Your first dance showcase: a checklist

A showcase is the friendliest way to dance in front of an audience. Here is what to prepare, from choosing the music to the bow.

17 items 5 phases

01 Six to eight weeks before

• Choose what you will dance A solo routine to your own music, or a few heats on the floor with other couples. Ask your teacher what the showcase offers. ShowcaseSolo
• Pick the music For a solo, choose a track you love and cut it to a length your teacher agrees, often two minutes or less. MusicalitySolo
• Set the routine Build it from figures you know well. A showcase is the place to shine, not to try something new. RoutineChoreography
• Ask what it costs Entry, the teacher's fee for the performance, rehearsals and costume. Package

02 The weeks before

• Rehearse to the real music Every time, from the entrance to the final pose.
• Plan the entrance and the bow Where you walk on, where you start and how you leave. These moments are part of the show.
• Practise in front of people Dance for friends or at a practice party, so an audience feels normal. Practice party
• Try on the full costume Rehearse in it at least once, with the shoes you will wear. CostumeDance shoes

03 The day before

• Pack your bag Costume, shoes, hair and makeup kit, water and a warm layer. Hair and makeup
• Check your time on the programme And when to arrive for any rehearsal on the floor. Schedule
• Rest Mark through the routine once or twice, then stop.

04 On the day

• Arrive in good time Leave room for hair, makeup and a calm warm-up.
• Walk the floor Find your starting spot and the way on and off.
• Enjoy it A showcase is not ranked. If you lose a step, keep smiling and pick up the next figure. Showcase
• Read the feedback If a judge gives comments or a score, keep them for your next lesson. Proficiency

05 After

• Watch the video with your teacher It shows what to work on better than any mirror.
• Set the next goal Another showcase, a medal test or a first competition. Medal testCompetition

Studios run showcases in DanceFlow: who dances what, the running order, and what each student owes, in one list.

Words on this list

ShowcaseSoloMusicalityRoutineChoreographyPackagePractice partyCostumeDance shoesHair and makeupScheduleProficiencyMedal testCompetition

More checklists

• Your first competition 32 items
• Plan a competition season 25 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.