Welcome to the world of dance competitions, whether you are a seasoned dance competition parent or a newbie to the dance scene. Glitter and glam are just one part of the story. If you are a parent of a competition dancer, get ready for a wild ride! Hold on, as dance competitions can be an emotional rollercoaster.
First, let's talk about the dancers. Dance competitions can be a thrilling and nerve-wracking experience for them. They spend hours upon hours rehearsing and perfecting their routines, and when it comes time to perform, they can feel the pressure. It's normal to see tears of joy or disappointment from the dancers after their performances. Passing a crying dancer in the hallway or seeing them break down in the dressing room is a typical competition appearance.
Emotions=Rollercoaster Ride. There are many ways dancers show their emotions during a Dance Competition. The following are just a few real-life observed examples;
- They may be ecstatic when they come off the stage and filled with pure joy only to be crushed a few hours later when they leave the awards ceremony empty-handed.
- They may appear calm in the dressing room but become hysterical or throw up from nerves just a few moments later when they are about to take the stage.
- They can giggle with friends while taking selfies all morning, then feel jealous or angry at the same friends because they scored higher in their solos.
- They can feel flustered or stressed if they forget a part of their dance during the run-throughs.
- They can feel out of control if something is wrong with their prop or if their costume has the potential for on-stage malfunctions.
- They can feel so happy and euphoric when they get a judge’s award, a high adjudication, a scholarship, a title win, an overall placement, or have an outstanding performance where they nailed all their tricks. The well deserved after-awards glow is the best!
- They can be rude or snappy to parents or guests. Not eating or only eating snacks can aid in a grumpy attitude.
- They can be angry. Angry at you for just existing, breathing too loud, or asking them if they are okay.
- They may crave affection when in pain, embarrassed, or sad.
- They may feel embarrassed if they make a mistake on stage or if something goes unexpectedly wrong.
- They may be so upset they want to leave or quit dancing that very second.
- They may feel disappointed in themselves for not performing at the level they know they are at ( for example, falling out of a simple turn they have done a million times perfectly.)
- They may feel content being part of the team and having fun with friends regardless of scores.
- They may feel extra excited and happy about their friend's successes.
- They may be slap-happy and silly from lack of sleep and the bursts of repeated adrenaline throughout the day.
- They may be sullen or extremely focused and want to be completely alone.
- They may feel angry, hot, stressed, excited, and terrified, all within a short window of time by quick costume changes between performances.
- They may feel in awe by watching other dance performances and feel inferior to other skilled dancers.
- They may feel relief when they are done with their dances.
- They can feel excited about performing and competing.
- They can be quiet and not willing to talk.
- They can feel courageous for putting themselves out there to be judged. They can also have a gut full of knots and be plagued by anxiety about putting themselves out there to be judged.
Every dancer feels things differently and reacts differently during a Dance Competition. A dancer can feel fear, anger, sadness, joy, and excitement at a single event. The wave of emotions is intense for the dancers. The Facebook posts showing all the glitter, sparkling costumes, and pristine hair do not scratch the surface of what a Dance Competition is really like. Those fancy things are a part of it, but the emotional side is reality.
The older the kids get, the more intense their emotions become showcased. There is so much information coming at them to be perfect and beautiful. Dancing can be a therapeutic outlet for dancers to put all their emotions onto the stage. When dancers combine their real emotions with their skills, the performances become effortlessly infused with raw intensity.
The pressure is real, but Dance Competitions are a platform to learn about life. Life is messy. The dance life is not perfect, but it's filled with friendships, confidence, learning, and memories that will be part of each dancer's story.
The Dancers aren’t the only ones on the emotional rollercoaster ride. Part 2 of this conversation is about the emotions of the parents. Stay tuned for the next blog post!
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