Opinion Sport

"Don't waste your energy trying to change opinions. Do your thing, and don't care if they like it." -Tina Fey

           In most sports there is generally a clear winner, or a stronger team, and they score the most points to win the game or get the fastest time in their race. Dance however is not this way. Dance is an opinion sport and this is what makes it so difficult. You will never be able to read a judges mind and know what they are looking for or what they like. 

           Some judges look for showmanship and passion while others look for technique. 

Some like over done faces and others like suttle ones. Some judges like busy dances with a bunch of little groups while others like clean together unison dances.

           You can spend hours on hours perfecting your performance and your technique and even be the most amazing dancer in the area but maybe the judge doesn't like your song, or your costume, or just your choreography in general. No matter what you do, you can never be sure. 

           Because you can't control what others think of your dance, all you can do it execute it well. The most important thing is making people believe you love doing that dance piece. If you love it there is a better chance that the judges will love it as well. It's refreshing to see someone dance and perform and be able to tell that they love it. Also if you are 100% there in the moment in your dance people will probably be 100% in the moment in the dance with you. If you can get an audience to move with you and feel something then that should be rewarding enough. 

What dancers don't always realize is that a trophy, medal, or plaque doesn't matter, what matters is knowing you left it all on the floor and you did everything you could do to perform and dance at the best of your abilities. 

           If you don't place with the rating, or score you hoped, dreamed, and worked for then all you can do is practice and work for the next one because a dancers work is never done. Take the judges corrections to heart and adjust things accordingly but don't let them get in your head and or take them personally because judges comments are just suggestions. Always remember there's always the next one and there is always room for improvement.