Tag: the dance awards

Ava Wagner looks over her shoulder while standing with her back to the camera. She has long dark hair and wears a crop top with jeans.

Comp Star Turned Commercial Dancer Ava Wagner Is Living in the Moment

Ava Wagner’s dance career seems almost predestined. “My grandma was stretching my feet the minute I was born,” she says. Her family’s connection to dance spans generations: her great-grandmother, Shirley Larkin, founded Larkin Dance Studio in Minnesota, where Wagner trained until she was 18; her grandmother, Michele Larkin-Wagner, currently co-owns the studio. After excelling as […]

A close-up of Madisyn Rose Amos, in costume onstage, smiling widely with her hands clasped and arms bent in a show of gratitude.

Catching Up With Competition Star Madisyn Rose Amos

Madisyn Rose Amos is a force to be reckoned with in the competition circuit. At just 12 years old, she clearly exemplifies what it means to be a multifaceted dancer. A quick scroll through her Instagram reveals competition and convention reels spanning a variety of styles, including jazz, ballet, contemporary, and ballroom. (In fact, after […]

Why You Should Know Comp Queen Keagan Elle Capps

Not only does 14-year-old Keagan Capps have insane flexibility, but she uses it to the fullest extent (pun intended). And her ability to nail a range of emotions and musical accents draws audiences in. Keagan took home the title of National Junior Best Dancer at The Dance Awards in 2019. This past summer, she took […]

How Choreographer Will Loftis Finds Inspiration

As a choreographer, Will Loftis has touched almost every part of the dance industry. He’s worked on television, from “So You Think You Can Dance” to “The World’s Best” to “The Voice,” and he served as the supervising choreographer for the “Dancing with the Stars” 2020 tour. He’s a regular on the convention circuit, teaching […]

How to Stay Motivated When You Just Don't Feel Like Dancing

No matter how committed you are to dance, there’s no denying that training can be grueling. Sometimes it’s physically exhausting; sometimes it’s mind-numbingly repetitive; sometimes, like during the annual Nutcracker run, it’s both. How can you ensure that your love for dance will survive these difficult moments, when you just don’t feel like spending yet […]

The Eyes Have It: How Dancers Can Use Their Eyes Effectively Onstage

Have you ever been unable to take your eyes off a dancer, only to realize it’s because they’re using their eyes so beautifully? Powerful eye contact can be the detail that takes your performance to the next level. Not everyone knows how to use their eyes effectively, though. Too much eye contact can make you […]