You Win Some, You Lose Some: Maintaining a Positive Attitude as a Competitive Dancer

Posted on July 16, 2015
By Shannon Thomas
In Dance Life

“I’m not in competition with anybody but myself. My goal is to beat my last performance” Celine Dion

Competitive Dance is a wonderful experience, but just like traditional sports it can bring along some tough life lessons for young kids involved. Like with any competitive activity or sport, you win some – you lose some and keeping a positive mind set can be difficult at times of defeat or embarrassment. A good teacher instills core values into their students that help them understand how to have a positive competitive experience. Competition can be a fun and rewarding experience, not only focusing on their development as athletes and dancers, but their psychological and social development as well.

Using Competition as a Motivational Tool

Students motivation is the highest when they are challenged by someone who is equal to their current abilities. The challenges they face should range from just below or just above their current level of capabilities, remaining in their comfort zone enough to keep them feeling confident. If the competition’s skill level and the competitive challenge increases too much, the fear of losing to someone better will take over. Most dancers don’t want to compete against anyone who is very superior or very inferior to them. They like to compete again someone who is at their level and provides a healthy challenge. This will motivate them to push further in confidence, furthermore increasing their motivation to improve.

Developing Positive Character Traits

There are numerous traits and qualities that can be learned and developed through exposure to competition. Values are learned such as; humility in victory, respect for oneself and others, fairness, grace in defeat, and general sportsmanship. Learning to wish others good luck, even if they are their toughest competition can go a long way. Congratulating those that have beat you will only build your character further. Being critical of your performances, even if you think you did well. Looking at small details while applying self corrections, can give you an edge and take your dancing further than you even expected.

Team Work

There is no I in team is a common phrase you use when explaining cooperation. Competition and cooperation are complimentary processes that go hand in hand in order for a team to compete effectively. When used together, these processes will elevate the level of commitment and effort from team mates as a whole. The goal of a team should be to reach a level of cohesiveness that strives for excellence even though they may all be performing separately or even competing against each other. Team work and support is paramount to a successful competition experience.

Dance Life

Shannon Thomas

Shannon Thomas grew up dancing since she was four years old. Performing and competing is where Shannon shined, winning top honors throughout the state of Florida for her solo and group performances. Shannon continued her dance education at the prestigious, Oklahoma City University for four years where she studied under Jo Rowan, Robert Reed, Tiffany Van Der Merwe, Kelli Rhodes Stevens, Kay Sandal, Patricia Oplotnik and more. She studied all forms of dance, acting and voice, performed with the American Spirit Dance Company and took classes in business, dance pedagogy and choreography.
She began working professionally while still at OCU as a dance captain and performer, dancing in trade shows, theme park reviews and other various productions. After moving back to Florida in 2008, Shannon performed as a guest dancer with Surfscape Contemporary Dance Theatre and other local arts events as a dancer.
Shannon has been teaching and choreographing for the past 15 years and has had immense success in the studio training dancers in an array of styles from ballet, jazz, contemporary to hip hop and tap. Her students have gone on to study dance, musical theater, acting, and entertainment business at schools such as University of Florida, University of Central Florida, Florida Southern College and Ball State to name a few. Her unique experience as an educated performer, instructor and choreographer is what makes Legacy dance training stand out.
Shannon is passionate about teaching the art of dance and encouraging her students to work toward being their personal best on and off the dance floor. Our dance classes are structured around discipline, integrity, respect and professionalism to maintain a high standard in technique, style and performance.
Shannon’s Choreography has been honored at numerous prestigious dance competitions around the state of Florida. Her Choreography can be seen on the competition stage, at the Civic Ballet’s Nutcracker and Embry Riddle Dancing Eagles to name a few. She takes pride in providing the most up to date and modern choreography to give her students an edge, without over doing trends and keeping the dances she creates age appropriate and unique.
Shannon is the director and award-winning choreographer of The Legacy Stars Competition Team. The Stars are a National Award-Winning Dance Team and Performance Company featuring invited Legacy Dancers that have been training toward team placement. The Stars are proud to perform at various events around the Port Orange and the Daytona Beach Community, including Relay for Life, Port Orange Family Days, Volusia County Dances, Junior League of Daytona, The Domestic Abuse Council, Cannon balls for Kayne and more.