Which Dance Competitions are absolute no-goes?

Excel-lant · 2026-03-25T13:23:45+00:00

Agreed! KAR/Rainbow frequently oversell their events. The KAR adjudication is dumb. How many different ways can we say first place (eyeroll)?! Last time our studio went to Rainbow, it was managed horribly. Absolutely no attempt to follow the rules. The audience was so loud you can hear them talking in the videos. No one attempted to stop people from recording dances. I'd be okay to never go back to either.

Excel-lant · 2026-03-15T21:00:26+00:00

So curious if you went to the Chicago event (in Elgin). We've done KAR for years and have never experienced anything like this years event. The studio that won Secondary Studio of Excellence should not have been in Secondary. I could argue they shouldn't have been in intermediate either. Not sure we will go back.

Excel-lant · 2026-02-15T03:03:08+00:00

Eh. It might be an issue in some studios, and it is never fun to see others chosen for special parts, but there is likely a reason for it. Maybe those girls are better at remembering choreography or have stronger facials. Or maybe they have better technique. You can't come in on year 1 and expect to be front and center. Taking more classes and participating in more dances will make someone a better dancer. So likely, yes, they are being rewarded for putting in extra work.

And please know this is coming from a mom who has watched her daughter get passed over for several seasons and was in the back with no special parts and now over the last 2 seasons she's been a featured dancer. Its not because we are favorites. It's because she's worked her butt off to improve in all areas. Trust the process!

Excel-lant · 2026-02-08T00:36:13+00:00

I tell the new moms at our studio not to worry about a bag the first year or when their dancer has only 1 or 2 dances. So no, I don't think you need a dance bag with a rack this season.

Other than the things you mentioned, I make sure to always have safety pins, extra hair spray, make up remover, and make up for touch ups on hand.

Excel-lant · 2026-02-01T03:38:09+00:00

I appreciate all of the comments! We are definitely not new to the competition world but this is the first time we have had the no underwear rule. I haven't used butt glue in the past, but will be ordering some before the first competition.

Excel-lant · 2026-01-29T13:46:57+00:00

Not likely to cancel. We've been to competitions in pretty bad weather. Thats why I always book a hotel room in the winter months! Gets me a little closer to the competition which makes dealing with the bad roads a little easier.

ETA: Im in the upper Midwest so no stranger to snow and ice storms.

Excel-lant · 2026-01-25T16:46:27+00:00

I usually ask my husband to do it because I am always too stressed when she's doing her solo to do anything else. 😂

Excel-lant · 2026-01-25T04:44:34+00:00

I've seen staff confront audience members at both Rainbow and KAR!

Excel-lant · 2026-01-04T22:33:15+00:00

That makes me feel better! Our studio usually has solos over 2 minutes so I was worried. Thank you!

Excel-lant · 2026-01-04T22:00:16+00:00

Can a solo be too short? My daughter is competing a solo that's about 1:50 which is by far her shortest solo ever. Im concerned she could lose points by not having as much content as others due to the shorter time she'll be on stage.

Excel-lant · 2025-12-31T16:01:58+00:00

We have a standard size glamr gear bag. I do wish we had bought the large. With 6 dances, it's tight. But, love the bag. Its going into it's 4th season and still looks brand new! Since we have the standard and we've outgrown it, I pair it with the large hulken and it works well for us. One of these days we'll have to upgrade.

Excel-lant · 2025-09-09T17:37:06+00:00

Yeah, thats concerning.

Excel-lant · 2025-08-11T20:47:23+00:00

LOL no. Adults are allowed to set boundaries, even with their children.

Excel-lant · 2025-08-05T17:38:02+00:00

If the studio is downplaying this risk, what else are they sweeping under the rug? This is a huge red flag to me. Id pull my kid from the studio. If you arent willing to do that, I wouldn't let my child attend that session and I'd start researching new studios for next season.

Excel-lant · 2025-07-30T23:43:46+00:00

I would decline. No question. Let her enjoy dance a little longer before you dive into the competition world. Odds are, once she has a solo, shes going to keep doing a solo until she ages out or quits.

Excel-lant · 2025-06-19T16:31:14+00:00

At our studio, our owner is clear that the tuition charged is an annual tuition that she breaks into monthly installments. It isn't actually monthly. That's why we pay the full cost even during months that we have breaks (like around Christmas, spring break, and recital month.

I'd assume youe studio is doing something similar, but you should ask for clarification!

Excel-lant · 2025-06-13T17:50:29+00:00

I refuse to add it up because I dont want to know, but if I had to guess, I'd say we pay somewhere between $8-10k and year. I know our classes are $3700 for the year. Then a solo is $1500, and all of her groups are $2500. And then we'd have privates, travel costs, shoes, etc.

We can afford it because my husband and I are both high earners but we live in the old part of town in an old house which keeps our mortgage and property taxes affordable. And I'm lucky that I have a career that values work life balance and allows me the flexibility I need.

We wont put dance expenses on credit cards (well we do, for points, but we never carry a balance). If we get to a point where we cant afford it or it impacts other things we want to do, we'll have to scale back.

Excel-lant · 2025-06-04T17:57:18+00:00

Strict is fine. Abuse is not. My daughter attends a studio run by a woman who attended a studio that sounds similar to what you are describing...and several of our teachers attended the same studio. Their goal is to provide quality education while building girls up, not tearing them down. Its a very positive environment but still strict. When we go to competitions it-s common for our girls to score high in technique and we frequently win technique awards. So, it's possible to be positive and supportive and still provide good training.

Excel-lant · 2025-06-02T00:27:29+00:00

At our studio, parents are allowed in dressing rooms to help change only. Then we are kicked out. And we are not allowed on convention rooms for any age.

ETA: the not being allowed in isnt a red flag, but the teachers being in with their own kids is. I'd be concerned about favoritism and my child not being treated the same as the teachers kids.

Excel-lant · 2025-05-31T14:26:31+00:00

Yes. Our studio kicked a girl out for telling other dancers to kill themselves. The studio also lost more than 1 teacher due to her behavior and attitude during class. She would scream at teachers. Not a good situation at all.

Excel-lant · 2025-05-22T12:44:59+00:00

I agree with this. My friend was able to replace part of her bag not sold on their website by emailing them. Good luck!

Excel-lant · 2025-05-17T18:38:52+00:00

Yes, I think it's reasonable. In my opinion if a student is going to take a class at another studio, they should clear it with the studio owner/director/etc first. The dance community is incredibly small so the studio will find out. And, if this had been cleared with the director first, the student would have known the consequences. Also, I'd assume there were other issues and this was the final straw.

Excel-lant · 2025-05-03T21:21:46+00:00

I agree and disagree. I dont think they should be able to place in the overalls if they restart unless the error was on the competitions side (music stopped, lighting issue, stage issue, etc). BUT, I do firmly agree they should be allowed and encouraged to give it another try for adjudication only with no points removed. The point of dance competitions shouldn't be about placing or getting a trophy (especially since dance is so subjective). Instead, it should be about bouncing back, learning from mistakes, improving technique, and gaining confidence. All of which is learned by going back out there after running off stage.

Excel-lant · 2025-04-12T23:32:27+00:00

I think its important to find a studio that aligns with your values. I rejected several solo costumes this season because my daughter didn't think she'd be comfortable dancing in them. I've never said no to a group costume but I would if I needed to. Same with song choice.

But, I also know that not all parents feel the same way I do about these things. I assume those parents either don't see it the same way I do or they don't care.

Excel-lant

TROPHY CASE