Posts

meaning

How to Focus on the True Meaning of Your Dance Team In 2020

When was the last time you sat down and truly thought about why you do what you do as a dance coach? I know, we may jokingly question it all the time. During those late nights rhinestoning costumes, after a nasty parent email, or when you have…
grit

A Simple Solution to Choosing ​the Right Captain

This is a story about one of my biggest lessons as a coach. The year I learned to choose grit over talent... Nearly 10 years ago at tryouts for my dance team, there was a young incoming freshman just trying to keep up with the crowd. She…
positive reinforcement

The Special Power of Positive Reinforcement

Whenever I discuss the negative side to punishment, and why you should always avoid physical punishment I get questions about what to do instead. The focus is usually on the side of consequences. Coaches want to know, how do I get them to stop…

4 Reasons Not To Punish With Pushups

Did you ever have to run laps when you were late to practice? For many of us, we grew up with coaches and dance directors who used physical punishment for bad behavior and mistakes. It’s relatively common to have a team do wall-sits when…

Comparison is the Thief of Joy

President Theodore Roosevelt said it best: comparison is the thief of joy. What truly brings you JOY when you coach? Take a minute and think about that. For me, it's seeing the “lightbulb” moments in my dancers' faces. Like when…

How to Implement the 1% Rule for Habit Change

It’s easy to look at other dance teams and wish your team was more like the one you admire. "I wish we had their stamina." "They have such presence on stage." "I love the way they dance with fire and passion. I want to make that happen for…
communication

5 Fast Ways To Inspire Strong Team Cohesion Early In The Season

I feel like the term "team building" gets thrown around a lot, and we don’t always know exactly what to do, why, or how to help our team connect quickly. There are some old tried and true strategies, like playing “Heads Up” or other games…
dance team commitment and accountability

3 Strategies to Guarantee Genuine Team Commitment

When an athlete quits in the middle of the season, it usually causes drama, stress, and a lot of extra work. Granted, sometimes it’s for the best (bye-bye drama queen and your insane mother!). Generally speaking, we want a culture of team…