As a content creator for ten-dance.com and a seasoned dance professional, I recently attended the Nexstar Dance Competition in Lansing, MI with my students. Having experienced dance competitions both as a student years ago and now as a teacher, I was eager to see how Nexstar measured up. This review is based on my firsthand experience and aims to provide an honest assessment of the event for those considering Nexstar dance competitions in the future.
One of the first things that stood out was Nexstar’s session-based schedule. Dividing the competition into sessions like “Friday Evening,” “Saturday Morning,” and “Sunday Afternoon,” each focusing on specific dance categories such as intermediate and advanced small groups or productions, seemed like a well-organized approach initially. This structure appeared logical on paper, promising a streamlined experience for participants. However, the actual execution of this schedule fell short of expectations. The competition frequently deviated from the planned order, with significant skipping and alterations to the announced program. This inconsistency made it incredibly challenging to anticipate performance times or awards ceremonies, leading to a sense of disorientation for both teachers and students.
The disorganization extended beyond the schedule and became particularly noticeable backstage on the second day. The raised stage design meant that dancers couldn’t effectively wait in the wings to prepare for their performances. Compounding this issue, the backstage manager’s assistance in notifying dancers of their upcoming numbers became inconsistent. This breakdown in communication resulted in considerable chaos. Dancers were forced to rush to the stage, sometimes tripping in their haste, after belatedly hearing their number called. Furthermore, the confusion led to instances of props being set up for dances not scheduled to perform next, adding to the overall sense of disarray.
In terms of judging, Nexstar appeared to maintain a reasonably fair standard. The majority of performances received High Gold and Platinum awards, with the Platinum level primarily awarded to advanced groups, reflecting a differentiation in skill levels. Notably, Nexstar introduced “Diamond” awards for advanced level dances achieving near-perfect or perfect scores. During the Sunday morning session, three Diamond awards were presented. Based on my observations, the scoring generally aligned with the performance quality, suggesting a competent and equitable judging panel.
However, the awards ceremonies presented a mixed experience. While awards are undoubtedly a highlight of any dance competition, several aspects of Nexstar’s ceremonies detracted from the overall positive atmosphere. The consistent use of the same, non-danceable music throughout each awards session was a noticeable drawback. Traditionally, awards ceremonies are a moment for celebration and joyful movement, but the uninspiring music choice dampened this spirit, preventing the energetic participation often seen at dance competitions.
Adding to the drawn-out feel of the awards, the announcer’s repetitive phrases became quite tiresome. While her intention was likely to be encouraging, the constant repetition of phrases like “Take a well-deserved bow” and “So-and-so is going to be so proud of you” lost its impact and contributed to the ceremony’s extended duration. Furthermore, the inclusion of numerous special judges’ awards, while intended to recognize outstanding performances, felt excessive and further prolonged the proceedings. Even during the awards ceremonies, the schedule inconsistencies persisted, making it difficult to follow the award presentations and maintain engagement.
Perhaps the most concerning aspect of the Nexstar competition was the implementation of a judged photo contest. While photo contests are common at dance events, Nexstar’s approach of judging individual headshots and dance photos based on perceived aesthetic appeal was problematic. Instead of simply announcing finalists and winners, Nexstar awarded gold, high gold, and platinum designations to each photo entry. This system inadvertently created a comparative judgment on the children’s appearances, effectively implying a ranking of their looks. Awarding a platinum to one child’s photo and only a gold to another based on subjective attractiveness is inherently upsetting and inappropriate, potentially impacting young dancers’ self-esteem. A more suitable approach would have been to simply recognize finalists and winners without assigning tiered awards based on subjective photo evaluations.
In conclusion, my overall impression of the Nexstar dance competition is that while it wasn’t a disastrous experience, it also didn’t stand out as exceptional. It certainly wasn’t the worst competition I’ve attended, but significant improvements are needed for me to consider returning. The excessively long awards ceremonies, the unpredictable schedule disruptions, and the shortcomings in backstage management were notable weaknesses. While no dance competition is without its flaws, Nexstar needs to address these key areas to enhance the overall experience for participants and ensure a more positive and organized event in the future. For studios considering dance competitions, exploring alternatives might be beneficial until Nexstar demonstrates improvements in these critical aspects of their events.
