It’s that time of year again – dance competition season. For many in the dance education industry, this period is synonymous with a whirlwind of activity, but also, unfortunately, with a cycle of competition, complaints, and complacency. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, or like something is fundamentally misaligned within the competitive dance scene, you’re not alone.
I understand these feelings deeply. Having spent years immersed in the world of competitive dance as a dancer, instructor, choreographer, studio owner, and even a judge, I reached a point where I had to step back. It was in 2016 that I last judged a dance competition, and since then, my perspective has only solidified.
Since the release of my book, Trash The Trophies, in 2020, the feedback has been overwhelming. Studio owners and dance educators are voicing increasing concerns about the persistent toxicity and the heavy burden that Dance Competitions place on their studios. Online forums are often filled with anxieties and grievances, especially leading up to, during, and after competition weekends. Many of these issues echo the very concerns raised in my book, highlighting a stagnant environment within the competitive dance industry.
The recurring theme is clear: complaints are valid grievances that deserve attention. Despite studios raising concerns directly with dance competitions, meaningful changes are often slow to materialize or simply ignored. This disconnect creates a significant problem for dance studios.
Dance studios are entrusted by their clients to provide guidance and direction on the best path for a dancer’s training and development. When studios actively promote and invest heavily in dance competitions and conventions, it’s perceived as an endorsement. However, when the values and direction of these dance competitions diverge from a studio’s core purpose and vision, it creates a fundamental conflict.
This is where the danger of complacency creeps in. It’s easy to get caught in the routine, the tradition, and the fear of stepping away from the norm. But I urge you to resist complacency. If a change away from excessive reliance on dance competitions is needed for the health and growth of your program, I encourage you to embrace that change without fear.
Let me be clear: I am not anti-dance competition in principle. I am pro-dance education. As we navigate the ongoing evolution of the dance world post-pandemic, it’s crucial to recognize shifting priorities and needs – both for our students and ourselves.
For those who feel isolated or apprehensive about making a change, know that it is possible to reclaim the immense energy, time, resources, and stress that are often consumed by intense involvement in dance competitions. This reclaimed space can be reinvested into initiatives that are equally, if not more, meaningful and purposeful for your studio’s brand and, ultimately, your bottom line. You can cultivate exceptional dancers, and your studio will still command respect within the dance community.
By creating some distance from the third-party industry that dance competitions represent, you regain control. You prevent external factors from unduly 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”.
Over the past two years, I’ve had the privilege of assisting numerous studios in transitioning their competitive programs into more enriching and comprehensive dance education experiences. Each program is uniquely tailored to the studio’s specific ethos, and every studio that has made this shift is experiencing positive growth.
So, before you type out your next online complaint about dance competitions, consider the potential momentum you could generate by refocusing your energy on:
- Technical Excellence: Prioritizing rigorous and effective dance training.
- Performance for the Art of It: Cultivating a love for performance beyond trophies and rankings.
- Meaningful Experiences: Creating opportunities that nurture well-rounded dancers and exceptional individuals.
Imagine the sense of purpose you would gain by fully advocating for your clients’ best interests and aligning your business decisions with your core values. The past few years have demonstrated the remarkable innovation and resilience within dance studios, highlighting our power to shape determined, successful, and compassionate young leaders.
We, as dance educators, hold the power to effect positive change in the world. Let’s not relinquish that opportunity to organizations that seem resistant to evolving in ways that truly benefit our businesses and our dancers’ well-being.
Ultimately, dance competitions thrive because we choose to invest in them.
Once you make the shift, you’ll move beyond the cycle of Competition, Complaints, and Complacency. You’ll be too engaged in being a Creative and Confident Changemaker, earning the respect and admiration of your community.
Want to explore alternative approaches for your studio?
Let’s schedule a time to chat.
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