GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP: IT STARTS WITH YOUR PERSPECTIVE!

In a day and age driven by instant gratification, it can be easy for dancers to become focused only on themselves and the awards they receive at dance competition. This can come from the dancers, from the parents, or in the worst case, from the teachers. Instead of competition being an opportunity to perform and chance to share the love of dance with others, it can become about the trophy and "beating others" if you let it. Dance competition is a great place for learning, growing, and appreciating dance, if you chose to look at it from this perspective. 

In the middle of the madness, take time to appreciate the art and dancers that surround you. It is important to remember that everyone has worked hard for their moment on stage. Teachers and dancers alike spend hours preparing for each performance. Hours are spent training and choreographing not to mention the endless hours of rehearsals, music editing, costume design, and prop design. Parents are often the prop makers and may spend lot of time gluing rhinestones to the costumes. Everyone is in the same boat. If we step back and remember this, we can begin to appreciate every dancer and their time on stage. With this being said, clap for everyone not just your own studio. Please enter and exit the auditorium between dances. If you enjoyed watching a specific dance, tell the dancers how much you like it. If you see an amazing dancer, tell him or her you admire their talent. Congratulate others on their success whether they are on your team or another team. Everyone at competition has one major thing in common: the love of dance. 

Good sportsmanship begins with a personal outlook and the way you chose to handle situations. 

Competitions provide a great performance opportunity! They also give dancers a taste of the fast paced professional world when they experience quick changes, whether it be of costumes or choreography, for example reblocking a number in the case of a missing or ill dancer. The adrenaline of racing to change costumes and quickly returning to the stage to give another brilliant performance can be exhilarating and fun when you keep it in perspective. The same thing applies to quick choreography and/or spacing adjustments. Staying positive during high pressure moments will lead to a better overall experience. 

One bit of advice for dancers: 
Thank your judges, especially if they are personally handing you an award. If you are standing next to a dancer or group of dancers that just received an award, take a moment to congratulate them. All dancers get excited when they receive an award and all dancers love to know others are happy for them. Thank your teachers for their time, hard work, dedication, and for training you. Teachers are always on call working many hours behind the scenes. Teachers do a lot more than you may realize. Thank your parents for giving you the gift of dance class and allowing you to have the dance competition experience. Always be nice, respectful, encouraging and helpful not only to your teachers, teammates, and parents but also to other teachers, dancers and parents. 

A bit of advice for everyone attending or performing at a competition: 
Make friends with other dancers, parents, and teachers. (Making friends does not mean soliciting business.) Be supportive and kind to each other. Clap for others, not only your studio. Give words of support, encouragement and praise to each other. If someone needs a bobby pin or needs to borrow a shoe, lend a helping hand. Congratulate each other. Be kind to the competition staff. You may be tired but they are too. They have no control over the schedule. They are at the event an hour before the competition starts and an hour after the competition ends everyday. Thank your judges. The judges are working hard as are the competition staff. I also suggest arriving to competitions early enough, or staying long enough, to sit and enjoy performances. There is always something to learn from each other. It is also nice to just sit back, relax and watch dancing!!

People will always remember how you made them feel so be nice, smile, and make a difference! 

It is important to remember that none of us know it all and we can all learn something from others. I would love to see everyone taking it back to what it's all about: the shared love of dance. Being nice to others can change your entire mood! Do your part in making competition fun! Competition is a great place for teachers, dancers and parents to make lasting friendships with people who have the same interest. The dance world is very small and you never know when paths may cross down the road. 

Let's all be good sports and enjoy the gift of dance!

Dance hard. Dance smart.
Meredith
thecompetitiveedgebymeredith.blogspot.com

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