Seriously, this whole international dance fest thing felt like climbing Everest at first. Tiny little me at my local dance school, dreaming about Paris or New York stages? Yeah right. But hey, gotta start somewhere. Let me spill exactly how I did it, step by messy step. No magic, just grunt work.
Tip 1 Got Real About Money
First thing hit me? Costs. Flights, hotels, food, fest fees… holy sht it adds up! I stared at my bank account like it owed me money. Started scrimping hardcore. Brewed my own coffee, skipped dinners out, sold some old gear online. Opened a separate savings pot labeled “DANCE FEST OR BUST”. Every dollar counted.
Tip 2 Google Became My Bible
Next, the hunt. Didn’t have a clue where to start. Googled stuff like “international dance festival 2024 for newbies” and “affordable dance competitions Europe”. Fell into rabbit holes for hours. Made a messy spreadsheet. Looked for fests with clear “Apply Here” buttons. No fancy jargon! If their website made my head hurt, I skipped it. Found a smaller, kinda artsy fest in Portugal that actually listed costs upfront.
Tip 3 Filling Out Forms Is Hell
Their application page? Oof. Needed:
- A video of me dancing. Spent weeks agonizing over the “perfect” minute.
- A bio. Made me sound way less boring than I am.
- Weird questions about “artistic influences.” Panicked a bit.
Seriously, almost gave up three times. Finally just gritted my teeth, filmed my rehearsal choreo (warts and all), wrote the bio like I was talking to a friend, and slammed that submit button before I chickened out.
Tip 4 Booking Stuff Made Me Sweat
Got the acceptance email? Freaked out (happy freakout!). Now the real panic set in. Flights? Compared prices like a crazy person for days. Found a cheap red-eye, sucked it up. Lodging? Fest offered a “budget hostel” block – booked it instantly. Way cheaper than finding my own place. Visa? Portugal needed one for my country. Started collecting papers months early. Passport photos, bank statements… nerve-wracking!
Tip 5 Packed Like a Paranoid Pro (Kinda)
Week before departure, stress packing. Main rules:
- Copies of EVERYTHING: Passport, flight docs, fest acceptance, insurance. Printed copies + phone photos + cloud.
- First Aid kit: Blister plasters, painkillers – danced enough to know.
- Comfy clothes: Workshop days are LONG.
- Snacks: Airport food robbery? No thanks.
Checked the list 100 times. Still felt like I forgot something.
So, Did It Work?
Landed in Lisbon, jet-lagged but buzzing. The hostel was cramped, workshops were intense, the schedule was nuts. Met people from like, 15 different countries. Some parts were pure chaos. But dancing on that stage? Even if it was small? Absolutely unreal. The whole thing cost less than I feared by being a total scrooge and booking early.
The takeaway? It ain’t about being perfect or famous. It’s about doing the dead simple stuff: save the cash, find the fest, fill out the damn form, book the flight, pack your socks. One clunky step after another. If my awkward butt can stumble through it, seriously, so can you.
