Approaching Nationals More Mindfully

Nationals is here! You and your dancers have worked all season to prepare for the final competition of the season. Here are a few reminders to help you have the best nationals experience possible. 

1. Your Worth Is Not Determined By Your Trophy 

Set goals for yourself and your dancers that have nothing to do with how they place at awards. We know winning feels good, and it is allowed to feel good. However, if our we or our dancers are struggling to find value in ourselves outside of our placement or recognition, we are putting our relationship with dance and ourselves at risk.  

We want to model and support dancers finding their value internally as opposed to externally.

Make goals about things within their control (their mindset, responsibility as a teammate, articulating their sounds more clearly in their tap solo, not letting their performance face fade, etc.)

Please keep in mind you are doing so many things the competitive dance world doesn't give you a trophy for, but probably should: 

-helping dancers feel safe
-helping dancers feel seen
-playing a parental or role model role even when you don't know it
-boosting confidence in your dancers
-giving them an opportunity to express themselves safely
-dedicating all your time, energy and effort
(just to name a few)

2. Acknowledge There Are Lots of Emotions Present

-As a dance educator, you are working so closely with your dancers and their families which means you are there to witness, experience, and feel the emotions of your clientele. 

There is a lot of change happening with graduating seniors or dancers moving on to new environments, you hold space for that. Dancers who may be discouraged by their performances, you hold space for that. Parents who are aggravated by their dancer's behavior, you hold space for that. Dancers and parents who are anxious for that performance, you hold space for that. You do it all!

This time of year is hard on all of us; dancers, parents, teachers, and owners. It is important for you to check in with yourself before you care for and make space for everyone else.

Name it to tame it.

Recognize what you're feeling and allow yourself to feel that emotion even if it’s temporary. This will help you feel more in control of your emotions and give you the information to give yourself what you need. 

3. Nationals Is Not A Reflection Of Your Entire Season

We must remember the nationals experience is not a reflection or total representation of your past year. Allowing one specific week or weekend to represent your entire season would be dismissive to all the work you, your dancers, your staff, and parents have put in.

We challenge you to allow nationals to be a time of intentional presence, celebration of your work, as well as an opportunity to enjoy the relationships you have worked so hard to build and maintain. 
 

You deserve to step back and witness the love and friendship that has developed amongst your dancers and families. 

You deserve to accept all the praise and gratitude that comes from your dancers during this experience. 

You deserve to sit back and feel proud of the progress you, your dancers, your staff, and families have made this season. 

You deserve to feel proud of how your dancers perform, no matter the result or outcome. 



We hope you can be mindful of these things when heading into your nationals experience with your team. We wish you the best of luck and are celebrating you ahead of time for all the hard work you've done this season. 


Congratulations - go enjoy yourself!