Your first ballroom competition: a checklist

Everything to sort out before, during and after your first competition, in the order you will need it. Tick as you go: your ticks stay in this browser.

32 items 5 phases

01 Two to three months before

• Choose the competition with your teacher Pick one that fits your level, your budget and the travel. A smaller local event is a gentle first step. CompetitionSanctioned competition
• Agree on your level and style Most first-timers dance closed syllabus at their current level, in the style they take lessons in. Your teacher knows which figures are allowed. LevelClosed syllabusNewcomer
• Decide which events to enter Single dances are the usual start. Add a multi-dance or scholarship only if your teacher thinks you are ready. Single danceMulti-danceScholarship
• Ask for the full cost in writing Entry fees per dance, the teacher's fee per dance or per day, their travel share, hotel, admission, costume, hair and makeup. Pro-Am costs add up quickly. Entry feePro-Am
• Note the entry deadline Entries close several weeks before the event, and late entries may cost more or not be accepted. Entry
• Check whether you need to register Some competitions require registration with a governing body or a federation licence before you may enter. RegistrationNDCANational federation
• Set your routines Lock in a routine for each dance early, so the weeks before are for polishing rather than learning. RoutineFigure
• Plan extra lessons and practice Book your lessons through to the event and add regular practice time between them. Private lessonPractice
• Book travel and hotel The host hotel fills up. Staying on site makes early starts and late finishes much easier.

02 Two to four weeks before

• Sort out your costume Rent or buy, and have it fitted. Practise in it at least once, especially a long gown or a tailsuit. CostumeDress rules
• Break in your shoes Wear new dance shoes for several practices first. Never dance a competition in shoes you have not tried. Dance shoesShoe brush
• Get used to competition music You will not choose the music. Practise to a range of tracks at competition tempo so nothing surprises you. TimingMusicality
• Dance full rounds Run your dances back to back at full length to build stamina. A heat feels longer than a lesson. HeatRound
• Practise on a busy floor Dance at a practice party or with other couples on the floor, so you learn to adjust when someone is in your way. FloorcraftPractice party
• Plan hair and makeup Book an on-site stylist or practise doing it yourself. Aim for a look that holds for a whole day and reads from across a ballroom. Hair and makeupTan
• Check your heat list as soon as it is out Make sure every event you entered is there, at the right level and style. Mistakes are easiest to fix before the day. Heat listHeat

03 The day before

• Pack your bag Costume, shoes and a spare pair, shoe brush, safety pins, hair and makeup kit, water, snacks, a warm layer, plasters, and any tan or touch-up products. Shoe brushBack number
• Read the schedule Note your first heat time and work back: travel, hair, makeup, dressing and warm-up. ScheduleSession
• Collect your number if you can Many competitions open registration the day before. Collecting your back number early saves a queue in the morning. Back numberRegistration
• Look at the floor If the ballroom is open, walk it. Find the on-deck area and where the judges stand. On deckJudge
• Eat well and sleep No new routines, no late practice. Tomorrow is for dancing what you know.

04 Competition day

• Arrive early Plan to be dressed and warmed up well before your first heat. Schedules can run ahead of time. Schedule
• Warm up Stretch and mark through your routines off the floor. Many events hold an open practice early in the morning. Routine
• Pin on your number straight Pin it flat in the middle of the back with four pins, so judges can read it and it stays put through every turn. Back number
• Be on deck in time Go to the on-deck area a few heats before yours and listen for the emcee. If you miss your heat, it will not wait. On deckEmceeHeat
• Dance your own dance Smile, use the floor and keep going if something goes wrong. Judges watch you for only a few seconds at a time. FloorcraftJudge
• Know how recalls work In events with several rounds, the numbers going through are announced or posted. Stay close by until you know. RecallCallbackRound
• Collect your results and marks Results are announced on the floor and posted afterwards. Single dance results are often given in the same session. ResultsMarksPlacement

05 After

• Go through the marks with your teacher Look at how each judge placed you, not only the final result. Patterns across judges say more than one place. MarksSkating System
• Write down what you learned What felt good, what went wrong under pressure, and what to work on before the next one.
• Settle and record the costs Check the final invoice against what you were quoted, and keep it for your season budget. Entry fee
• Pick the next goal Another competition, a showcase or a medal test. A date in the calendar keeps lessons focused. ShowcaseMedal test

Plan your entries, costs and heats in DanceFlow. Your studio's season plan shows each competition, what it will cost and whether your lessons will last until then.

Words on this list

CompetitionSanctioned competitionLevelClosed syllabusNewcomerSingle danceMulti-danceScholarshipEntry feePro-AmEntryRegistrationNDCANational federationRoutineFigurePrivate lessonPracticeCostumeDress rulesDance shoesShoe brushTimingMusicalityHeatRoundFloorcraftPractice partyHair and makeupTanHeat listBack numberScheduleSessionOn deckJudgeEmceeRecallCallbackResultsMarksPlacementSkating SystemShowcaseMedal test

More checklists

• Plan a competition season 25 items
• Your first showcase 17 items
• A new student's first month 14 items

Plan the season where the lessons already are

DanceFlow keeps a studio's lessons, students, packages and competition plans in one place, and each student sees their own. Free to start.