"If you could do it alone...
you would have already done it."
Who is a part of your dance team?
You, your partner and your teacher?
Anyone else?
Most professional athletes have a huge team of professionals at their disposal. They have a coach who helps motivate, instruct, train and inspire them. They have personal fitness trainers, nutritionists, therapists and sports psychologists to keep the athletes' bodies and minds in prime condition. They also have agents to organize their trips, publicize the team and arrange events. These people, usually headed by the coach, all work together to make sure that the athlete can perform to the fullest of their capability.
In the world of DanceSport, however, things are a bit different. As there is no government funding, it is impossible to employ all these people to be a part of your team. In many instances, you have to take it upon yourself to do it all. You have to be the 'coach'-directing your own learning, planning your practices and deciding which events you will go to; the 'fitness trainer'-keeping you in shape and making sure you peak at the right time; the 'nutritionist'-making sure you're eating right in daily life, and especially closer to competition; the 'sports psychologist'-making sure that you are in the right mind-set for each competition; the 'travel agent'-booking your flights, accommodations and entry to each competition; the 'make-up artist' and 'hair dresser'-making sure that you've got the right look on the day of the competition.
In order to organize and plan your competition strategy, you should definitely consult your Coach. A good Coach will address all of the essential aspects of your training (mind-body-spirit), in addition to your overall presentation (costuming and grooming). They will also be able to to direct you to other Professionals for consultation, as they must have used them for their own training in the past. All in all, your coach should be keeping you on track and pulling everything together to help you maximize your performance.
A lot Professional Dance Instructors are just that: Instructors. They instruct you on how to dance. They don't have the time in a 45-60 minute lesson to work on your stamina, teach you how to warm-up and stretch properly, plan your practice sessions or introduce you to supplementary training, such as pilates, yoga, jazz or ballet. Maybe they don't have the time or the know-how to check your diet, your mental focus and your grooming. If you don't have a Coach, unfortunately, you will have to take charge and guide your own program.
Ultimately, success is bred by the drive and determination of the you and your partner. No one can win the competition for you. Even if you have a Coach, It's up to you to work hard, to make sure everything is on track, and to get the job done. Your Coach and other experienced Professionals can help guide you by offering their advice, but in the end, it's up to you.
In this DanceSport Essentials section, we will tell you how you can do it! Learn more about all the different aspects of becoming a good athlete and performing artist. The pages within this section will briefly outline how to keep your overall being in tip-top shape, through attending to your mind-body-spirit, and how to achieve the perfect "look" for yourself, which will enhance your performance on the competition floor.
Check out our JC Summer Training Camp, which emphasizes our Holistic Training Philosophy. For more information about our Holistic Training Philosophy, visit our Philosophy page as well...
