It’s that time of year again: dance competition season. For many in the dance education industry, this period is synonymous with heightened competition, a surge of complaints, and perhaps, a sense of weary complacency.
If you’re feeling a sense of déjà vu, you’re not alone. Many dance professionals share these sentiments. Having spent years immersed in the world of competitive dance as a dancer, instructor, choreographer, studio owner, and judge, I understand these feelings deeply. In fact, I haven’t personally participated in a dance competition since 2016.
Since the release of my book, Trash The Trophies, in 2020, the feedback has been overwhelming. The recurring theme is the persistent toxicity and the significant burden that competition dance places on dance studios.
Online forums become flooded with grievances, particularly from Thursday to Tuesday each week. The sheer volume of discussions about issues like competition levels – I’ve easily seen over 50 threads in just two weeks – highlights the widespread nature of these concerns. These conversations echo many of the points raised in my book, indicating a lack of meaningful change within the competitive dance industry.
The Cycle of Complaints and Complacency in Dance Competition
A complaint, at its core, is a grievance. And grievances deserve to be acknowledged and addressed. However, despite studios voicing their concerns directly to competition organizers, meaningful solutions and changes are often absent. This lack of responsiveness contributes to a sense of frustration and, ultimately, complacency.
Dance studios play a crucial role in guiding clients on the best path for their dancers’ training and development. When studios heavily invest in and promote dance competitions and conventions, it’s naturally perceived as an endorsement. This becomes problematic when the values and direction of these competitions diverge from the studio’s core purpose and vision for dance education.
Re-evaluating Studio Priorities: Is Competition Dance Competition Aligned with Your Goals?
I urge you to resist complacency. If a shift away from the traditional competitive dance model is necessary for your program, embrace that change without fear. This isn’t about being “anti-competition” – it’s about being “pro-dance education.” As we navigate the evolving landscape post-pandemic, it’s vital to recognize the shifting priorities and needs of our communities, including our own.
For those feeling isolated or hesitant about moving away from standardized traditions, know that it’s possible to reclaim the energy, time, stress, and financial resources that extensive competition involvement demands. This space can be reinvested into initiatives that are equally meaningful, but more impactful and purposeful for your studio’s brand and bottom line. You can still cultivate exceptional dancers, and maintain the respect of your peers, without the constant pressure of the Competition Dance Competition circuit.
Creating a separation allows you to distance yourself from a third-party industry over which you have limited control. By establishing this boundary, you prevent external factors from negatively influencing the perception of your studio’s value and brand – a concept I explore further in my TEDx talk, “You Weren’t Built to Break.”
Embracing Meaningful Dance Education Beyond the Competition Dance Competition
Over the past two years, I’ve had the privilege of assisting numerous studios in transitioning their competition programs into richer, more meaningful dance education experiences. These programs are uniquely tailored to each studio’s individual ethos, and every studio that has made this shift is flourishing.
So, before you compose your next frustrated post or complaint about the dance competition world, consider the potential momentum you could gain by focusing on: (a) technical excellence in dance, (b) the intrinsic value of performance itself, and (c) experiences that nurture both exceptional dancers and well-rounded individuals.
Imagine the sense of purpose gained by fully advocating for your clients’ best interests, as well as your own business objectives.
If the recent years have demonstrated anything, it’s the remarkable innovation and adaptability of dance studios. We have the power to shape resilient, determined, and successful young leaders.
We have the power to positively change the world through dance.
Let’s not relinquish this opportunity to organizations that are resistant to necessary change for the betterment of our businesses and our dancers’ well-being.
Dance competitions are sustained by our collective participation and financial investment.
Once you make the shift, the cycle of Competition, Complaints, and Complacency will fade. You’ll be too engaged in being a Creative and Confident Changemaker, earning the respect and admiration of your community.
Need to explore alternative ideas for your dance program?
Let’s schedule a time to chat and discuss how to move forward.
