Here’s the situation: The young ones aren’t so young anymore, and you find yourself interested in transitioning from dancing as ‘exercise’ to something a little more serious. Or, perhaps with your newly found time you are you looking to pick up a new extra curricular activity all together.

If you have a competitive spirit and a determined mindset, than dance competitions might be what you’re looking for.

Competitive dance may not be for everyone, but for those Moms (or Dads!) who are interested, it is a great way to develop your skills in a certain style and learn more about different styles; to give you a wider perspective on the world of dance; and to provide you with set goals to work towards.

Right now you may be thinking, “yeah, let’s do this!” but have no clue what to expect. To help get you started, we’ve put together 5 tips or becoming a competitive dancer.

1. Find Your Style

If you are already a dancer, you may specialize in a certain style. However, if you practice a variety of dance types, and are wanting to make the transition to competitive, it is important to nail down what style of dance you’d like to compete in.

If you are completely new to the dance world, try joining a few different classes at a local dance studio to figure out what style of dance is right for you. From there, you can begin to focus on that style.

2. Practice

Competitive dance is not something to be taken lightly. You must commit to it. It is not something that you can work on once, or even twice a week. Many competitive dancers practice everyday (it’s true what they say: practice does make perfect). Creating and perfecting your routines for a competition are time consuming and require a lot of hard work, long hours, and dedication. If you do not have the time or energy to fully commit, then perhaps competitive dance isn’t for you.

3. Eat Properly

A healthy body is a dancers best asset. What types of food you put into your body are directly related to your energy levels and stamina. If you want to be fully prepared for the amount of physical work it takes to work up to a dance competition, you are going to have to really focus on fueling your body with the proper foods.

4. Stay Positive

Dancing is not easy. You may not find your rhythm right away, and you may completely bomb your first competition. These are not reasons to quit or be to hard on yourself. Progress at your own rate, start competing when you feel you are ready, and remember that no one is perfect at anything right off the bat.

5. Enjoy Yourself

Lastly, remember to enjoy yourself and have fun. Competing, no matter what activity you are doing, can be stressful. It can be easy to find yourself getting caught up in the importance of winning. If you are constantly worrying about this move or that, and always trying to be perfect, you will forget that dance is about having fun.

Hopefully these 5 tips for becoming a competitive dancer gave you a better idea of how to get started and what to expect on your new journey. Whether you have never set foot in a dance studio or are already taking lessons, competitive dance is a whole new world.

It is a great way to stay active, meet new people, learn a new activity, and set goals for yourself.