Dance Competition Prep
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Preparing for a dance competition can be a lot to manage, especially if it is your first one, but they don’t have to be stressful! Check out my tips below for making every dance competition run smoothly.
Arrive 2 hours before first performance:
This is considered the “call time”. Every competition will require the dancers to plan to arrive 2 hours before the performance time. Sometimes competitions are running early, and your dancer needs plenty of time to warm-up and ‘get in the zone’ before her performance. Most competitions have a livestream and/or maybe your studio has some way of communicating whether or not a competition is running ahead of schedule. Do your best to check the livestream or communication platform that your studio uses so that you at least have some idea of where they are at and whether or not you need to leave sooner. Take a deep breath (or 12). You’ve got this!
Practice hair and make-up before first competition:
This is especially true for younger dancers that are not used to wearing make-up. Have you ever tried putting eyeliner on a 6 year old? I’ve never bathed a cat before, but I image it feels like a similar experience. Practice ahead of time and be patient with your little dancer. You will both feel more prepared and at ease the day of competition. You will all get better at it the more you practice!
Allow extra time for make-up, hair, and travel:
When it was my oldest daughter’s first year on the competition team, I allowed 2 hours for hair and make-up. Trust me, you’ll need it, especially if your dancer is hesitant about any of the make-up that needs to be applied (***!!!EYELINER & MASCARA!!!***). My girls are redheads with light-colored eyelashes, so I find that it can be difficult to get the full eyelash black with mascara. Once my oldest was old enough to start wearing false eyelashes, this became a non-issue. My youngest, however, isn’t ready for false eyelashes yet. One trick that I’ve started doing is using liquid eyeliner to paint her eyelashes along the root where the eyelash meets the lid. Then I follow up with mascara, getting as close as I can without poking her in the eye. It seems to be working for now!
Allow plenty of time and remain calm and patient. Chances are, your little one is a combination of nervous and excited. So wake-up earlier, grab a coffee, find your Zen, and good luck! You’ve got this, Momma!
Use Garment Bags to Organize Costumes and Accessories:
We like to organize each costume into it’s own garment bag with pockets for accessories. It just helps us make sure we can see everything that is needed for each routine. Added bonus-check out my cute costume cards to help you stay organized!
Try not to buy super cheap garment bags, as some of the zippers can break. Below are some links to to garment bags that have held up well for us.
Sleeping Lamb 6-Pack Garment Bags
Always Bring Extra Tights:
This next tip might sound excessive, but invest in extra tights so that each costume has it’s own pair. Even if your dancer has multiple costumes that require the same style of tights, buy at least enough so that each costume has it’s own tights…then buy extra tights to stash away with other extra tights. TRUST ME! We’ve had competitions where 3 pairs of fishnets snagged a hole, or somebody get a stain on their pink tights. It happens, and you’ll want to be prepared when it does. Below is a list of links to tights that we like to have delivered to our house. Stock up!
Capezio Girls Fishnet Tights with Back Seam
Capezio Girls Transition Tights
Need to change tights between performances? Hang them with the costume so they are easy to grab quickly. If you can, try to double up on tights for the performance. For example, put the tan tights underneath the fishnets. It will create a smoother finish for the fishnets, make for a faster costume change, and offers more privacy and modesty for your dancer.
No eating in costumes (put on company jacket over costume to eat):
That would be a major bummer if your dancer got Cheetos, chocolate, or other messy foods on her costume. Make sure to always pack stain remover wipes or a stain remover stick just in case the jacket doesn’t cover part of your dancer’s costume and you still end up with a mess.
Check with studio about proper attire for awards: Some studios have requirements for what they want their dancers to wear when going onstage for awards. Typically, it is either the last costume she wore, or the costume for the next dance. Sometimes studios will provide direction on specific warm-up pants, leggings, jackets, shoes, and other attire that complete the look they are going for when representing their studio on stage during awards.
Pack underwear and clothes for the car ride home: Your dancer does not want to wear tights or costume pieces on the car ride home. They are uncomfortable and your dancer will be over the itchy feeling of dance attire by the end of the day. Make sure you don’t forget the underwear!
Check venue directions before competition day:
Make sure you check the directions for getting to and from the venue. You’ll want to make sure you know exactly how long it will take to get there, and then add on 10-20 minutes to allow extra time. Check for any roads that might be closed or traffic issues ahead of time. You may also want to make sure you understand the parking situation, as some venues may charge a fee to park. Finally, make sure your car has gas BEFORE the day of the competition!
Check venue food and drink policies before competition day:
Most venues will allow you and your dancer to bring in outside food, but some do not. Maybe you can sneak in some snacks in your bag? Remember-these venues cannot turn away food or drink that is necessary for diet or medical restrictions. I have also found it to be helpful to simply have food delivered to the venues that do allow outside food or drink, especially if I don’t have another adult to rely on to run out and get a warm meal the day of the competition. Either way, make sure that your dancer is eating and drinking throughout the day. These competitions require A LOT of physical and mental energy, so staying hydrated and fed is a must! Just remember to not overdo it with a heavy meal right before a performance. Find that happy medium of healthy foods that will help you and your dancer sustain energy throughout the day.
Competition Schedule:
Have a document with call times, performance order, etc. easily accessible when you arrive at the venue. Check to see if the competition is running early, on time, or behind and communicate this to everyone involved, including family members that may be watching the performances via livestream at home. While the performance time given on the schedule can be helpful, it is more important to pay attention to the performance number, as competitions don’t always run according to schedule.
Keep all chit-chat positive:
Remember, you and your dancer are representing your studio and yourselves. The way you and your dancer present yourselves will reflect back onto the studio, so keep all chit-chat and comments positive. Congratulate fellow dancers and use good sportsmanship, even as a dance mom.
Consider Investing in a Costume Bag:
Ok, these can be a few hundred dollars brand new but they are totally worth it if you know that your dancer will be in it for the long haul! I remember showing up with my oldest daughter for her first performance and all of the seasoned dance moms had these UH-MAZING dance bags! They were HUGE! I’m pretty sure they could fit a small adult. They also have these rods that you connect together to create a garment rack for your dancer’s costumes. You may have heard dancers refer to their bags as a “Dream Duffle”. This is a specific brand that has been known to be quite good (and pricey). However, there are many options out there! I’ll link some good ones below.
If one of these fancy dance bags doesn’t fit in your budget or you just aren’t sure that it is worth the investment quite yet, you can create your own using an old duffle bag or suitcase and some PVC pipe. We did this our first couple of years, and that is about how long it held up. Once my youngest daughter decided that she also wanted to join the dance company, we made the investment in a larger bag with more bells and whistles. It really helps having something to hang your dancer’s costumes on, and a place to throw extra belongings.
If a giant costume bag isn’t quite in your budget yet, or maybe you just don’t need one, I’ve found success with this portable rack that we used on those days when we only had one or two performances and didn’t need to bring all of our costumes.
Pack the Costume Bag in Reverse Performance Order:
This helps you make sure that the costumes you need first are always on top. Your dancer will be super focused on making sure she is performance ready, so anything you can do to make her life easier will help. It might also be a good idea to pack the costumes bag into the garment bags when you have time between dances, just to make sure nothing gets lost or ruined.
Once your dancer is old enough, start including her on the prep work so that she can learn all of the organizational tips and tricks. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to have an additional set of eyes when checking everything over! Who knows, maybe she will even think of a better system that works for her.
NO Personal Photos or Videos:
This is a huge no, no. There should be a photographer and videographer at the competition that has worked out some sort of media package with the people running the competition. Check with your studio about any media fees or packages that might be included in your registration, and make sure you communicate the photo and video policies to any friends or family that come to watch your dancer perform.
I hope you find these tips to be helpful! Keep checking back for updates and remember to ENJOY this time with your dancer! You won’t get these years back.
