Most dancers who take part in competitions and conventions attend with a dance studio. However annually, a small group of soloists decide to go for it as independents, with no studio affiliation. There are many advantages to this method—in addition to a number of attainable drawbacks. Earlier than you enroll, contemplate what you’re keen to place into the expertise, and what you hope to realize.
Why Be Impartial?
For dancers who don’t attend competition-oriented studios, competing independently is likely to be the one choice. As a ballet scholar, Rachel Quiner—now in her first 12 months as a main-company member at American Repertory Ballet in Princeton, New Jersey—spent her weekdays in bunhead mode, and her weekends at occasions like NUVO Dance Conference and New York Metropolis Dance Alliance. Although Quiner was capable of compete along with her native dance studio, “a number of ballet dancers select the unbiased route as a result of their studios don’t do competitions and conventions,” she says. “Though I used to be centered on pursuing ballet, it was enjoyable to study different kinds and develop into extra comfy onstage.”
Even when a studio does compete, it might solely journey to 1 or two occasions annually, or solely permit sure dancers to enter as soloists. “At my daughter’s studio, you need to be in tenth grade to get a solo,” says Mehgan Jarvie, who teaches dance at a number of studios within the Philadelphia space and whose 13-year-old daughter, Margaret, trains primarily at Lionville College of Dance in Exton, Pennsylvania. Margaret competes in group routines along with her studio classmates however has entered further occasions as an unbiased soloist. “It’s been such a shallowness increase for her,” Jarvie says. “As a soloist, she will get to point out her abilities otherwise than when she’s in a bunch, and the suggestions she will get comes again to the studio along with her.”
What to Take into account
Competing as an unbiased typically means going the additional mile. Solo rehearsals will possible must occur by yourself time. Quiner ran via solos at dwelling in her basement, getting suggestions from her household. Jarvie makes certain to not register Margaret for occasions that battle with Lionville’s competitors schedule, and he or she and a rehearsal coach work along with her at a studio the place Jarvie teaches. Competing independently may develop into pricey. Pondering of hiring a choreographer? “Even a single two-minute solo will be costly!” Quiner warns. She typically requested her sisters, who’re additionally dancers, to choreograph her routines—or created her personal. “I knew the right way to spotlight my strengths,” she factors out. “Additionally, whenever you choreograph your personal solo, you may continuously be tweaking it, primarily based on judges’ suggestions from one occasion to the subsequent.”
That stated, working independently with an out of doors choreographer may foster development. Jarvie created her daughter’s competitors solos till this previous 12 months, when she requested a colleague to choreograph. The outcome was Margaret’s most profitable season but. “I feel a part of the rationale she did so properly was that she had somebody new working along with her,” Jarvie says.
Competing with out studio help can really feel lonely. As an unbiased competitor, you must be keen to place your self on the market—even should you aren’t naturally outgoing. “Whenever you’re onstage for awards, you gained’t have that huge group of mates cheering you on,” Jarvie notes. Attending to know conference school members and different dancers can hold these lonely emotions at bay. It may additionally provide help to construct networking abilities, since making potential skilled connections is one among these occasions’ main advantages.
Going it alone can provide you a special perspective in your dancing, because it requires you to develop an understanding of your personal strengths and weaknesses. Even when one among your targets in competing as an unbiased soloist is to construct confidence, “you need to go in realizing what you deliver to the desk,” Jarvie says. And constructing that form of self-knowledge can hold you from falling into a typical competitors entice: evaluating your self to these round you. “Be your personal finest dancer,” Jarvie says. “Dance for your self.”
