Don’t Be Stagnant
As a dancer, you are probably used to the arrangement of competitions. These competitions have rules, patterns, and social cues that you understand. Competition shows are a bit different. They make you leave the comfort of the dance competitions you attend with your studio. In those competitions, you can be a member of a whole, part of your studio or your performance group. On a television show, you don’t always get rewarded for being there.
You are also under inspection by a wide audience. The world rarely cares about one thing. This means that you have to be dynamic. As a dancer this means evolving your style and technique. It also means revealing your personality. When you are on television, you have to put forth everything you have because you are competing with more than just your abilities as a dancer.
Be Yourself
Everyone has a story to tell. Know who you are and develop that. This is important because individuality doesn’t come from your dance studio. In the studio, you learn technique and vocabulary and exercises, but you cannot be taught to be yourself. You have to bring yourself to the stage. This means combining spontaneity and your understanding of technique with your style and talent. Comfort sees this as the “organized chaos” of being an individual. She says that dance is an escape, and no two people can escape the same way, so don’t try to be anyone but yourself.
Focus on Your Talent
Ultimately, every competition show is a competition about your talent. Before you get to the point where the audience has influence over your progress, you have to impress the judges. To do this, focus on your talent. Being dynamic and showing who you are as an individual is important, but layer these things with your talent. This creates an image of who you are, a talented individual that stands out from the crowd. That’s what people want to see – you being a talented individual.
In the end, competition shows can be an amazing opportunity to bring your talents to the world’s attention. However, they are not the only way to begin your career, and they aren’t the easiest way to begin you career either. Whether you want to try to make it on one or not, just remember that it is you that will put yourself where you need to be to succeed.