Ask competition judges which style they adjudicate the most, and they’ll likely say “contemporary.” It is an absolutely packed category at most events. But what exactly is it? Contemporary dance doesn’t have a codified technique. True to its name, it looks remarkably different now than it did 10 or even five years ago. And at […]
There’s nothing judges love more than sparkling-clean choreography. Keeping competition routines in tip-top shape is always labor-intensive—but especially when the number is the work of a guest choreographer, who may have set it months ago and probably isn’t available to oversee the cleaning process. Here’s how to polish even the smallest details of a guest […]
With so much else on your plate, from navigating virtual learning to keeping your studio afloat, it can be tempting to to cut corners or to settle for less in order to check “costumes” off of this season’s to-do list. Ultimately, though, finding a costume vendor you trust is paramount to keeping your stress levels […]
Tiare Keeno successfully straddles the worlds of concert and commercial dance. She began her training at one of the country’s premier competition studios, Center Stage Performing Arts Studio in Orem, Utah, before eventually transitioning to a top-notch classical conservatory, Classical Ballet Academy. All the while, she kept a close relationship with the razzle-dazzle of conventions, […]
“The best judges come from the competition circuit,” says Jill Wolins, who trains adjudicators for the Star Dance Alliance and Starpower National Talent Competition. “If you competed as a kid, you have proper respect for how hard these dancers work. It’s not easy to do what they’re doing.” Wolins began judging competition events in 2001 […]
Q: Our recitals are too long when we have both competition and recreational dancers performing, so I’m considering having two separate performances. Do you have any advice on how to do this without creating drama? A: If you get a reputation in the community for long shows, it can have a negative impact on attracting […]
Eric Coudron understands firsthand the hurdles competition dancers face when falling in love with ballet. Now the director of ballet at Prodigy Dance and Performing Arts Centre in Frisco, Texas, Coudron trained as a competition dancer when he was growing up. “It’s such a structured form of dance that when they come back to it […]
In its 14 years of existence, YouTube has been home to a world of competition dance videos that we have all consumed with heedless pleasure. Every battement, pirouette and trendy move has been archived somewhere, and we are all very thankful. We decided it was time DT did a deep dive through those years of […]
Q: I own a studio in a city that has a competitive dance market. I’ve seen other studios in my community put ads on Instagram and Facebook for open-call auditions in April, long before most studios have finished their competition season and year-end recitals. Is this fair? A: Studios in our community do the same […]
Zoey Anderson is the role model competition kids need today. As trends for the rising generation move more toward versatility and comprehensive training, 25-year-old Anderson is a professional who actually has been able to do it all. While training at Center Stage Performing Arts Studio in Orem, Utah, in ballroom, ballet, jazz, contemporary and hip […]