“The ultimate goal is to connect fully for the duration of
your action, interaction or performance”

In Pursuit of Excellence 3rd ed. by Terry Orlick, PhD

   To be the best, it is not enough to simply be stronger, more fit or more knowledgeable than the next couple.  You also need to be completely focused.  If you come home from a competition, disappointed with your result, ask yourself, "How was my performance?".  In most competitions, you did not lose because your fellow competitors were better than you.  Rather, you lost because you did not perform at your peak potential. 

   Being mentally prepared for a competition or performance is equally, if not more important than being physically prepared.  Ultimately, it is your mind that controls how smooth or fast or slow or balanced your body moves.  Is your mind prepared to do this?  Is your mind prepared to do all this while you are on the competition floor... with other competitors on the same floor... with judges scrutinizing your every move... with a screaming audience... and being in a totally different dance venue?

   Attending various competitor practices around town will help you become mentally prepared for competition.  There, you will have to deal with the various distractions of other competitors, onlookers and possibly a different venue and floor size to what you're accustomed to.  (Check out the Practice Venue page for more information about competitor practices in the Lower Mainland.)

   Even while attending these competitor practices around town, sometimes we are still unable to stay focused for the duration of the practice.  JC Dance Co's PEAK training sessions provide a unique and supportive environment by keeping you mentally focused for a full hour and a half.  PEAK is specifically designed to test your mental focus during competitive situations.  (For more information about PEAK, click here.)   

   The following books are wonderful resources for any dancer to learn more about mental preparation for competition or performance.   More often than not, the mental barriers are what block a dancer's improvement!  If you want to know more about focussed connection, confidence, positive imagery, visualization or distraction control, come to PEAK, read the suggested books or check out the I2 section of our site for more helpful hints!

Suggested Reading...

• Dance to Your Maximum. By Maximilaan
• In Pursuit of Excellence 3rd ed. By Terry Orlick, PhD.
• The Tao of Pooh.
• Krishnamurti
• Manifest Your Destiny. By Wayne Dyer