Ivan Kalinin and Kali Grinder from The Dance Zone in Henderson, NV You’ve worked all year to perfect your routines, and now it’s time to show off on the competition stage. But suddenly, the nerves kick in and you second-guess yourself. What if I forget my dance? What if I fall? What if I have […]
“The first time I saw Chantel Aguirre dance was in a video,” recalls choreographer Travis Wall. “My first thought was that she had crazy lines. My next thought was that I wanted to meet her.” A few months later, Wall did meet Chantel, who was 18 at the time and working as an assistant at […]
Sarah performing her solo, “The Black Hawk Waltz,” at NYCDA Nationals. By ProPix. At last summer’s Dance Awards finale in NYC, superstars including Travis Wall, Nick Lazzarini, Bobby Newberry and Mandy Moore all tore up the dance floor—but it was pint-size Sarah Pippin, now 14, who earned the only standing ovation of the night. Her […]
Canadian Dance Company performs a memorable routine at Showstopper’s East Coast Finals. (Photo Courtesy Canadian Dance Company) Think fouettés are the key to a judge’s heart? Think again. While judges love strong technique, tricks aren’t what they remember in the long run. Instead, creativity, performance quality and moving storylines reign supreme. Here, seven competition judges […]
You and 20 teammates have just hit the final pose of your production number. The audience—full of your studio’s supporters—is screaming its approval. You nailed it! Your team scurries into the wings, hugging and squealing in an excited huddle. You race to the dressing rooms, put on your matching jackets and head back to the […]