Assemble a committee. Pick people with varying skills to comprise your committee. A dance expert to wrangle qualified contestants, a production coordinator to oversee the show, and a producer to handle logistics and administrative tasks are the most important roles needed.
Determine what type of dance show you want to hold. Vote with your committee on which styles of dance you would like your show to be comprised of. Think about your demographic or who you like to come to your show and pick a style of dance that is appeasing to that demographic.
Determine what type of show you are putting on, and decide if the show is geared toward a live audience, will it be taped and broadcast, or both. Also decide if you will offer cash prizes, product prizes or bragging rights and a trophy; if you will charge for attendance, and whether any of the proceeds will go to charity.
Build a budget. Create a spreadsheet detailing all the costs you plan to incur from this project. The financial cost of the decisions made in Step 3 will impact your overall budget. Prizes, TV crew, director, sound mixer, venue, permits, contest judges and master of ceremonies all cost money. Depending on your relationship with your committee members and their level of expertise, they may also charge you a fee. After totaling the cost of all known information, add a few thousand dollars for contingency.
Select a venue. Several things determine what venue you hold your show in, such as cost, capacity, aesthetics, location and parking.
Put together a media kit of your dance show concept that captures your vision. It should contain a brief bio about yourself as well as the others organizing it. Also include photos of dancers performing the style that will be in your show, as well as photos of the proposed venue. Don't forget to include an accurate budget of how much the show will cost to put on.
Raise funds. Use a media kit to target private investors who favor creative endeavors or corporate sponsors with the promise of product placement or endorsement. You can also post the press kit on grassroots donating websites like the GoFundMe website, which targets large and small investors. You can also hold charity bake sales and car washes to raise funds.
Pick a date that works with the schedules of your committee, your venue and the timeline of when you will receive funds from your investor.
Hire a production staff. If you are taping the event, hire a crew for that. Whatever type of show it is, you need someone to be the master of ceremonies. It is also nice to have several production assistants and/or interns around to serve as gophers and jack-of-all-trades. Make sure the cost of this staff is reflected in your budget.
Advertise for contestants. Depending how big the project is, you might want to advertise on television or radio. Do not underestimate the power of a well-placed press kit in the hands of someone with an influential email list. Advertise on Facebook, Twitter, Myspace and reputable casting websites like Breakdown Express, Back Stage and Casting Networks.
Create a judging system. Choose three respected members from the local dancing community to judge the contest. These judges should have varying opinions and backgrounds. They should judge each contestant based on technical skill, execution, style and flair.