What To Do Two Weeks Before a Major Championship

The two weeks before a major championship can feel intense.

Excitement, nerves, pressure, last‑minute panic, the urge to fix everything all at once… it’s a lot. And for many dancers (and parents), this is where things can quietly unravel if there isn’t a clear plan.

At Move With Meg, we don’t believe the final two weeks are about doing more. They’re about doing the right things, with intention, clarity, and confidence.

That’s why we guide dancers through this stage using our three core content pillars:

• Movement – how you train your body
• Mindset – how you manage your thoughts and emotions
• Community – who and what you surround yourself with

Let’s break down exactly what to focus on in each area, two weeks out from a major championship.

🩰 MOVEMENT: Train Smart, Not Hard

Two weeks before a major is not the time to overhaul technique or chase brand‑new corrections.

The goal here is clarity, consistency, and confidence.

1. Choose 1–2 Priority Focuses

Instead of thinking:

“I need to fix everything.”

Ask:

• What correction will make the biggest visible difference on stage?
• What do I already understand, but need to apply more consistently?

This might be:

• Turnou throughout the whole dance
• Straight knees during movement sections
• Maintaining posture when tired

One or two focuses is enough. Anything more usually leads to overwhelm.

2. Maintain – Don’t Max Out

This is a maintenance phase, not a building phase.

That means:

• Keeping strength, not pushing PBs
• Maintaining mobility, not forcing flexibility
• Shorter, focused sessions instead of long, exhausting ones

Your body should feel prepared, not battered.

If something is sore, niggly or tight – listen. You don’t excel at majors by training through pain two weeks out.

3. Fulls With Purpose

Now is the time for intentional fulls.

Before each full, ask:

• What am I focusing on in this run?

After each full, reflect:

• Did I apply it?
• Where did it slip when I got tired?

This builds awareness and trust – far more valuable than just counting how many fulls you’ve done.

🧠 MINDSET: Prepare Your Mind Like Your Body

Your mindset in the final two weeks can either support your performance… or sabotage it.

This is where many dancers struggle silently.

1. Normalise the Nerves

Feeling nervous does not mean you’re unprepared.

It usually means:

• You care
• This matters to you
• Your body is getting ready

The goal isn’t to get rid of nerves – it’s to learn how to dance with them.

Try reframing:

• “I’m nervous” → “My body is preparing to perform.”

2. Shift From Outcome to Process

Two weeks out, results thinking creeps in fast:

• “What if I don’t place?”
• “What if I don’t get recalled?”
• “Everyone expects me to do well…”

Instead, anchor into process goals:

• What does my best dancing look like?
• What can I fully control on the day?

Judges decide results. You decide preparation, effort, and intention.

3. Visualise With Structure

Visualisation works best when it’s specific.

Spend a few minutes each day:

• Visualising your walk on stage and how you want to feel
• Hearing the music start
• Feeling calm, grounded, and focused
• Dancing through the whole dance with positivity and control

This trains your nervous system to recognise the competition as familiar – not threatening.

🤍 COMMUNITY: Protect Your Energy

This pillar is often overlooked, but it’s huge in the final two weeks.

1. Choose Your Voices Carefully

Notice who you’re listening to right now.

Helpful voices:

• Calm
• Supportive
• Grounded
• Focused on effort, not pressure

Unhelpful voices:

• Constant comparison
• Panic‑driven advice
• Over‑analysis
• Negative or fear‑based comments

You’re allowed to protect your bubble.

2. Use Community for Support, Not Comparison

Watching others train, post on social media, or talk about the competition can:

• Inspire you
• Or drain you

Be honest about which it is for you.

Sometimes the most confident choice is:

• Muting
• Logging off
• Staying in a smaller, safer space

Community should make you feel supported, not smaller.

3. Lean Into Safe Spaces

This is where spaces like the MWM Gold Club matter.

A place where:

• Questions are welcomed
• Nerves are normalised
• Wins and wobbles are shared
• Guidance is clear and calm

You don’t have to do the final two weeks alone.

Two weeks before a major championship isn’t about becoming a different dancer.

It’s about:

• Trusting the work you’ve done
• Refining what already exists
• Supporting both body and mind
• Staying connected to the right people

Prepare with intention. Protect your energy. And remember…your worth as a dancer is never decided by one day or one result 💚