One of the most asked questions we encounter is "Should my child compete?" Some parents worry about the experience not being a positive one. Others are sure their child will do fine in competition, but worry about the travel and competition costs. We look at this situation a bit differently.
If your child has siblings at home, participates in the city sports league, enters essay contests at school, takes a playing test in band for chair placement, they already compete! They are already in a training ground position to learn to compete as an adult for scholarships, job placements, job advancements, etc. Competing in dance is actually about learning to perform at the highest level of competition available to them.
There are many different ways to compete in dance. Some think that the easiest way to learn is to just jump in and learn a dance and go to the competition. The idea in this case is that the dancers will become better just by getting the experience.
Another method of getting to competition is to "hold auditions". That way you place them on a "team" that the abilities matching up with other dancers. Some feel this is the most successful way. Or they will group everyone in age groups, but use the audition process for lead parts or "who goes on the front row".
And yet another, is based on how many classes a child takes per week as to if they can be on the "competition team". The majority of these methods of dance team placement never bring in the personality and personal strength of the child.
We would like to suggest a different way of preparing for competition on the dance stage. One that we have found great success with for our dance teams. It is a way of grooming, empowering and teaching them about performance first. One that allows us to help the child to find their place on the team rather than be told which team they can perform with.
The method we use is four steps:
1. Regular weekly classes for a strong dance education.
2. Participation in master classes and conventions (we are highly selective about the conventions).
3. Community performances through out the year and recitals. A lot of community performances!
4. Competition team placement and work.
By using this method, the teachers and director has a chance to get to know the child better. We learn what a child's strengths are and what we need to work on to help them through the process. For instance, a lot of time is spent on just entering and exiting the stage that demonstrates confidence. Without confidence, the routine is not going to go well, no matter how much practice and training on the routine has been done.
Personality in performance is important as well. Getting to know the child better helps with building the choreography around the students personality, instead of pushing them into roles that they cannot pull off. As a dance adjudicator, I can say it is very evident when the personality of the students has not been considered and used to set the choreography.
Music selection is also key to success, and again can be a part of the personality situation. Too mature or immature of music for the dance group can mean that the dancers never really connect with the music and are unable to deliver a great performance.
Participation in master classes, conventions, workshops and community performances is an opportunity for the student to grow not only in their dance, but as a person and performer. It is an opportunity to find out personally what their strengths are and not just be told by their teacher or parents where they are strong. It is also a way for them to face any fears in a supportive environment, without anxiety that they may "mess up" the team". It is a way of truly growing a team to work together at different ability levels.
Is your child ready to compete? Probably. Probably because they have already been competing and trying to get to the front row in class already. But the real question to ask is, "Is your child ready to grow and discover who they are?".
*Mary Myers is the Director of Academy of Fine Arts in Woodward Oklahoma. She is a teacher, choreographer and adjudicator.
