As a dance content creator and studio owner, attending dance competitions is crucial for staying updated with the industry and understanding different competitive platforms. Recently, I took my students to a Nexstar Dance competition in Lansing, MI, and I want to share my unbiased review. It’s worth noting that this was my first dance competition experience in five years since I was a competitive dancer myself. While my memories might be a bit hazy, I’m committed to providing an honest perspective on Nexstar dance competitions.
One of the first things that stood out was Nexstar’s schedule structure. They divided the competition into sessions based on time slots like “Friday evening session,” “Saturday morning session,” and “Sunday afternoon session.” Each session was designed to feature specific dance categories, such as intermediate and advanced small groups, or productions and lines. Initially, I appreciated this organized layout. It seemed logical and easy to follow. However, the actual execution deviated significantly from the planned schedule. The amount of schedule jumping was excessive, making it nearly impossible to anticipate when our numbers or awards would be announced. This lack of adherence to the schedule became a significant point of frustration throughout the event.
The scheduling issues escalated on the second day, particularly concerning backstage management. The raised stage design made it impractical for dancers to wait in the wings. Compounding this, the backstage manager ceased to effectively communicate upcoming performances. This breakdown in communication led to considerable chaos. Dancers were rushing up stairs to get onstage, often tripping in their haste to perform when they heard their number announced, if they were fortunate enough to hear it at all. Prop setups became disorganized, with teams preparing props when their dance was not actually next in line. The backstage area felt increasingly disorganized and stressful as the competition progressed. This aspect of the Nexstar dance competition was a noticeable drawback.
In terms of judging at the Nexstar dance competition, I found it to be reasonably fair. The judges awarded a significant number of high gold and platinum awards, with platinum distinctions primarily going to advanced groups. Nexstar also presented “diamond” awards, intended for advanced level dances that achieved near-perfect or perfect scores. During the Sunday morning session, I observed three diamond awards being given out. Based on my observations, the scoring seemed to align with the performance quality of the dances, suggesting a fair and consistent judging panel.
However, the awards ceremonies at the Nexstar competition presented several areas for improvement. Firstly, the repetitive music selection became monotonous. The same track played for every award presentation, and it lacked the upbeat, danceable energy that I remember from my own competition days. As a student, the awards ceremony was often a fun time to celebrate and dance on stage. This element was noticeably absent at Nexstar. Secondly, the announcer’s repetitive phrases became quite grating. While she seemed pleasant, hearing phrases like “Take a well-deserved bow” or “So-and-so is going to be so proud of you” repeatedly felt excessive and prolonged the ceremony unnecessarily. Furthermore, the inclusion of numerous special judges’ awards, while potentially well-intentioned, felt overdone and contributed to the drawn-out nature of the awards. The awards ceremony also mirrored the scheduling issues of the main competition, with announcements jumping around, making it hard to follow the results and further adding to the overall sense of disorganization.
Perhaps the most concerning aspect of the Nexstar dance competition was their approach to the photo contest. While many competitions host headshot or dance photo contests, Nexstar chose to judge individual photos competitively. Instead of simply announcing winners, they awarded each photo a gold, high gold, platinum, or diamond based on perceived visual appeal. This format felt particularly problematic. It essentially ranked children based on their headshots, implicitly suggesting that some children were “prettier” than others, with higher awards implying greater aesthetic value. Awarding a platinum to one child’s photo and a gold to another’s based on subjective attractiveness seemed inappropriate and potentially damaging to young dancers’ self-esteem. A more appropriate approach would have been to simply announce finalists and winners without assigning tiered awards based on appearance.
Overall, my experience at the Nexstar dance competition was mixed. It wasn’t a terrible experience, and it’s certainly not the worst competition I’ve attended. However, if I were making the decision, I would likely choose not to return. The drawn-out awards ceremonies, the chaotic and unpredictable schedule, and the shortcomings in backstage management detracted from the overall experience. While no competition is perfect, Nexstar has several organizational areas that need significant improvement to enhance the experience for both teachers and students. For studios considering Nexstar dance competitions, it’s important to weigh these organizational challenges against the fair judging and other aspects of the event.
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