Coaching isn’t just about perfecting routines, it’s about understanding your team. Learn how one quick reflection activity can reveal what your dancers really need right now.

As a judge, I see incredible technique and flawless lines… and then there are moments where something just doesn’t click. Often, it’s inconsistent emotional expression from dancer to dancer that keeps a performance from truly shining. Nailing the steps is one thing, but connecting your heart to the audience is what makes a performance unforgettable. Movement tells the story, but emotions give it life.

Every dancer, from the rookie stepping into the first team practice to the veteran hitting the floor under competition lights, shares something powerful: A REASON.

A REASON they show up early, stay late, push through conditioning, and give everything to the routine.

But as the season goes on and practices get tougher, it’s easy to lose sight of that WHY. Between long practices, endless cleaning sessions, and the pressure to perfect every formation and count, the spark that started it all can begin to fade.

That’s why remembering YOUR WHY matters. It’s more than motivation, it’s the heartbeat of your performance, the energy behind every count, and the passion that brings power to every move.

Here are 5 reasons why remembering your WHY is so important…

Every individual wants to feel appreciated and find ways to contribute to the community with which they belong. So often in dance, individuals define their value based on their talent. Yet, there is so much more that is needed to create a positive team environment. It’s not about titles assigned, years of experience, or placement within a formation. It’s about how we show up for each other, how we connect, how we make the space around us better. That’s the kind of value that matters most. Yet, this is not celebrated enough on a daily basis.

This holiday season, why not take a break from the grind and do an activity to show each person how they are VALUED as an individual in your dance program by creating APPRECIATION PARCELS.

How did you do from the goal you set in October? What do you need to modify? It’s time to get out those journals and check in!

It’s time to get out those journals and check in!

To all my fellow judges, if I could give one piece of advice it would be to GIVE DETAILED, CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK! This month, Let’s address the why and the how!

Finding the balance between accepting your current role on the team & pushing for more is absolutely possible with the right mindset & focus. Every dancer plays an important part in the success of the team, & how you handle your role says a lot about your growth, maturity, & dedication.

Save this post for when you need a reminder to stay focused, humble, and hungry to grow!

Here’s a fun game to play with your team to work on communication!

This month, let’s visit one of your long-term goals and commit to the immediate goals needed to get the process started. We will do a check in next month to see how we are progressing!

Time to get out those journals!

Preparing your mental game is just as important as your physical game. Unlocking the power of the mind will take your training & performance to the next level & beyond!

Welcome to Part III of Creating Impactful Routines. In this blog post, we will continue to discuss some of my pro tips to help you focus in on what I’ve found to be helpful in building a solid and successful routine. After all, the ROUTINE(S) is what the season revolves around.

Welcome to Part 2 of Creating Impactful Routines. Last post we discussed using all 4 quadrants on the floor, viewing the routine from the judges’/audience’s viewpoint, and the use of coordinated visual interest. If you want to revisit these topics check out Part I (September 15, 2025).

We all make a difference in our team culture. Whether through words or actions. Whether big, small, loud, or subtle.

How can you make a difference in your team culture?

With over three decades of creating and judging for the dance team industry, I’ve learned A LOT!

I’ve created winning routines & I’ve had a few, well…let’s call them learning experiences!

In this blog post, I’ll share some of my pro tips to help you focus in on what I’ve found to be helpful in building a solid & successful routine. After all, the ROUTINE(S) is what the season revolves around.

 Whether you are new to choreography or an old pro, hopefully you’ll walk away with a tip or two to help make the process a little easier!

“I have multiple upper classmen on my team, what are some leadership positions I can assign besides captains?”

Have you been faced with a challenge and been told, “get out of your comfort zone?”  This phrase is commonly used by coaches/teachers because when we leave our comfort zone, that is where our greatest growth happens. If you are new to this feeling of discomfort or wondering what you can do to leave your comfort zone, here are a few ideas.

You’ve been named an alternate to the routine, now what?

For some, the new dance season has started. For others, that start date is just around the corner. Today, take a moment to do an emotional self-check on how prepared you feel for the season.

Let’s get out those journals!

It is natural to want to compare ourselves to others. How quickly we can PROVE our abilities based on our peers is believed to be a defining quality towards how “talented” we are.  Unfortunately, with this mindset we lose sight of what truly matters, the goal of IMPROVING.

As dancers, we spend most of our training and competing hearing about and thinking about what we need to improve upon. That is why we need to make a conscious effort to remind ourselves of our greatness as people and dancers.

LET’S GET OUT THOSE JOURNALS!