“The healthiest dancers feel loved no matter the result. Make sure your child knows that.” — Rhee Gold
As competition season begins, excitement, nerves, and high expectations often fill the dance studio. While goals, improvement, and performance are important, this is also a powerful time to reflect on what truly shapes a strong, confident, and resilient dancer.
Celebrate the Small Wins
Growth in dance rarely happens all at once. It shows up in tiny moments: a straighter leg, a cleaner landing, better focus in warm-up, or a kinder response to a correction. These small wins matter just as much, if not more, than scores or placements.
Encourage dancers to recognize their own progress. Did they try their best today? Did they listen? Did they push through a challenge? Those are victories worth celebrating.
Stay Focused on Your Own Journey
With competition season comes the natural temptation to compare. It’s easy to look at others and feel either discouraged or overly confident. But comparison pulls attention away from personal growth.
Instead, remind dancers: your only real competition is yourself. Are you getting stronger? Are you improving your technique? Are you showing up with a positive attitude?
How You Practice Is How You Perform
What happens in the studio directly reflects what happens on stage.
- Are you truly applying corrections given by your teachers?
- Are you thinking about your technique during warm-up instead of going through the motions?
- Are you dancing with intention, focus, and respect for the process
These habits build not only better dancers, but better learners.
Beyond Trophies and Ribbons
Long after awards gather dust on a shelf, what remains are the memories and lessons learned.
Ask yourself:
- How did I feel on stage?
- Was I kind to other competitors?
- Did I congratulate those who won?
- If I won, was I gracious and humble?
Talent may open doors, but character determines who you become along the way.
Building Dancers—and Humans
At the heart of all of this is one simple truth: dance is about more than winning. It is about discipline, joy, respect, empathy, and growth.
When students feel supported, valued, and loved, regardless of the outcome, they develop not just as dancers, but as confident, compassionate people.
And that is the greatest prize of all. 💛
We highly recommend utilizing a dance journal to support your dancer in capturing their goals and progress.