Help! I'm getting ready for my first comp! What now?

[pygmalion]

Guess what? Today, my coach asked if I'd like to enter my first comp. IN ONE MONTH! Where is that panic emoticon when you need it? Of course, I'm thinking about it. Just curious, though. You competitive dancers, what do I need to do to get ready?

Obviously, my coach will handle all the choregraphy and so forth. But what do I need to do?

[SalsaGeek]

Practice practice practice and more practice! :lol:
I practice in the shower, car, work, etc. That is if you are doing a solo. Perform for others and have them judge you. Doesn't matter if they know how to dance or not.


Eat, Dance, and Sleep Dance for a month!!! 8)

[pygmalion]

Yay! I'm SO excited! :D

Thanks for the input. :D

Jenn

[dancergal]

Dance in front of a mirror if you can. Get someone to video tape your dance so you can see what you look like. Dance in front of others. Our comp. dancers do a dance for our class so they can get used to dancing in front of an audience. Practice smiling even if you're nervous!!

[SalsaGeek]

Have you decided on what type of dance you are doing with your instructor?


Yay! I'm SO excited! :D

Thanks for the input. :D

Jenn

[pygmalion]

Not yet. We've been working on open choreography for Latin dances, mostly. But quite a bit of footwork and other practice drills for smooth. Since I'm comfortably dancing in silver, I guess we'll probably enter at newcomer and/or full bronze in a couple dances. We'll decide Monday.

For my medal exams a few weeks ago, I felt great doing cha cha and rumba, and very good doing waltz and tango (all American style). Maybe we'll compete in those?

In the meanwhile, I'm working on my smooth footwork drills, spinning drills, rumba walks, spirals and Cuban motion. And basic arm styling. And tango walks. And walkaround turns. And partnership/connections. And getting into dance position beautifully. And crossover breaks. Oh yeah, and tuck turns and abdominal contractions, just in case. :shock: :lol:

[dancersdreamland]

:D :!: :D :!: :D :!: :D :!:

pygmalion - I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU :!: :!: :!: :!: CONGRATS :!: :!: :!: :!:

Please keep us posted on EVERYTHING!!!!!!

ALL THE BEST!!!!

[borikensalsero]

Don't forget to pray... A lot... Every night, twice a day, for lunch, dinner, breakfast, while driving. hehehe...

I wish you the bestest of luck... :D :D

[pygmalion]

Thanks, everyone. I'll keep you all posted. :D 8)

[Vince A]

Hiya Jenn,
Congratulations . . . now you know how we competitor's feel . . . it's wonderful is it not???

Just remember . . . the only ones not nervous in competition, are the ones not competing.

Practice, practice, practice . . . get the routine into muscle memory. Even if your mind is clouded with stage fright, the muscle memory will keep you in the routine.

Get your routine(s) video taped so that you can watch them over and over. Go over them at only once in bed just before you are ready to doze off.

Practice, practice, practice . . .

Stretch for at least 30 minutes prior to competing . . .

When you walk out on the floor to be introduced . . . your judging starts. As they are introducing you, don't stand flat-footed . . . stand in the third position, head up, (pardon the expression) tits up, gather the biggest smile you can muster up, breathe!

Now dance your heart out. There is no perfect dance, no perfect routine. You do not have to be perfect, and you do not need a judge to tell you how you did. If you are satisfied, then that is all that matters. Mistakes will be made, immediately leave them where they happened, keep going, and learn from those mistakes.

Remember . . . this is not life or death . . . it is only a dance.

MOST IMPORTANT: Now, when the dance is over, e-me back and tell me how it felt as you walked off the floor!

Go get some water . . . think about your next dance . . . do not sit down, keep the blood flowing through your legs or they will tighten up. Very lightly stretch . . .

You are now in a brand new world! Welcome . . .

[pygmalion]

:D

This is GREAT advice. I'll fire up my video camera and practice shoes and get to work. :D

Oh, and by the way, my coach keeps telling me that, too. Boobs up! He always blushes so cute after he says it, too. :lol: Men are funny, in an endearing kind of way. :D

[Vince A]

:D

This is GREAT advice. I'll fire up my video camera and practice shoes and get to work. :D

Oh, and by the way, my coach keeps telling me that, too. Boobs up! He always blushes so cute after he says it, too. :lol: Men are funny, in an endearing kind of way. :D
You will do great . . . I PROMISE YOU!

At least your coach said it! It is an important thing . . it will keep you upright and tall (regardless of your height), helps to keep the eyes and head up - you don't want to look down at the floor!

If you do have a tendancy to look down during certain moves . . change your count to something like this that I used in 2 Step when I had to duck under my own arm and try not to knock off my hat (I used to lower my head):

I would count "quick, quick, keep my head up" Now the head is reminded to stay up at that point!

Little things to check your brain really helps . . .

Keep me posted on how you are doing??? And when your competition is, so I can be pulling for you from a distance???

Lastly, a little prayer just before you go out??? Thanking Him for the talent abilities that you have been given . . .

[pygmalion]

Thanks for all the help and support, Vince! :D It really means a lot. I will make use of all your suggestions, and keep you posted on my progress. Promise! :D


November 2, 2003 Ballroom Blitz in Orlando, FL judged and coordinated by Slavik and Karina. Looks scary, but way fun! :D


Jenn

[Vince A]

Thanks for all the help and support, Vince! :D It really means a lot. I will make use of all your suggestions, and keep you posted on my progress. Promise! :D


November 2, 2003 Ballroom Blitz in Orlando, FL judged and coordinated by Slavik and Karina. Looks scary, but way fun! :D


Jenn
When you get your schedule, let us know what time, so we can all be sending positive thoughts your way as you are competing!!!

[SDsalsaguy]

judged and coordinated by Slavik and Karina.
Are you going to get to see them dance? Oh, for your sake I hope you do!!! The man-woman interaction between them is just fantastic (the best in the world in my mind)...it/they are just so fantastic to watch! And she's a total sweetheart too! Just as warm and genuine as you can get -- which is really saying something when you're #3 in the world! (She even sent me a birthday card with a check for some photos she wanted. :D)

[pygmalion]

Yes! They're also performing, or I guess headlining, in the pro show. Should be a great event. :D

[SDsalsaguy]

You're really in for a treat Jenn! You'll get to experience competing for your first time and get to see Slavik & Karina. :D

[Gator]

Best of luck pygmalion :)
U'll feel much better once U do it.

[DanceMentor]

All the nervous energy you feel right before you dance can be quite exhilarating and amazing if you'll allow the energy to flow. I wish I could compete for the first time all over again. I really hope you enjoy the experience. As borikensalsero said, I think it would be great to spend a little time praying. Hopefully, you'll feel that you have a little extra support that way.

Look forward to hearing how it went!
I've already said a prayer for you.
Good Luck!

[pygmalion]

Thanks so much, everyone. For now, it's just nose to the grindstone time. I'll keep you updated.

Jenn :D

[SDsalsaguy]

For now, it's just nose to the grindstone time.
No, no, No! Didn't you read Vince's posts...and your own? If your nose is to the grindstone how are you going to keep your head and, ahem, other things, up? :wink:

[pygmalion]

:lol: :lol:
LOL! Ahem... other things, huh? Good point, SD. I'll just get myself on the practice floor and see what happens. :D

Jenn

[Vince A]

OK you two . . .

We're even SD!

[dancersdreamland]

pygmalion - And what are YOU doing in the Forum, Miss? You're supposed to be practicing! :D :wink:

[pygmalion]

Ah yes. Alas, but you are right. It's true, I need to practice every minute I can. But what can one do, when responsibility calls? :D These forums NEED me! :lol:

[dancersdreamland]

:D These forums NEED me! :lol:

So true...so true! :D

[pygmalion]

Okay, so, one more competition question: how do you decide how many heats to enter (other than the obvious -- how many dances you can do! :lol: )

Here's what I think. Enter as many as you possibly can, based on level eligibility, how many dances you can do, and what you can afford, so that you stay up and dancing, and don't have a chance to stiffen up. Make sense?

What does anyone else think?

[SDsalsaguy]

It's reall an individual choice. Personally I prefer to do more if possible (floortime is always good), but prefer to do less better.

[Vince A]

You got it Jenn . . . stay in heat . . . er, um get as much as you can . . . let me try this again . . .
Get as much dancing in as you can in as many heats as you can handle!

Phew . . . it's tough being careful with words :wink:

[pygmalion]

You crack me up, Vince! :lol: :lol:

I think I'm going to do somewhere between eighteen and twenty-four heats, depending on what we can get together between now and the registration deadline. Whew! Sounds like fun. :D

[SDsalsaguy]

That doesn't sound bad at all... it's just the 100+ heats that I see that I start to seriously question. (Mind you, there may be ample reason...I just think some questions are in order at that point.)

[pygmalion]

Yes, SD.

I think the goal is to enter enough events to stay warm and limber, and to keep your nerves from getting out of control (without spending enough cash to buy the teacher a new car! :lol: )

[MadamSamba]

Oh, my God!!!! Congratulations, Jenn...that's wonderful, but so freaky. I got asked to do my first one the same day...argh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) :o Now the only problem is finding a partner.

[pygmalion]

Maybe I should clarify. I picked heats based on the levels I'm competing in -- bronze 1 and bronze 2, the dances I know, which is most of the American Rhythm and American Smooth, the dances I feel I could be comptetitive in. That brings it down to about 24 heats. So I'll either max out or get close. (I don't like my samba much, and I can't stand hustle! :lol: So probably twenty heats. :D )

[pygmalion]

Hey MadamSamba! Thanks for the good wishes, and I'll be sure to let you know how it goes. I'm doing a pro-am competition, so finding a partner is no problem. My partner is my teacher! :D

Still, I am currently looking for an amateur partner, in a back-burner kind of way. I think it will be fun to have another amateur to practice and have fun with. And maybe someday compete.

[Vince A]

You crack me up, Vince! :lol: :lol:

I think I'm going to do somewhere between eighteen and twenty-four heats, depending on what we can get together between now and the registration deadline. Whew! Sounds like fun. :D
Jenn,
This is your first competition. Relish it! Remember it! Have fun!

You have a bunch of heats . . . just get them on the floor for the first time, and as your routines become more and more familiar to you, the easier the competition becomes!

I remember Carolyn going on the floor once at 6:00 AM for her first dance at World's, and she completed her last dance at 3:50 AM . . . the next morning!

Keep stretching, eat for strength if its a long day, and remember to drink lots of water, and above all . . . SMILE!

[Vince A]

Jenn,
One last thing!!!

I'm sure you know that we now have the PHOTO ALBUM available!!!!

Are you reading my mind??? Make sure that you get one of your friends to get some good photos of your first comp. Then, please, please, please submit them.

Deal??? We're all pulling for you, so . . . . . . . . .

[pygmalion]

So the least you deserve is lots of photos. Got it covered. I'm taking my cheering section with me! My friends in Orlando can go in body. And I'm pretty sure my friends in DF will be there in spirit! :D

[Vince A]

You betcha! We ALL are pulling for you!

Have the date and time yet???

[pygmalion]

Thanks, Vince. :D

The comp starts with American Smooth at 9:00 AM on Sunday, November 2. I believe American style goes first, so I should be done by early afternoon (although I'll check on that to be sure.) Lots of fun!

[Vince A]

Thanks, Vince. :D

The comp starts with American Smooth at 9:00 AM on Sunday, November 2. I believe American style goes first, so I should be done by early afternoon (although I'll check on that to be sure.) Lots of fun!
Hey . . perfect time! We'll be competing at the exact same time, and only 3k miles apart!

My Intermediate Jack and Jills start on Sunday at 9 . . .

[SDsalsaguy]

Time zones Vince, time zones... 3k miles *and* 3 hours! :wink:

[pygmalion]

Cool! I can feel the positive vibes already! :D I'll be sending positive thoughts your way (in between all those heats! :lol: ) :D

[Vince A]

Time zones Vince, time zones... 3k miles *and* 3 hours! :wink:
Yes Jonathan . . . it was the thought of it!!! Guess I'd have to be dancing at 6 AM, eh???

[pygmalion]

lol! I wasn't going to mention the time zone thing! :lol:

But the principle still applies. I'll be doing my American Rhythm stuff (all fourteen heats of it! :shock: :lol: ) while Vince is doing his Jack and Jills. :D