Emily Smith, who teaches at Virginia’s Derek Wagner Dance Heart whereas attending school, can nonetheless recall the strain that permeated her competitive-dance studio. “Everybody on our staff was across the identical age, so our solos all the time went up in opposition to one another,” she says. “Some women would get so upset in the event that they didn’t win.”
At dance competitions, members from the identical studio typically find yourself not simply performing alongside but in addition competing in opposition to one another in solos and group routines—all throughout the identical weekend. The scenario might be traumatic, complicated, and awkward, notably for youthful dancers. But it surely doesn’t must lead to comparisons and tears.
When Comparability Goes Too Far
Peer-to-peer comparability is pure, particularly for dancers of their tweens and teenagers, in response to Dr. Chelsea Pierotti, a former skilled dancer and a professor of sports activities psychology at College of Colorado Boulder. However it could possibly turn out to be poisonous when heightened by the stresses of a contest weekend. These pressures typically “exchange all of the enjoyable of competing with anxiousness,” Pierotti says. Demanding that soloists beat out their competitors can have an effect on the entire studio’s efficiency. “You may’t anticipate cohesion and unity in your group numbers at competitors if the identical dancers really feel pitted in opposition to one another as soloists,” Pierotti explains.
Dancers: Concentrate on the Constructive—and Your self
Michelle Leagans, competitors choreographer, proprietor of Energy Intensives, and creator of the brand new dance journal Hey Dancers…Let’s Speak About It!—encourages dancers to be the kind of teammate they’d need to have. “In the event you’re capable of cheer and be completely happy to your mates, then they’ll need to do the identical for you,” she says. “Ultimately, the atmosphere turns into extra about friendship and encouragement than competitors.”
Equally, if conversations with friends start to show unfavorable or imply, Pierotti recommends making an attempt to shift to different matters. “It may be laborious socially whenever you’re the one one not gossiping and rating, however that distracts you from doing your individual private greatest,” she says. “Bear in mind, everybody will get their very own expertise onstage; one dancer’s success is just not one other dancer’s failure.”
Leagans additionally means that dancers maintain monitor of their very own private objectives and successes from week to week, both with their instructor or by way of journaling. “Smoothing out your transitions, or nailing a flip sequence you’ve been engaged on, is a win that’s simply as worthy of celebrating as first place,” she says. “It demonstrates that the one dancer you’re really competing in opposition to is your self.”
Academics: Set the Normal
Finally, lecturers are liable for making a constructive competitors tradition inside their staff. Pierotti encourages them to be extra-conscious of favoritism round their dancers at school and rehearsal. “Everybody needs to be getting the identical stage of consideration and critiques, which units the tone that everyone is working laborious and incomes their success,” she explains.
Leagans recommends fostering studio friendships that transcend competing, which is able to assist teammates help one another even when the stakes are excessive. “I’ll use staff video games, large/little sibling pairings, vacation events, and spirit-week dress-ups—something enjoyable that enables dancers to only get pleasure from being collectively,” she says.
And remind dancers that competing is just not the one motive they dance. “Clarify to your college students that their work ethic and willpower to enhance at school is way extra important than what three judges consider them onstage on one explicit day,” Leagans says.
