First competition.

E

entheos

Member
Hello all.

I'll be competing in 2 standards and 1 latin for my first competition. They will be in pre-bronze. Only a few weeks left.

Just wondering... what does it actually take to win?

Do I just do my best by building consistency / musicality / polishing my technique and hope for the best?

Is it for the most part out of my hands because of judges and not knowing much about the other competitors?
 
Honestly, for your first comp, placements just aren't worth worrying about. You'll have your hands full just figuring out how to read the program, figure out when you're supposed to be on the floor, and work out doing your events on a strange floor to music you've probably never heard, not to mention all of the details of costuming and comp logistics. Enjoy the experience and work on getting into the flow of how comps work. After you've moved up to bronze, then you can start thinking about placements.
 
I completely agree with cornutt. That said, having just watched a beginners' comp last weekend, I can predict that the couple who dances on time to the music with gaze and elbows up and shoulders down will win. If there is one. And for competing in general, it's always out of your hands. You can have some degree of control over how you dance, but what placement that leaves you with depends on who else shows up in your event and how their dance day goes.
 
These may help:
https://www.danceforums.com/threads/big-guy-has-doubts-about-competing.47719/
https://www.dance-forums.com/threads/first-pro-am-comp.7238/
https://www.dance-forums.com/threads/clothes-for-a-first-competition.47047/
https://www.dance-forums.com/threads/setting-goals-for-competition.45745/

For your first comp: Go. Learn lots. Enjoy the experience. Try to show what you've learned on the floor, but don't worry at all about what you haven't learned yet. Meet people and take photos. Watch the other dancers.

Everything else comes later. Pre-bronze is really about having a good time and getting your feet wet. Stand up straight, show you're having fun and do what you know and you'll do just fine.
 
As someone fairly new to competition as well, I can say that the advice in this thread is spot-on. Focus on having a good time, whatever that means to you, and learn what you can.

I'd just like to add one thing. My coach says that generally speaking people (including judges) enjoy watching dancers have fun. If you can keep time, keep your head up, look confident, and look like you're having fun, you'll do well.
 
Thanks for the advice everyone.

I've learned a lot about having fun with the process of learning. For the first few months I would be really hard on myself and struggled coming from a place of perfectionism / ego. Very serious and frustrated. I eventually learned to change my relationship with failure and I got way better because of it.

I will definitely have a joyful expression on my face at the competition. I'll do my best to show everything I've learned and practiced. The outcome doesn't matter nearly as much as the relationships I've built at the studio.
 
My previous coach once said that at first competition you compete with yourself, not others. Maybe at second one as well. You can start look around at your third competition. My first two comps were most memorable and most disastrous: dancing was bad, very bad, but nevertheless I felt accomplished. I can’t say I had fun, but those comps set the ground level and I knew I could do so much better. First place came later, and boy did it feel good! I don’t think I would have appreciated my first first place so much without those two not so perfect competitions.
 
entheos said:
Thanks for the advice everyone.

I've learned a lot about having fun with the process of learning. For the first few months I would be really hard on myself and struggled coming from a place of perfectionism / ego. Very serious and frustrated. I eventually learned to change my relationship with failure and I got way better because of it.

I will definitely have a joyful expression on my face at the competition. I'll do my best to show everything I've learned and practiced. The outcome doesn't matter nearly as much as the relationships I've built at the studio.
Click to expand...
Tell us how it goes!
 
Good luck and have fun KMAtkinson!

I'm ready and happy with the quality of my skills going into the competition.

My mindset is in the right place and my body is in great shape.

I've learned to get out of my own way.

No clue how it will all turn out, but I'm proud of the level that I've reached.
 
entheos said:
Good luck and have fun KMAtkinson!

I'm ready and happy with the quality of my skills going into the competition.

My mindset is in the right place and my body is in great shape.

I've learned to get out of my own way.

No clue how it will all turn out, but I'm proud of the level that I've reached.
Click to expand...


Thanks, first comp went well I think. Placed 3rd in Bronze Adult Ballroom, and 5th in Silver Adult Latin.

Let us know how you did/do in your comp too?
 
How long have you been dancing for? Silver seems quite high for your first competition.

Still another week before mine.
 
Was an instructor for 2 years prior. But was brought up to my dance partner's competitive level...hence bronze and silver, rather than beginner.

Good luck! (Which level are you competing at?)
 
I see. That's cool.

I will be competing in pre-bronze on quickstep waltz and rumba.

I'm relaxed and having fun these last few days before the competition.
 
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