons within the dance lessons you are teaching them over the years. Below are a few important things to remember. Pass them onto your students. Discuss their importance and be leaders in the industry of good will, collaboration and support for fellow dancers. We are all in this together and while healthy competition is a good thing to propel us forward, kindness and humility always prevails in the process. And that goes for students, teachers and studio owners a like.
1) Punctuality: When arriving at competition, be on time. Know where you need to check in for dances, where your dressing area is and what music you need to have ready to go. Have back-ups prepared. The competition officials will thank you for it.
2) Appearance: How your represent yourselves will say a lot. Whether you have team uniforms or all wear the same thing, you are a team and it’s OK to represent that. Remember though, first impressions are key. Remind your dancers to smile, make eye contact and say hello with competition officials, other dancers and studio owners. Always be polite and respectful.
3) Sharing the Dressing Room Space- This one can be tough sometimes. Depending on the venue, the changing area is sometimes limited. Arrive early and set up your space but be mindful that if you are sharing the space with another studio to do your best to make it work. Share the space fairly. Remind your dancers to be neat and orderly. Be sure they don’t have their things spread out all over the place and to keep costumes, shoes and makeup in their designated area. Same thing goes for the restrooms. Ensure that dancers do not have their hairspray, makeup, etc. all over the counters. Remind them to clean up after themselves as they would at the studio and at home.
As far as the stage space, remember you are not at your home venue. Remind dancers to share the stage space for warm-ups. Make dancers aware of standing in the wings while other studios are exiting and entering and to know when and where they should be at all times. Be respectful and courteous of everyone's designated stage time.
4) Avoid the Audience Cat-Call- While we all want to support our fellow dancers on stage, be mindful of the hooting and hollering from the audience. Screaming a dancer’s name while they are performing a solo or yelling may not be the most effective way to show your support. Think about it, do you hear people screaming out a ballerina or Broadway star’s name in the middle of their big solo? Probably not. Teach your dancers respectful audience behavior. That goes for opposing studios as well. If you like something, clap for them. There is nothing wrong with giving applause for another studio’s achievements. It doesn’t cost you anything and it demonstrates good camaraderie.
5) Awards Ceremony: I have seen many things during my years as a judge during awards. Sometimes not so good. First off, remember if you do have a large studio which takes up half-the stage to watch the intimidation factor. Think of that small recreational studio with only a handful of dancers who is pushed back in the corner of the stage. While it sometimes can’t be helped, encourage your dancers to be inclusive and friendly. It’s OK to be excited, proud and super stoked to accept awards for hard work and achievement, but be mindful that your dancers are still onstage and their reactions to those awards, whether it be for their pieces or others is being watched by the entire audience. Even if they results don’t turn out the way you thought, this is where showmanship comes into play. Smile, applaud and accept your awards with thanks and grace. You can discuss it later as a group back at the studio or at a neutral place, but the stage is not the time. Be sure your dancers are respectful of others achievements as well and have them show their peers respect by offering congratulations or a high-five for a job well done.
6) Kindness Counts: One of the coolest things I’ve seen, is by a studio owner who creates little care-packs/gifts for their dancers to give to other studio dancers. She provides them with a little note pad and during the course of the weekend they give out these little tokens and notes to let other dancers know they love one of their pieces, or their costumes or smile onstage, etc. It’s the nicest gesture I’ve seen in a long time at competition. This can go for studio owners too. Remember you are all in this together. Interact with each other, compliment each other and learn from each other. Who you are off stage will be a direct reflection as to who you are onstage. Let your studio light shine bright. Be that studio that everyone talks about; not just for the work you’re representing, but for how your dancers and faculty represent themselves on and offstage. Courtesy, respect, humility, professional and showmanship are the traits of a great dancer, and human being.
Good Luck!
See you in the dance studio,
Jess
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