Convention assistants: They’re the all-stars of every convention weekend, the student leaders who are trusted by renowned teachers to help guide the room while a full floor of young dancers follow their example. Scoring one of these coveted positions can seem elusive—and it’s true some are only available to competition title winners. But according to a veteran convention assistant, a seasoned assistant-turned-instructor, and a longtime convention director, opportunities abound for would-be assistants who know where to look.
Create Your Community
If assisting is on your vision board, it’s never too early to start networking with a convention’s staff and instructors. Avoid convention-hopping, and instead opt to attend one company’s events consistently. “While we hold open auditions for assistants every year, we do give first consideration to our own dancers,” says Joe Lanteri, founder and director of New York City Dance Alliance. “Who better to represent our organization than someone who has grown up with us?”
Start embodying the qualities of a good assistant while you’re still on the ballroom floor. “Teachers and choreographers can feel who is present in the moment, so be enthusiastic and open-minded,” Lanteri shares. “Obviously, there is a level of technical proficiency and versatility needed, but I think it’s equally important to demonstrate a strong work ethic, focus, and passion for dance.”
Capitalize on Opportunity
One of the most important factors when it comes to securing an assistant position is intentionally placing yourself around the right people at the right time. Growing up, Tony Mercado was a frequent competitor at Encore DCS, and over time he developed positive relationships with the company’s staff and convention instructors. After winning Encore’s Overall Mister Encore Extreme title in 2022, Mercado assisted at its convention Encore Extreme in 2023, and was then asked to train to be an emcee. “I made a point to always be willing to hop in and assist classes whenever they needed,” he says.
Now Mercado is attending college while also performing professionally around New York City, and he maintains regular communication with the competition in case an opportunity aligns with his schedule. “Once you have networked within a competition company, they will always have your back,” he explains. “Even if they don’t need you for an event—maybe even an entire season—following up and always being ready to help is vital.”
Haley Davis teaching at Adrenaline. Photo by Dyson Campbell, Courtesy Davis.
Similarly, Haley Davis, a former assistant and now a judge and guest instructor for Adrenaline, secured her first assisting gig by winning Adrenaline’s title competition. But after her yearlong tenure was up, she wasn’t quite ready to leave her time in the ballroom behind. “I was so nervous, but I went up to our boss at Nationals and said, ‘I’m really interested in continuing to work for you; can you tell me a little bit about what that looks like?’ And that’s how I got officially hired,” Davis says. “Approach the role with curiosity, and don’t be afraid to ask your teachers, and even the assistants you see working, for guidance on how to get there.”
Step Into Your Spotlight
How do you know you’re ready to become an assistant? According to Davis, it’s more of a mindset shift than a certain skill set. “As an assistant, the whole class is like a performance, which is a very vulnerable position to be in,” she notes. “Most of the time, I didn’t have things perfectly, but the switch for me was dropping my ego and trusting myself anyway.”
For Lanteri, assisting is a pivotal point in a dancer’s journey from student to professional. “It’s important that it is perceived as a job, with greater responsibility and accountability than simply dancing onstage,” says Lanteri. “We ask our assistants to sign an agreement which includes a code of conduct and a list of responsibilities and expectations.”
Haley Davis teaching at Adrenaline. Photo by Dyson Campbell, Courtesy Davis.
Be the Assistant You’d Want to Have
For Davis, staying humble and eager to learn is still at the heart of what makes a great assistant. “That’s the best kind of example you could give to other kids,” she says. Lanteri agrees: “We want to share our time and space with sincere, generous humans who happen to also be gifted dancers.”
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