Recently, I took my students to the Nexstar Dance Competition in Lansing, MI. Having not attended a dance competition since my own days as a competitive dancer five years prior, I went in with a fresh perspective. While my memories of competitions are somewhat vague, I am prepared to offer a completely honest review of my experience at Nexstar.
One of the first things that stood out was the schedule. Nexstar organizes their schedule into sessions categorized by time of day, such as Friday evening, Saturday morning, and Sunday afternoon. Each session features specific dance categories, like intermediate and advanced small groups, or productions and lines. Initially, this session-based schedule seemed logical and well-organized. However, the actual execution fell short. The competition frequently deviated from the planned schedule, making it nearly impossible to predict when a specific performance or awards ceremony would take place. This lack of adherence to the schedule was a source of considerable frustration.
Another significant issue, particularly evident on the second day, was the disorganized backstage management. Due to the raised stage design, dancers are unable to wait in the wings. Compounding this, the backstage manager ceased providing timely notifications about upcoming performances. This breakdown in communication led to chaotic situations. Dancers were rushing up stairs to reach the stage, often tripping in their haste to perform after belatedly hearing their number announced. Furthermore, prop setups became confused as it was unclear which dance was actually next in line. The backstage area descended into disarray, significantly impacting the dancers’ and teachers’ stress levels.
In terms of judging, I found the adjudication to be reasonably fair. The judges awarded a large number of high gold and platinum distinctions, with platinum awards primarily going to advanced level groups. Nexstar also presented “diamond” awards, reserved for advanced dances achieving near-perfect or perfect scores. During the Sunday morning session, three diamond awards were distributed. Overall, it appeared that dances were generally scored in alignment with their performance quality.
However, the awards ceremonies presented several areas of concern. The most immediate issue was the repetitive and uninspiring music selection. Unlike my experiences as a student, where awards ceremonies were a fun opportunity to dance and celebrate, the music at Nexstar was not conducive to dancing. Adding to the lackluster atmosphere, the announcer’s repetitive phrases became grating. While seemingly a pleasant person, the constant repetition of phrases like “Take a well-deserved bow” and “So-and-so is going to be so proud of you” became tiresome. The ceremonies were also excessively drawn out with numerous, seemingly unnecessary special judges’ awards. While special awards can be a nice addition, Nexstar overused them. Moreover, the awards ceremonies mirrored the general schedule issues by jumping around between categories, making it difficult to follow the proceedings.
Perhaps the most problematic aspect of the entire Nexstar competition was the photo contest. While many competitions host photo contests, Nexstar’s format was uniquely flawed. Instead of simply announcing winners, Nexstar judged each submitted headshot or dance photograph and awarded gold, high gold, platinum, etc., based on perceived attractiveness. This approach was deeply unsettling as it essentially ranked children based on their looks, implying that some were “prettier” and thus deserving of higher accolades than others. Simply announcing finalists and winners, as is common practice, would have been a far more appropriate and less damaging approach.
In conclusion, my overall impression of Nexstar was lukewarm. While not a terrible experience, and certainly not the worst competition I’ve attended, I would likely choose other competitions in the future. The excessively long awards ceremonies, the chaotic and unpredictable schedule, and the disorganized backstage management were significant drawbacks. While no competition is flawless, Nexstar needs to improve in several key areas to enhance the experience for both dancers and teachers.
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