Performance Strategies for Latin American Dancesport: A Convergent Mixed-Method Design

Physical preparation is widely regarded as important in dance competitions; however, how dancers employ performance strategies in actual competitive situations remains underexplored. Thus, this study was carried out to investigate the performance strategies of Latin American Dancesport athletes in Region XII. A mixed-methods approach, specifically a convergent design, was employed with 200 Dancesport athletes to gather quantitative and qualitative data via the administration of a survey and an interview guide. The results revealed a high level of performance strategies among Latin American Dancesport athletes, where self-talk, emotional control, automaticity, negative thinking, and distractibility recorded high levels. Further, the test of significant difference in the performance strategies for Latin American Dancesport Athletes showed that performance strategies of student-athletes did not significantly differ by age and sex, but significantly varied by school division. Moreover, the participants' standpoint on their performance strategies for Latin American dance showed that they have strong confidence in their mental skills, thus enhancing their overall competitive performance. The joint quantitative and qualitative research results were merging.