The energy and excitement is building with 9 weeks to go before your ballroom dance competition.

Here are some tips on preaparing for your next ballroom dance competition 9 weeks out.

1. Finalize your hotel, event and meal package.

Dance competition weekend packages include hotel reservations, event fees and meals. It is common to get the hotel for the night before the competition, usually a Thursday night and the final day of the competition, usually a Sunday night. Depending on the package you buy some packages include all meals.

2. Schedule a hair styling appointment.

When competing as with all dancing you can let personality shine through. There are no hard and fast rules regarding hairstyle for ballroom dance competitions. Looking good is a key part to feeling strong and confident. Feeling strong and confident is a key part to dancing your best.

Hairstyles for your dance competition are be determined by which dances you are doing and may even change from dance to dance. At 9 weeks before your competition it is good to think about what length and color you will want your hair on the day of the competition.Â

For women be prepared to pull your hair back in a tight bun so that it is not distracting you or your partner during your dance. Clean classic styling is preferred for smooth and standard dances and you can be a little more creative for latin dances. Having clean hair lines will let the judges see your head movements clearly.

Gentlemen, you want to be clean cut for both dance styles. Minimal facial hair is preferred for Rhythm and Latin dances and a clean shaven face is preferred for Smooth and Standard dances. Once you have discussed this with your dance teacher you can schedule an appointment with your hairstylist at the appropriate time.Â

3. Start thinking about accessories like jewelry and make-up.

Ballroom dance judges look for clean lines with a splash of sparkle. Your Arthur Murray dance instructor will help you decide if bracelets, necklaces and earrings are appropriate for your competition. You will want to purchase these items soon so you can start wearing them while you are practicing your dance routines. No one wants a wardrobe malfunction on the dance floor. Let’s not forget our safety pins, bobby pins and anything else we may want to help keep everything together.

4. If you plan to buy new shoes, buy them now so they will be broken in on competition day.Â

Dance shoes are the foundation of your movement. You will want to have a pair or two of shoes that look and feel great for your competition. Men you can buff out any scuffs but you can’t get around a shoe that is low on heel grip. Start thinking about purchasing the right shoes for your dance and wearing them a few times to break them in without compromising their looks.

You may be able to buy shoes at your local Arthur Murray dance center or check out the online Arthur Murray Dance Shoe Store.

5. Look at your schedule and make time to rest before and after the competition.

As we talked about briefly in our blog post on how to prepare for your ballroom dance competition with 10 weeks to go, you may want some buffer time on days before and after the competition to gather your focus and energy. Maybe you want to let your Yoga teacher know that you won’t be in for a fews days or schedule an extra few hours for the babysitter. Anything you can do to make yourself comfortable and feel like you have enough time for you will help you enjoy your dancing and dance better.