Tag: nycda

A Day in the Life of a Dance Competition Judge

All your practice and prep for a competition leads up to the moment when you hit your final mark and look up at the judges’ table. But do you ever wonder what their experience is like? Follow along with Dana Wilson—a dancer, choreographer, member of The Seaweed Sisters trio, and faculty member/judge for New York […]

NYCDA Foundation's Annual "Destiny Rising" Performance Was All Kinds of Inspiring

Every January, students, parents, professionals, and lovers of dance all gather for the New York City Dance Alliance Foundation‘s annual fundraising performance “Destiny Rising” at The Joyce Theater. And every year we fall a little bit more in love with the foundation’s mission: “Investing in the next generation of professional performers by offering scholarships for […]

The Best Moments from Last Night's NYCDAF "Bright Lights Shining Stars" Gala

The annual New York City Dance Alliance Foundation fundraising gala, “Bright Lights Shining Stars,” is usually a star-studded affair. But last night’s 2017 event proved to be extra epic, thanks to tons of superb performances and appearances by some of Broadway’s best—and most legendary—dancers. The evening, held as a fundraiser for NYCDAF’s college scholarship mission, […]

Dance Spirit Presents: Isabella Torres' First NYCDA Nationals

This Nationals season, Dance Spirit followed four talented dancers from The Dance Awards, NYCDA, Showstopper, and Starpower for an inside look at everything that goes into the biggest competitions of the year. First up: Isabella Torres from Mid-Atlantic Center for the Performing Arts in Baltimore, MD, who competed at New York City Dance Alliance Nationals […]

Our Favorite Insta Posts of Nationals 2017

Nationals are in full swing all across the country, and we are LIVING for the gorgeous social media posts they’re bringing to our feed. Y’all are straight killin’ the Instagram game! Here are some of our favorite posts so far. Give them a look—you might even see some familiar faces. 😏 This Instagram slideshow makes […]

Inside the Life of a Successful Comp Kid

Katie performing a solo routine. Photo courtesy The Dance Zone. At 16, Katie Wolfe’s life revolves around competitions and conventions. When she isn’t competing in her hometown of Las Vegas, she’s traveling to competitions around the country with her studio, The Dance Zone, or taking extra dance classes to hone her technique. Katie knows what […]

What It Takes to Become a Convention Assistant

From the excitement of travel to rubbing shoulders with your dance idols, the life of a convention assistant is a whirlwind—and an exciting goal for lots of young dancers. The position has its glamorous moments, but it’s also a ton of hard work. Curious about what it takes to earn one of these coveted spots, […]

You Should Know: Nina Bartell

Nina Bartell is such a complete performer that when she was crowned Teen Outstanding Dancer at the 2015 New York City Dance Alliance gala, it felt inevitable. You’d never have guessed the 16-year-old had only begun competing solos two years prior to her big win. Bartell trains at Sweatshop in Denver, CO, where she studies […]