Showmanship

The most important thing you need to have in a routine is a sense of performance.

It is so important that without it, even if you were to execute a difficult and impressive routine cleanly, you will still be missing that X-factor. But if you execute an average and maybe even slightly less-than-perfect routine with confidence and a sense of performance, your team will be the one that leaves the strongest impression upon the audience :)

When you perform a routine, it is not just about knowing your part and just performing them with that concentrated look on your face that has you staring at the floor throughout the whole routine. (dear less experienced members of The Rebels, do take note of this :] )

No. It is about performance, as well. Make eye contact with your audience to let them see how confident you are. Engage the crowd. Tell them to or make them go WILD at your performance. Perform. Chest out. Head high. Wear a look on your face that says, "Yeah, come on! Watch this! We're gonna rock your socks off!"

No room for shyness. You're on stage/mat! These are the only times you get to be cockily confident and not be hated for it :p Your chance to be flirtatious and be someone entirely different!

The exhilaration of performing and hearing the crowd scream for you. There is no drug which can substitute that satisfaction. Off stage, you can be incredibly timid. But on stage, you are in a different world. Take me for example, I dare not let go of myself and enjoy dancing freely on a dance floor at social events/places. Honest to goodness, I have friends who can testify that they have had to drag me onto the dance floor and even then I just stood there superbly shy and scared :p But they can also tell you that I am totally different when I am performing. Heck, I get so enthusiastic that I may just be actually scaring the crowd with my ferocity/intensity (which, of course, I do not recommend you to do) :p

It is not just about doing a routine. It is about performing ;)

So get your butts onto the mat and wow the crowd, Rebels. Show them that we are bloody good and that we are darn proud of it!

Bytheway,.... having a fixed grin on your face is not the same as a genuine proud smile.

the Final Lap

it's the final lap. don't give up now.

dear Rebels members,

it's the last week heading up to the competition. it is going to be tiring. it is going to be tough. just a word to everyone, it's not enough to just know your steps and dance them, ok. you need to perfect your routines as well. all the little little things like how you walk to position, arm levels, timing, sharpness, synchronization, energy, facial expression, eye contact with the audience, your sense of performance. they matter. we mean it when we say  a clean routine will get you far. but know that you are aiming for a reasonable level of perfection. if it's good enough, move on. don't dwell on a set for an unnecessarily long period of time.

do not leave all the correction to just one person to point out cos you will end up hating that person for "nitpicking" on the "small" details and making you practice again and again. you are a team. there must be an understanding that all of you have to do all that is possible to help each other perfect your routine. if any of you notice something that can be corrected, say it out. and if you have any problems or opinions on a matter, say it out. do not keep it to yourself and sulk about it alone. SAY IT OUT.

it's the last lap. when practising, it is really important to do so full-out. yes, it is tiring, but you need to get used to it so on the competition day itself, your body would already be conditioned to handle the stress. since the competition will last pretty much an entire day, all the waiting and nervousness will definitely suck you dry of your energy. do not wait to be told to practise full-out. plus, if you do your routines properly and get it right, then there would not be a need to keep repeating the same thing over and over till you feel like strangling someone...

we are all tired now. do not waste time waiting for others to call you to come to position. please take the initiative to get up and be ready when it is your turn to practise.

for stunts, if a mistake happens, get ready to continue with the next stunt immediately. do not give dramatic sighs, put on a sour face, groan or wander off. know that EVERYONE is frustrated too. so keep your displays to yourself. do not add to everyone else's frustration. and when pointing out a mistake, say it nicely. no one likes being blamed in an accusing manner.

in sports, it is not just about competing and being good. it's about character as well. watch your temper, watch your words, watch your actions, watch your expressions. they reflect what kind of a person you are.

on the competition day, you are going to see other teams practice and perform. some will not be so good. do not laugh at them, inwardly or outwardly. some will be good. do not get discouraged and give up before you have even fought the battle. like what was said nearer the top of this freaking long post: a clean routine goes a LONG way. put on a good show on the mat regardless of anything. even if you think you can't win, give a kickass performance that reeks of confidence. let the audience at least remember you as that team with the energy and kickass performance :)

tempers are going to fly under the pressure we are all facing right now. try to keep your cool. we can pull through this.

Behold, our might,

The Rebels rise to pow'r,

Time for battle, time to fight,

Rebels to the fore,

Spirit, strength, determination,

We're taking over, the floor!