Shawn here! PSA:

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😢 When Your Dancers DON’T Win (Yep, It Happens!)

Ah, dance competition season.

The land of rhinestones, adrenaline, and the occasional “HOW did that routine place higher than ours?!” moment. We’ve all been there!

But let’s be honest…

…at every competition, there’s only ONE overall winner. ONE title winner. And a whole lotta dancers walking away WITHOUT a top trophy.

So, what do we do when our dancers don’t hear their name called last? (Besides avoid eye contact with that one extra-competitive parent?)

We teach them how to lose like winners. 😤

Because that’s a life skill they’ll use far beyond the stage. Some tips to handle the L:

✅ 🏆 ACKNOWLEDGE their hard work. The score doesn’t erase the sweat, blisters, and hours of practice. Say something like “That was your BEST performance yet, and that’s what matters.”

✅ 🏆 KEEP EMOTIONS in check. If they see you sulking, they’ll sulk too. Instead, model grace. “Wow, that was a tough category! But I’m so impressed, you dancers brought the fire.” (then high-five everyone)

✅ 🏆 FIND the win. Maybe it was their cleanest performance. Maybe they nailed that impossible transition. Maybe they stayed in character and didn’t face-plant. (Yay growth!)

✅ 🏆 SHIFT the focus forward. Great athletes analyze their game, and adjust. “What’s one thing we can take from this experience to level up for next time?”

At the end of the day, competition isn’t just about the trophy. It’s about resilience, teamwork, and about who you BECOME by handling the highs AND the lows.

And if they walk away with that? That’s a lifetime win.

— Shawn B

P.S. What’s the best advice you gave a dancer after a tough loss? Reply and LMK so I can learn from your experiences.

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Welcome to Dance Teacher Insider, where passionate teachers and studio owners like you come to recharge, get inspired, and make waves in the dance world. You’re here because you care about more than just the steps… you care about making an impact. I started this newsletter with one mission: to reignite teachers globally. Because when teachers are inspired, dancers thrive.

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