Question about competition

[Izzy20]

Hi. I have been taking lessons for a little while and my teacher wants to aim for my first pro/am competition for May. It's a local competition so it isn't too much pressure too soon. Also he wants me to enter a studio in house comp for just one dance in a few weeks just so I can get the feel of competing. My teacher's really good about not pressuring me which makes me happy.

I just had a question. I searched for the answer but couldn't find anything. For a newcommer pro-am rythem competition what would a student wear?

Also how long did people wait before their first competition?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

[Laura]

You really need to ask your teacher about to what to wear, as customs and rules vary widely.

My first competition was an in-studio event about three months after I started taking lessons. I wore an off-the-rack dress that had a very full skirt that I could dance in.

[Izzy20]

Thanks for replying. I know I should ask my teacher. I'm just impatient:oops: and was more looking for what people have seen or done themselves.

[fascination]

I started taking lessons in mid january of 2005 at two a week and did my first comp in mid june of the same year....

trust your pro on what to wear....

[danceronice]

I started dancing in November 2006 and did my first competition in January 2007. Needless to say I got my butt whipped. But I had a ton of fun, which is what my pro had in mind, and I got the first-competition jitters out of the way early.

[reb]

a couple months to first comp

Doing an in-house comp for even one dance first sounds like a good idea to me. There are so many new things to experience. Who, what, where, why.

I'll bet as soon as you do your one dance, that you'll be figuring how to do more.

[and123]

Is this Dancing a la Carte? I'm planning to be there.

Yeah, generally newcomers wear off-the-rack clothes, but your Pro should be able to tell you the specific rules of this comp. I've done that comp many times, but it has grown quite a bit in the past few years and things may have changed. My first comp was about 10 months after I started taking lessons. At the time I had no intention of competing and my response to the studio owner's asking me "Would you like to enter this comp?" was "Are you CRAZY?!?" :p But here I am today, still doing it, though much more Am/Am than Pro/Am though for financial reasons.

[Izzy20]

Yes it is.

[Josh]

Izzy, congrats on your upcoming comp!! You'll do great!

If you're a guy, you could wear black dress-type pants, and a dress-up type shirt (going out dress-up, not church dress-up), tucked in. If you're a lady, you could wear a nice short-to-knee-length skirt and matching top (a skirt with an uneven length at the hem would look nice, not an even length one). As for my first comp, I wasn't interested at all so I did one entry after a few months.

There are frequently small local comps like the one you describe, and one is happening here in the next month. I have 4 brand new competitors going as well as 2 experienced ones who are going to practice new routines. The 4 new girls have danced: 7 months, 2 months, 2 months, and 1 month. Competitions are so great for goal-setting and working on dancing that I don't even ask--I tell them that I'm signing them up for a competition on such-and-such day, and the price will be $X--then I verify their availability, and verify that the price is okay. If they have a problem with either the date or the price or they have extreme disinterest (which is rare), then it's a no-go, but otherwise, it's pretty much a given. They trust me with their dancing, I feel it's good for them, and so they go and have a great time, and improve leaps and bounds in the process! Even if they never become serious competitors, they really do benefit lots from smaller comps.

So go have a great time and watch your dancing skyrocket...! :-)

[waltzgirl]

if you are dancing smooth or standard, I would wear a longer, fuller skirt, between knee and ankle length.

[elisedance]

First comp, was the Emerald Ball in LA! Talk about being thrown in the deep end! And I didn't come in last :) It did have the positive effect of every other comp being less of an intimidating event (though I still suffer from nerves).

Can't help with costume - though most newcomer events just ask for cocktail dress. As everyone says, ask your pro and talk to anyone else in the studio you know that has already competed at this or a similar event.

[JANATHOME]

That is a great choice for a first comp... very friendly.

[Izzy20]

Thanks for everyone's replies. I'm really excited just a little nervous.

I had just told my pro that I wanted to compete "at some point" but I didn't expect it to be in may but I guess that's why they have the newcommer events. l

:D

[amiko]

Give the studio competition a try first. You may love the spot light!! I don't remember how long before I competed, but a few months of group classes, then found a partner online and started taking private lessons. Now, I think I'm addicted to competitions!!

Does not matter if you've danced 3 months or 9 months, it's never too early or too late to compete.

My first dress was $90 purchased at Windsor (a formal/prom dress stores in the mall) where the skirt was big enough to split my legs really wide.

[nucat78]

Thanks for everyone's replies. I'm really excited just a little nervous.

I had just told my pro that I wanted to compete "at some point" but I didn't expect it to be in may but I guess that's why they have the newcommer events.

Some studios hold showcase dances where people demo routines. You're sort of dancing for "judges" (the onlookers) but without actual competition. I've done neither but I'd think that might be one way to help get rid of any jitters. But I suppose it's a "Do you ease into the pool or dive in?" kind of question.

[elisedance]

"Do you ease into the pool or dive in?" kind of question.

or get thrown in with your hands tied... sometimes thats what it takes :) :p

I promise you, its for your own good...

[tanya_the_dancer]

I started competing about 4 years ago, my first comp was St. Louis Starball.

I have been dancing for some time before that, a few years of group classes, but haven't really considered competing until that point. I thought one has to be really good and have a good partner to compete, and I had neither of those things.

[fire_dancer]

Congratulations on the comp!

I entered a competition about 3 months after I started taking private lessons, although that was more because my instructor pressured me like crazy. For dresses, I just bought a $100 one off of ebay (the ones made overseas, not elaborate) with the idea that if I liked competing, I could always 'trade up' one day to the more expensive ones. Definitely check with your coach on what is appropriate, but for a newcomer, dresses off of ebay may give you a good start.