Judging Interschool dance competition - Experience and Tips for Students

I have been invited as judge to various dance competitions of schools and colleges, so I thought of sharing an experience and as well as some points which students can pay attention to, when they participate in a dance competition.

I recently, was invited as the judge for Inter-school dance competition conducted by Nrityanjali for Mumbai Schools. I was touched by the gesture of the team Nrityanjali. The way everything was conducted was heart warming. It makes me realise that human touch is important in everything. If we are able to create warmth and touch someone's heart, that always stays in our memory.

Students from different schools participated in the competition. It was a western dance competition for junior and senior students respectively. The efforts of the younger age group touched by heart. Some of them had really taken efforts and worked on the constume, props and small little details related to the performance. I was really happy and touched by the thoughts, some students had put into their performances.

What touched me in some of the senior students, were their efforts in choreography and hard work. I could clearly see talent and hard work oozing out of some of these teenagers. I feel happy when I see students taking activities like dance seriously. We might not realise but activities like dance really help us in life. They make us think, help us work out on our bodies, develop our skills.


Even if you think that you are not a great dancer, or some of you might feel, I never win, so what is the point? At that moment remember, that these activities will teach you a lot. So participate in them with the purpose of learning, improving, developing your personalities and not just winning.

I would like to share some of the things which students can keep in mind for a stage performance.

1. Respect for the Stage: Give and have due respect for the place where you will perform because the place you will perform contributes to the quality of your performance.

2. Dance performance is just not about coming, dancing and walking away. When one is performing all eyes are fixed on that performer. So the way you walk onto the stage, to the way you exit, all of it makes a difference.

3. Do not look at the judge consciouly or in fear. Either communicate with him through your performance and make a eye contact, if you are fearful or extremely conscious, then just don't look at him/her and continue to dance for the audience.

4. Don't forget to thank your audience, once your performance is over. This could be done through just on thoughtful gesture.

5. Do not treat a performance casually, give it due respect and you will shine on stage.

5. When you choreograph, try thinking out of the box. Think, what you can do, so you give the impression of being different. Think different from the crowd. Don't follow what everyone is doing.

6. Pay attention to every minute detail related to your performance. E.g. the rules, the duration, what songs or music is allowed, costume asthetics etc. Recently I judged a competition where one of the participants was extremely good, and could have won, but she chose a song which was not allowed, hence it is imperative that you clearly read the rules, so one's hardwork, doesn't go waste.

These were some of the pointers students should keep in mind while participating in a dance competition.

Enaakshi Kotwal
International Performing Artist
Belly Dancer/ Kathak/ Folk Dances/ Bollywood and Western/ Theater Actor