How to Create a Pole & Aerial Routine for a Showcase Without Losing Your Mind

So, you’ve signed up for a showcase. Congratulations! You’re about to embark on a thrilling journey of self-expression, artistry, and possibly a few existential crises. But don’t worry, I’ve got you. Whether this is your first performance or your tenth, let’s break down how to put together a routine that wows the audience and doesn’t drive you to consider a career in competitive underwater basketweaving instead.

Step 1: Start Early (Seriously, Do It)

You know that feeling when you’re cramming for a test the night before? That’s exactly what you don’t want when creating your routine. Give yourself ample time—at least 6-8 weeks—to experiment with different combos, transitions, and floorwork. This also gives your body time to adjust to the increased training load without spontaneously combusting. This also allows you time to really work through the difficulty of a skill or sequence. A word of caution: if this skill or sequence is only successfully nailed half the time at best, TAKE IT OUT, and put something more attainable in its place. From personal experience, and failure on stage, set yourself up for success every step of the way. You can always work on that sequence or skill for a “next showcase” goal. And always remember that simple and polished is better than ambitious and sloppy. A well-executed basic move will always outshine a wobbly, half-finished trick.

Step 2: Pick Your Song Like Your Life Depends on It

Your song choice sets the mood for everything. Do you want to be sultry? Dramatic? Straight-up unhinged? Choose wisely, because you’re going to hear this song roughly 17,000 times before the big day. If by week three you’re resisting the urge to hurl your speaker out the window, you chose correctly.

Step 3: Be Open to Critiques (Even When It Hurts)

Your coach isn’t trying to ruin your life when they tell you that your spin looks more like a flailing noodle than a graceful bird. We want you to shine! Sometimes, that means dishing out a little tough love. Feedback is your best friend- embrace it, apply it, and remember that it’s all about helping you reach your full potential (not just making you redo that invert for the 50th time).

Step 4: Avoid Overtraining (Yes, You Need Rest)

Look, I get it. You want to nail that perfect combo, hit that power move, and basically look like you belong in Cirque du Soleil. But training seven days a week with no breaks is a surefire way to end up curled in a ball of regret. Rest days are just as important as training days. Your muscles need time to recover so they can keep doing cool things without turning into angry, rebellious gremlins.

Step 5: Recognize Burnout Before You Start Hating Everything

If you suddenly loathe your routine, your training, and even your favorite post-workout snack, you might be dealing with burnout. Take a step back, mix things up, or even take a short break. Sometimes, a little distance from the routine can help you fall back in love with it. It’s perfectly ok to take a week off from training your routine and just take a class or two or just rest completely. Even top athletes taper before a big event. After a break you’ll often find you have fresh energy to power through.

Step 6: The Final Polish - Stand Out on Stage

Once you've nailed your routine, it's time to refine the details that will take your performance to the next level. Stage presence matters! Make eye contact, commit to your character, and perform with purpose. Eliminate micro-bends, ensure every movement is intentional, and embody confidence. There's nothing worse than a forgettable performance, so focus on creating a moment that sticks with the audience long after the music stops.

And now for the real fun part—shopping for a new outfit! Who doesn’t need another excuse for more class outfits? Give yourself enough time before dress rehearsal to practice with any complex outfits or props. The last thing you want is a wardrobe malfunction mid-spin! Don’t forget that hair and makeup are just as important as the moves themselves.

Step 7: What to Expect from Your First Performance

The first time you step onto that stage, you will feel everything at once: excitement, terror, possibly the urge to fake a sprained ankle and flee. But trust me, once the music starts, muscle memory kicks in, and suddenly, you’re doing the thing! The adrenaline will be real, and so will the sense of accomplishment when you finish. Try to remember, you hold all the cards here, the audience is seeing all your weeks of hard work for the first time, to them you’re inspiring before your music even starts. No matter what happens, the audience is rooting for you, and you’ll walk (or strut) away feeling like an absolute rock star.

Step 8: Embrace Mistakes - They Happen to Everyone

No one, absolutely no one, including your instructors—has a 100% flawless performance on stage. Adrenaline and excitement will have your blood pumping, and sometimes, little mistakes happen. The point of weeks of preparation is to mitigate and minimize those errors, but they are still part of the experience. The true purpose of a showcase is to reach a goal, overcome a challenge, and, most importantly, have fun showing off what you’ve worked so hard on.

And here’s the best part—those little mistakes? They can become your next challenge. Every performance teaches you something new, and what may have tripped you up this time can be your next goal to conquer. Each showcase builds on the last, helping you grow stronger, more polished, and more confident every time you step on stage.

Final Thoughts: Own Your Moment

Showcases aren’t just about impressing a crowd, they’re about challenging yourself, growing as a performer, and having fun. Every drop of sweat, every stumble, and every breakthrough leads to this moment. So, give yourself grace, celebrate the small wins, and most importantly, remember to breathe. You’ve put in the work, now trust yourself and enjoy the ride. No matter what happens on stage, you’re already a success just for showing up and giving it your all.

So go out there, shine bright, and make it a performance to remember!