How to prepare for ASSET?

How Do I Prepare For High School Dance Team Tryout Week?

• so i asked a question not too long ago on how to feel more comfortable with dancing in public. and ive now taken a step by asking for a dance team application!! i actually signed up. after filling out the personal info and signatures on the app, i now must know how to prepare myself for the tryouts. they r from may 7th through the 10th so i have about 4 weeks to actually practice for it. the application doesnt suggest any certain clothes to wear or moves to know so that just makes it more suspenseful for me lol!! for the ppl who actually have gone through this whole high school dance team tryout session, wut do u think r some basic things i should know and be familiar with b4 actually going to the tryouts? and of course im nervous and worried. wut r some techniques u guys have tried or tips that u all have that helped to cut down on nervousness? any particular clothing i should wear?? shoes?? i just dont know. please help, thanx in advance. oh yeah and on the application, it asks if we have any physical limitations. wut applies under these limitations?? like if u cant do the splits or something? or something more serious like scoliosis? this 1 girl had it and still made the team last yr so yeah, not really sure wut that means. on the app, there is also a question with an 8 line blank asking how i feel my role as a dance team member. does my answer sound okay enough and make u think, "ok, yes she would be a great asset to the dance team!"? "I view my role as a dance team member with high priority. I am aware that what I do or fail to do can either make or break the team's success. We are all responsible for the legacy of our team. And my goal individually is to remain committed to the notion of contributing to a legacy filled with optimism, school spirit, and an extraordinary reputation. My job as a team member would be to do my part in our union by cooperating and contributing to our team and school as much as possible. If I was chosen as a ____________High School __________ dance team member, I would take pride in this distinguished accomplishment by fulfilling my necessary duties as a dedicated member. I believe that when we are working together by sharing a common love for hard work and dancing, we can succeed anything that we put our minds to!" i normally dont need help with my essays but i feel so nervous about this 1 lol!! and i know i repeated myself a bit in the middle....ima think of something later. sorry if i sound dumb but i just want to do this right and not make myself look foolish. and i have been warming my body up by stretching today. ive done 40 lunges, practice kicks, spins, toe pointing, some other stretches, and i know how to do splits fairly well but i do want to get them a bit flatter to the ground. i dont want it to hurt as bad as they do now when i do them in the future. and any other movements u suggest i practice? thanx

• Answer:

  Personally, I would be wary of Pomgirl's advice - you can't just have anyone work on your splits with you. If they don't know what they are doing, they can cause serious injury. If you can, go to a local dance studio and take some classes! When it comes to classes, some studios will let you enter at any point as long as it is the correct level for you, or some studios will offer pay-as-you-go. If that doesn't happen at any studios near you, look into taking a few private lessons if possible. It might sound like a lot, but if you have natural ability they will help you show that to the judges and double your chances of making it. You could take privates from a studio, or you could ask some of the senior girls on the dance team to meet with you and help you out. You should also practice basic dance skills - pirouettes, chasses, chaines, and basic flexibility. If you don't know what these are, look them up on youtube. JFKvideos tends to have decent instruction, however dance with caution! Clothes - tights, black shorts, tight black top. If you can't get anything else, black soffes will do, however tight dance shorts are usually best. Again, if you can, get convertible tights in a nude or a light pink. The best possible shoes would be jazz shoes, but as those can be around $20-$30, so if that is not feasible you can either order foot undeez, go barefoot, or wear gym shoes. If there are no dance stores near you, the online site dancewear solutions has a good selection and great prices. http://www.youtube.com/user/jfkvideos/videos?sort=dd&view=0&page=4 Good luck! I hope it all works out.