Now that the dust is settling on the last big dance nationals event of the season… let’s talk about how making the Top 10 at events like The Dance Awards or Press Play is not the only measure of a dancer’s talent or potential! I see so many kids that are wonderful dancers absolutely crushed they didn’t make the top dancer lists and they are absolutely fantastic dancers. Some of these kids end up quitting dance because they think they are not good enough. The crazy part is, many of the top professional dancers will tell you they were not number one dancers when they were kids (and that’s if they danced competitively at all!!! Many of them never did!).
The results for these big events are based on far more than who did their dance perfectly on stage or who had the best audition. Relationships, familiarity, studio representation, prior exposure, taste in choreography styles and the simple reality that in an audition, our brains naturally gravitate to people we’ve seen before can all influence how someone stands out on any given day. That doesn’t mean anyone is intentionally being unfair, it’s just human nature.
None of this takes away from the incredible dancers who make the Top 10. They are amazing dancers and absolutely deserve to celebrate their accomplishments. But it also doesn’t diminish the dancers who don’t hear their number called.
A single weekend cannot define years of hard work, artistry, dedication, or potential. Every dancer brings something unique to the stage, and success in this industry has never been determined by one competition or one audition.
As dance supporters, let’s celebrate growth, resilience, work ethic, and the courage to keep showing up. Those qualities will carry this generation of dancers much further than any Top 10 list ever could. Rant over 😂
