Summer Sizzler

Where I Discover the Benefits of a Small Competition and Enter the Amateur Circuit

By Emmaline Mandel

The weekend of June 11th, a group from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities competed at the Summer Sizzler New Jersey DanceSport Classic in Hackensack, NJ. My partner and I entered the competition with the goal of having fun, and maybe picking up a few qualifications for USA Dance Nationals along the way. It was my first exposure to the world of amateur dance competitions, and two things struck me about the experience. The small size of the competition, and the large number of advanced dancers compared to collegiate competitions were of particular interest to me.

Some might view the small size of the Summer Sizzler as a disappointment, but for me it was the perfect qualifying competition. The greatest merit of a smaller competition is that it lends itself to learning and progressing. We got up close video footage of our dances that could be reviewed after the competition. In addition, a smaller competition forced me to learn the value of always being ready to perform regardless of the atmosphere. It is much easier to put energy into a dance when the stands are full, nerves are running high, and the floor is packed, but making a performance really vibrant when the floor is empty, and there are relatively few spectators can be harder. One of my teammates made an accurate comparison between a small competition, and 8 a.m. dancing; it is both important and difficult to look awake in both situations. My partner and I experienced this first hand when we were the sole couple competing in samba and jive. We had to be creative in finding ways to keep both our faces and movements alive.

After the bronze, silver, and gold events, the novice, pre-champ, and champ dancers took the floor. The energy level in the room grew as upper-level dancers competed. I would argue that the spike in energy level was partially due to the Minnesota contingent cheering loudly for our teammates, and not just the elegant dresses, and greater number of dancers in these events. Watching theses talented dancers provided another learning opportunity.

After the conclusion of the competition, we piled back into the car, and prepared to eat a large amount of sweets before crashing for the night. The great thing about the Summer Sizzler is that the fun did not end with the conclusion of the competition. After catching up on some much-needed sleep, on Sunday morning we set out to explore Princeton, and eat more sweets. Our exploration was fruitful, and we managed to get cupcakes from a bakery that won "Cupcake Wars", and visit two ice cream places in a matter of hours. After this excursion, it was time for the weekend to draw to a close.

Ultimately, the Summer Sizzler was a wonderful introduction to the world of amateur dance competitions. It provided a learning opportunity, and a means to help my dance progression. Naturally, the weekend wouldn’t have been complete without the copious amount of sweets I consumed, and spending time with my lovely teammates who were also in attendance at the competition.