Blog

Coach Stephanie Kutter and the Hutchinson Showstoppers Dance Team celebrating at a competition.

We've asked some of our coaching friends to share their unique insights with you for this new series: EXPERT COACHING TIPS. In case you missed it, last time we talked about planning for the upcoming season!

This week, we're talking about most important lessons learned. From working with parents to finding a balance of support and discipline... the coaches we talked to have a lot of experience in what works and what doesn't. See what these expert dance team coaches had to share!

Team: Seton High School Varsity Dance Team
Coaches: Teresa Chiodi, Jill Lamey, and Anna Miller
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Style: Pom & Hip Hop

Team: Nashville Predators Energy Team
Director/Event Presentation Coordinator: Colleen Flynn
Location: Nashville, TN
Style: Hockey Spirit Team

Team Name: Rostock Seawolves Dance Team
Location: Rostock, Germany
Coach: Cacilda Pereira
Style: Basketball Dance Team

We've asked some of our coaching friends to share their unique insights with you for this new series: EXPERT COACHING TIPS. In case you missed it, last week we talked about how to create the best practice!

This week, we're talking about planning for the season. We know that coaching a dance team involves A LOT of coordination and details. From tryouts to practices to designing costumes... there's a ton to keep track of and get organized. To help, see what these expert dance team coaches had to say about staying on top of planning!

Styles Hunter and Lily Leo

When it comes to dance costumes, there's one ingredient that is pretty universal: sparkle.  Best way to add a little glitz and shine is with rhinestones, but paying your costume company to apply rhinestones can become a costly expense.  If you are on a budget like most teams, here are four great ways to get a sparkly dance costume that won't break the bank!

Could you imagine cheering on an NFL football field, performing in front of a stadium full of thousands of on-lookers?!  This is an every-week occurance for many of our pro cheerleader friends, but many young girls get the same opportunity once a year, through Junior Cheerleading programs.  Talk about a once-in-a-lifetime experience!  

Many NFL Cheerleading teams offer Junior Cheerleader programs; where young girls, usually age 4-15, can learn dance fundamentals directly from the pros!  It's a fun and non-competitive program that fosters commitment and self-esteem, and improves talent.  The girls typically participate in a series of clinics, ending in an on-field performance with their mentoring Cheerleaders.   

And did we mention they get their own professional uniforms, usually styled after their Big Sister's outfits?  Check out the fabulous looks some of the Junior Cheerleaders have been sporting this season!   

The best part of our jobs is working with extremely talented dance, skate and cheer coaches. They play an integral role in supporting the team - through motivation, encouragement, and wisdom. We know that coaching can be a challenging yet very rewarding job!

We've asked some of our coaching friends to share their unique insights with you for this new series: EXPERT COACHING TIPS. This week, we're talking about practice. See what some of these expert dance team coaches had to say, below!

We know that planning for an upcoming season can be a challenging yet exciting time!  When it comes to your team's dance costumes, there are many questions. Where do you start?  What information do you need!  Luckily it's pretty simple.  All you need to get started with designing a dance costume are these four things: budget, time frame, quantity, and concept.  Read on to learn more!!

Prescott High School selling cotton candy to fundraise for their dance team

When it comes to dance costume budget tips, the best advice we can offer is to contribute more to your team's budget with fundraising!  It’s a great way to help pay for your team’s expenses, and a little goes a long way.

Have your team work together to plan and run their fundraising efforts for ultimate team bonding! Plus, there are always a few great life lessons along the way like teamwork, customer service, and budgeting.  Here are 18 fundraising ideas for your dance team's next event.