beyond the trophy
picture this: the music fades, the lights dim, and your name isn't called. you’re sitting on stage, trying to downplay the storm of emotions swelling in your chest and struggling to keep your composure. here’s the thing: we’ve all been there. it’s emotional, heart breaking even! you put in so much work and realizing you haven’t achieved what you’ve been working for is one of the saddest realities of dance competitions. but the reality is: we've been focusing on the wrong prize. the pursuit of perfection isn’t worth the emotional toll that some kids experience - not to mention perfection isn’t achievable in the first place! we shouldn’t be focusing on the trophy. let’s talk about what we gain from dance competitions BEYOND the trophy and how we can shift our mindset to a learning mindset rather than a perfection mindset. buckle up cause this is a long one!
celebrating the wins, no matter how small!
RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF SETBACKS:
the most obvious takeaway for young kids at competitions is learning resilience. dance truly taught me that no matter how many times i’m overlooked, beaten down, exhausted, whatever - that i always am able to get back up and go at it again. usually with a renewed sense of purpose (that’s another post that’s coming on how to be mentally tough!).
once i got my first job, my boss told me she only wanted to hire dancers from then on out. the thing about competitions is it teaches us how to take constructive criticism, it teaches us how to literally keep going in the moment if you fall or forget. most importantly it teaches us that failure is inevitable and necessary for growth. it’s a hard lesson to learn and one that i’m so glad i learned at the young age i did.
learning to lose gracefully is just as important as learning how to win.
THE POWER OF TEAMWORK AND COLLABORATION:
group dances, by nature, are a collaborative effort. you are learning and performing together, doing partner work, sharing the literal same emotions in the same minutes on stage. as dancers, we learn at a young age how to rely on others. we learn how to pull our own weight. this is valuable in every situation in our life. it’s so fun to lift each other up and work together towards a common goal and prepares us for the real life when we have to work with others, compromise and figure things out together. you learn how to create a space where you can lift each other up and push each other, rather than being competitive or toxic.
the strength of the team is each individual member, and the strength of each member is the team.
DISCIPLINE AND TIME MANAGEMENT:
ooh buddy i could talk about this all day. my time management skills all came from dance! my work ethic came from dance! when i got my starbies job i was immediately the hardest worker there. it was INGRAINED into my bones not to slack off. (walk with a purpose, anyone?) your discipline comes from putting your all into what we do at a young age and it carries over into every adult scenario. then between school work, managing your sleep & friend activities - you’re learning about priorities and managing your time to fit everything together.
dance teaches you how to manage your time, and that is a skill that will help you in all areas of life.
BUILDING CONFIDENCE AND SELF-EXPRESSION:
performing on stage is the best way (well for me and almost every other dancer i know) to boost your confidence. developing a strong stage presence is key to being a dancer and also helps your personality in the long run in interviews, public speaking or simply meeting new people. if someone is nervous being on stage, it helps them to overcome their stage fright. there is absolutely NO OTHER feeling like stepping off of a stage. you feel an adrenaline rush like nothing else.
to dance is to be out of yourself. larger, more beautiful, more powerful.
LEARNING HOW TO TAKE CRITICISM:
i’m gonna expand on this topic that i mentioned earlier - but i’ve learned it’s a dying skill to be able to handle criticism. learning how to take a correction is key to growth. i’m still getting corrected all the time and it never feels great in the moment but afterward it’s a good little reminder that i’m NOT. DONE. GROWING.
my dance teacher sara always told me, ‘if i’m not correcting you, that means i don’t care about you.’ and i do the same for my kids. i try to make it as clear as possible that i correct you because i love you and i want you to grow. the judges are doing the same. they’re taking what you presented on stage and critiquing in to help you grow! and it’s so good to stop and listen and really note what they are giving you to work on. then it’s easier to apply that to your whole life.
you are receiving critiques so that you keep growing. perfection is NOT the goal.
speaking of perfection. this is where i’ve been thinking that we are focusing on the wrong things.
in the relentless pursuit of technical perfection, we often lose sight of the heart of dance: movement quality, creativity and performance. real dancing, the kind that resonates with audiences and judges alike, is less about flawlessly executed steps and more about the nuanced expression woven into every gesture.
it's the fluidity, the intention, the emotional depth that transforms a routine from a series of movements into a captivating story. when we prioritize authentic movement quality over rigid perfection, we unlock a richer, more meaningful experience for everyone. competitions should be a celebration of this artistry, encouraging performers to embrace their individuality and connect with the music on a visceral level, rather than striving for an unattainable ideal.
to be clear: go to ballet and technique class. it’s so important. technical mastery is undeniably a cornerstone of dance, a vital foundation upon which artistry flourishes.
building a strong technical base provides young dancers with the tools to execute complex movements with precision and control. but, in our quest for perfect lines and engaged cores, we must not overlook the soul of dance: genuine expression and movement quality.
while the technical score often holds significant weight in competitions, we must remember that artistry awards can dramatically influence the outcome, proving that judges and audiences alike are moved by more than just technical prowess. in training young dancers, we should prioritize teaching them how to dance, not just how to perform steps.
how do we do that? this involves fostering a deep understanding of musicality, encouraging emotional connection to the choreography, and cultivating a unique movement signature.
it's about empowering them to translate their inner world into physical expression. yes, strive for technical excellence, but never at the expense of authentic dancing. at the end of the day, you are learning to dance. your training should be a journey of self-discovery, a process of unlocking your potential as an artist. prioritize the joy of movement, the thrill of connection, and the power of expression above all else.
let technique serve your dancing, not the other way around, and let your dancing illuminate your technique.
competitions are a valuable tool. but let’s not get swept up in winning awards. i get a rush watching my kids on stage, but i never love the finished product as much as i love knowing the work that goes into it. knowing what there is to learn from competing is just as important as the actual act of competing!
i would love to see us start to encourage the next generation of dancers to not only master technique, but to truly dance, to feel, and to express, leaving behind a legacy of artistry that resonates far beyond the competition stage.
