What is going through the judges’ heads? We all want to know how they understood our favorite moment in the choreography, or what they looked for when they scored technique.
When you get your critiques and scores, you might spend a few minutes replaying your routine in your head and pointing out your imperfections. But here is the truth: judges don’t look for perfection. They look for passion and putting your all into your performance, paired with technique and musicality. They aren’t looking for the most skilled or technical dancer. They are looking for the confident one. Judges don’t score based on magic or vibes. Scores are based on factors you can control.
Technique (But Not Just Perfection)
Of course, technique matters. Judges look for straight legs, pointed feet, and sharp arms. But overall, they are looking for consistency and effort, not perfection. Judges are trained to pay attention to small details, such as your posture, placement, and control. A dancer who performs with confidence and control and stays clean throughout the dance will almost always score higher than someone who fills their routine with fancy tricks.
Performance Quality & Stage Presence
This is one of the BIGGEST scoring categories—and one of the most overlooked. Judges look for the confidence you bring once you step onto the stage and how you carry it until the second you walk off. Even if you mess up, don’t let it show. Play it off and use it to your advantage; judges love this. A high-scoring dancer is adaptable and dynamic. If the audience is captivated by your performance, then the judge should be too.
Facial Expressions & Emotion
Your face tells your story just as much as your dancing does. If you are dancing an emotional piece, pour all of your emotion into it. You have to make the audience believe the emotions and story that you are portraying. The dancers who stand out are those who fully commit to their character and message. It might seem overdramatic or feel like you are doing too much, but on stage, it makes you look ten times better.
Musicality & Timing
Making sure you are dancing with the music and not just to the music makes a big difference. Judges are looking for the dancers with rhythm, who don’t just memorize the counts but actually feel the music. When your movements and tricks are lined up with the music, your performance is more appealing and more likely to catch the judges’ eye.