🔥 UNPOPULAR OPINION: More “Clean” Isn’t Always Better

Hey Dance Fam,

I’m finally done my adjudicator season. I CAN do hard things!

I’ve seen a LOT of routines this season while judging. And I’m proud of so many dancers out there putting in the work! Congratulations to you and your teams.

Now… let me hit you with some truth:

👉 Being clean isn't the same as being captivating.

Too many numbers were technically clean… and completely forgettable.

Here’s the thing most people won’t say out loud: Your dancers aren’t placing lower because they’re messy. They’re placing lower because they’re boring.

No soul. No fire. No storytelling. No risk.

That’s not just on the kids. It’s a culture thing.

I put some serious thought into this and it turns out, we’ve unintentionally trained dancers to avoid mistakes, instead of chase IMPACT.

But! I know you didn’t start teaching to create cookie-cutter performances. You want dancers who move people. Am I right?

So here’s your real teacher reminder this week:

Here’s how:

• Spend 5 minutes at the end of class asking dancers to IMPROV THE STORY of the routine.

• Ask: “If I watched this with the sound OFF, could I still feel something?”

• Let dancers take emotional risks and CHEER FOR THEM when they do!

Trust me: the “wow” factor doesn’t come from clean arms. It comes from conviction.

💥 Want more tips like this?

Each week in Dance Teacher Insider, I’ll keep giving you strategies to coach with heart, lead with courage, and get better results from your dancers.

🧠 If you haven’t downloaded my Dance Teacher Playbook, grab it here:
👉 Dance Teacher Playbook - Expert Training To Elevate Your Classes

P.S. Ready to inspire your dancers on a deeper level? I have a few summer workshop dates open. Also planning to visit Calgary and Ottawa for a tap dance intensive (know any dancers who want some tap?) Hit reply if you want me to fire up your team.

Keep leading,
Shawn B

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