Early competition experiences

[MaggieMoves]

I think the biggest shock for me was coming out of college and learning the prices to actually compete in pro/am. In college, the dresses we had were either practice dresses or donated (I remember one was quite loose on me)... and the entry fees... ooooo was that a shock!

In a way I missed being blissfully ignorant.

My first pro/am comps were a mix of me kind of "fighting the system" in only wearing practice dresses and doing my own hair/makeup with mixed results. I remember more than a few times my hair coming undone in the middle of a routine. The outfit didn't really match the dancer, and I'm sure this hurt me in a lot of respects.

startled my 1.5 year old with my big lashes and heavy makeup

I did this with one of my younger cousins recently. My sister in law's niece saw me compete and pretty much didn't recognize me. I felt awful, and it was adorable at the same time.

 

[Mr 4 styles]

My first comp was ...... In Puerto Rico.
Our pro who taught us as a couple heard the mrs complaining that she wasn't learning enough fast enough. Dang classically trained dancers .teacher told her if she learned competitive routines it would keep her mind busy. I didn't want to compete as my job as a physician is competitive enough

But it was in Puerto Rico so I agreed. Had such a good time,met lots of cool peeps , got hooked. It was with World promotions

Later on got involved with USA dance and Ndca

 

[danceamandadance]

(first post!)

Thanks for this fun thread! I have dancing just a few weeks shy of a year, and am hoping to do my first comp sometime this year. I'm going to go watch and cheer on some friends at a comp next weekend, so will hopefully gain some insight. I'm not new to the art of competing, as I grew up showing horses and competed professionally as an adult, but I find the world of competitive dancing a bit daunting! Fun to see that it is just plain overwhelming for everyone!

 

[fascination]

my first comp was chicago crystal ball 2005


I danced smooth only (something I probably never should have changed)...my pro said I was the best prepared newcomer that he had ever had...I did have a real new gown by dierdre of london, but I cringe at what I thought would pass for competition hair...I did place in all my singles and was third in the bronze scholarship, winning the waltz...against Richard Weinberg IIRC...I think he was second...I remember watching that video over and over and over....it was a good first experience

 

[Lioness]

Just dug up some photos and videos from my first competition...2007 and I was about 14. No frame to think of...loose hair...terrible dancing.

But everyone starts somewhere and to be honest I had just as much fun back then as I do now. And really, my frame is better but I still haven't found a photo where I like it.

Little bit of a pic comparison...

 

[3wishes]

My first comp, was a rather large comp in the franchise chain world, placed 1st in all smooth dances, the owner was quite enthused as my best friend placed 1st in the rhythm. I have to laugh, thinking back to the entire event, it was a nerve racking good experience, my pro (his first event as well) sprinted with record setting time when the "marks and scores will be distributed now" was announced - at 12:30 a.m. And watched him leap up and down with joy. Now THAT was funny.