Olympic Esports Series 2023: Dance like a professional with these Just Dance tips from a USA champion
Olympic Esports Series finalist Joseph Cordero (aazzlano) speaks to Olympics.com about his top tips for success in Just Dance competitions.
While most high-level players found Just Dance while hanging out with their families, it has become much more than a party game. Competitors from all around the world have fought in international tournaments to become the best hoofers around.
They've dedicated themselves to learning the ins and outs of Ubisoft's series of colorful dancing challenges. We spoke to the USA's championship-winning dancer, Joseph Cordero (aazzlano), about how other players can move in sync with every Katy Perry and Lady Gaga lyric.
Just Dance tip #1: Flow With The Ruleset
Every Just Dance competition – whether they be at home against your family or in front of an international audience on Twitch – needs a ruleset and a playlist. Some competitions focus on the in-game assessment of how you die while others will bring in special judges to evaluate the dance moves.
"You have to play with the format in mind," Cordero said. "It depends on the tournament."
The key is to train with the tournament playlist while finding ways to make your own performance pop.
"Generally there is a list of songs that you can train to. I usually spend five to eight hours a session practising them," Cordero said. "Just Dance is about your own performance; you're not facing off against other people. You need to focus on yourself."
Just Dance tip #2: Mind Your Mindset
Cordero began streaming on Twitch before the first Just Dance World Cup took place in 2014. He took training seriously in the years to come, which helped him place third in the 2018 Just Dance World Cup.
"The biggest thing that helps me when I'm training for a competition – no matter what song it is and no matter who I'm facing – is holding the belief that I'll win. I'll train enough for whatever happens. I want to be able to beat them. I'm not satisfied with my training on a song until I'm confident I can do my absolute best on it.
Repetition, just like in any esport, is key in bringing a high level of confidence to the dance floor. You wouldn't step out for a performance in front of hundreds of people without having the moves committed to memory. The same applies to earning the highest score in Just Dance.
Just Dance tip #3: Head To YouTube
After listening to will.i.am's That Power when he first played Just Dance at his parents' house, he was hooked. He didn't buy the game at first though, he watched all sorts of YouTubers dance to One Direction and Pitbull. He was obsessed with Just Dance.
"I played League of Legends a lot, which was high stress. Just Dance was chill and fun. I can just vibe to the music," Cordero said. "When we started I was just playing with my family. None of us knew what were doing."
Cordero also discovered that YouTube could be used as a tool in training.
"One of the biggest tips I can give is watch the videos of the songs in slow motion," he said. "There are a lot of small details that a lot of people miss. They are minor details, but some things do enhance the way that it looks. It can definitely help."
He brought up No Tears Left To Cry by Ariana Grande and New World by Krewella and Yellow Claw, both in Just Dance 2019, as examples. The footwork and forward movement featured in each song will make your performance pop. Other tidbits are ripe for the picking in other videos from the huge catalog of songs Just Dance offers.
Make sure to check out some of the best Just Dance players in the world compete for the first major title since 2019 when the Olympic Esports Series finals kick off in Singapore on June 23.