CONVENTION ETIQUETTE

From "Get A Leg Up"

Secrects, Tactics and Tips for convention success.

A supplement to Dance Magazine

Written by Brady Hohn

A master class can go from a fun, one-time experience to one that strengthens your technique, artistry, and professional connections. It all depends on how you handle it. Here are some tips:

Look Your Best:

Arrive with your hair and makeup done, and wear a bright, attractive outfit. Be sure you are dressed to work. Dangling earrigns or a risque top may look chic in a pose, but after a tripple pirouette, you go from "the most" to "the mess".

Appreciate Criticism:

At a convention, the teacher is (usually) onstage. Traditioally, instructiors to not give individual corrections and stay onstage teh entire class. If a teacher does give you a correction, follow the direction immediately, thank them, and remember that you must have caught his/her eye as someone with potential.

Dance Outside The Box:

When you take a new class, there always are unfamiliar excercises. You feel ridiculous, and your first instinct is to mark it - "Sorry, it's not my thing". Great dancing is not about correctness, it's about energy and emotion. Attack teh movement with confidence and a willingness not to try , but to do!

The New Reverence (Bows/Thank-You's):

A master class is an opportunity to make an impression on a professional who has taken time to share their technique and perspective. At the end of class, make sure you than them personally.

Take Note:

Whether it's career tips or a technical correction that finally clicks, master teachers are full of advice. Grab a moment after class to jot down words of wisdom. you never know when an hour and and a half can change your entire dance career.

-Brady Hohn