Australian Dance Adjudicators

DANCER TIP

Trust the choreography. You do not need to perform at 100% intensity for the entire routine.

Many dancers believe they need to maintain maximum energy from beginning to end. While commitment is important, performances that remain at the same intensity throughout can feel one-dimensional.

Strong performances are built on contrast. They include moments of softness, stillness, suspension, and restraint alongside moments of power and attack. These shifts create texture and allow the audience to remain engaged.

Adjudicators often respond to dancers who understand dynamics and pacing. A quiet moment, performed with intention, can be just as impactful as a technically demanding sequence.

Dance is not only about how much energy you bring to the stage. It is also about understanding when to hold back and allowing the choreography room to breathe.

Congratulations to both Susan Sargison VIC and Karen Penning QLD, members of our association. We are very proud of your appointment.

Recently, our President, Lisa Maloney, and Secretary, Rowena Sanderson, worked together at the Bendigo Competitions Society.

The wider dance community benefits from their experience, thoughtful feedback, and decades of industry knowledge. As members of Australian Dance Adjudicators, we are equally grateful for the dedication they continue to demonstrate behind the scenes.

Australian Dance Adjudicators is a member-led, not-for-profit organisation, and the ongoing work of our Executive Team is undertaken on a voluntary basis. Their commitment helps ensure our network remains professional, respected, and connected, while continuing to support adjudicators and the broader dance community across Australia.

Thank you, Lisa and Rowena, for your tireless service and leadership.

To find out more about Australian Dance Adjudicators, visit adadance.org.au.

DANCER TIP

Learn to finish one movement before beginning the next.

Many dancers focus on what comes next before fully completing what they are doing now. In performance, this can create movement that feels rushed, unfinished, or unclear.

Finishing a movement means more than simply stopping. It includes completing the shape, tidying the line, extending through the fingertips and feet, and demonstrating clarity in your technique. It is about giving each movement a clear beginning, middle, and end.

When dancers consistently finish their movements, their dancing appears more controlled, intentional, and polished. Even simple choreography can become more compelling when performed with precision and care.

Adjudicators often notice dancers who take ownership of every movement phrase. Their performances tend to feel cleaner, more mature, and easier to watch because the audience is able to fully receive what is being presented.

Control is not only demonstrated in what you can do. It is demonstrated in how clearly you finish it.

Dani Zink thoroughly enjoyed her time Adjudicating last week! To find out more about our dance adjudicators visit www.adadance.org.au 💫

Donna Lierse enjoying her adjudication appointment. To find out more about our Dance Adjudicators visit www.adadance.org.au 💫

DANCER TIP

Use your focus with intention. Where you look helps tell the story of your performance.

Many dancers concentrate so heavily on remembering choreography or executing difficult skills that their eyes become disconnected from the performance. They may look down, stare into the distance, or lose focus during transitions.

Your eyes direct attention and communicate intention. A change of focus can create anticipation, reveal emotion, establish relationships, and make movement feel purposeful. Strong use of focus helps the audience understand what you are saying through your dancing.

Adjudicators often notice dancers who are fully engaged with where and why they are looking. It creates presence and draws the audience into the performance.

Your eyes are part of your choreography. Train them with the same care as your feet.

Dani Zink doing what she loves!
To find out more about our adjudicators visit www.adadance.org.au 💫