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When you get there, dance with everyone in the place. You'll become a better dancer if you dance 

with a variety of partners of varying levels. Use your time with less experienced dancers to perfect techniques and footwork used with basic patterns. Pay attention to the varieties of style and technique. Try your hottest moves, best syncopations, or play with the music with the more experienced dancers. Be sure to include dances with people you are likely to draw at a future Jack & Jill competition. Be friendly, and as you begin to meet more and more people you will find more and more opportunities to dance. The more you dance, the more you'll improve.

In your first competition your stomach will be in knots, your palms will sweat, your mouth will be full of "cotton," and your heart will be racing. "Why have I done this?" you ask, as self-doubt creeps in. "Everyone is going to look at me. I'll make a fool out of myself." And then the dance is over and it wasn't so bad. In fact, the experience was sort of pleasant. That's the moment you're hooked! Now you have to repeat the experience every chance you get. It gets easier with repetition and you get better with repetition. As you begin to relax, you can begin to work on dancing well rather than trying so hard. We all want to look good out there. But "trying hard" won't ever look good. Keep competing. All that practice, all that dancing, all that time listening to the music pays off. 
 
 

In picking the right division my basic philosophy is, "follow the rules." Contest organizers have a written set of rules. Read them and do what they say. Having said that, it's difficult to come back from a competition where you danced Novice and didn't make the cut, and then find yourself placed by the rules in the next contest in the Advanced division. Don't expect consistency in the West Coast Swing competition world. It is not standardized yet. However, the World Swing Dance Council is trying by developing a system for placement. It may or may not be used at your next competition. But where I've seen this system used, in spite of a few ruffled feathers, it made it much easier to comply with everything running much smoother. Maybe the constant bane of the competition world, "Oh, I don't know what division I should put myself in" will dissolve as this system is adopted by more events.

If you have a choice of which division to enter by the way the rules are written there are several factors to weigh. You are not guaranteed a win in the lower division. In fact, you have increased the odds of getting a bad draw. Even if you do win, it may turn out to be a very shallow victory. If you dance in the higher division, you may get a better partner but the competition will be much tougher. It's a tough choice. Bottom line: if the rules allow you to choose, pick the division where you feel most comfortable dancing. You'll dance your best dance where you are most comfortable.

Although we don't like to admit it, a lot of the emphasis in the dance world is placed on appearances. You have a better chance of doing well if you're either handsome or beautiful. But you will note I said "a better chance," not a "shoo in." The rest of us can equalize this advantage by trying to look our best. Posture is something judges can evaluate even before the music starts. Ladies, have a makeup consultation, and remember the competition dance floor needs heavier applications than normal. Have your colors done or at least get some objective advice.

It's helpful to have experience with the music that is played for competitions. Buy the music and play it often, at home or in the car. Tap your feet. Listen for the breaks. If your local club or dance DJ does not 
 

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