More Than a Trophy: Why We Choose to Compete

I was standing in the studio this week, watching our On Pointe Dance Company dancers run their spotlight routines one last time before the weekend, and I couldn’t help but smile. There is a specific kind of electricity in the air during the spring, a mix of focused determination, nervous excitement, and a whole lot of heart and pride for each other and themselves.

We are heading into the time of year when parents (rightfully!) ask: Is all the money, the early call times, late night rehearsals, and the long weekends worth it for a few minutes on stage?

At On Pointe Arts, our answer is always a resounding yes, but maybe not for the reasons you’d think. While we are so proud of our dancers’ scores and technique awards, we don’t go to competitions to win. We go because of who our dancers become in the process and everything that there is to learn from the competition circuit.

Here are the top four reasons why we believe competition is such a vital part of the our On Pointe Dance Company experience:

1. The Power of a Goal

There is nothing quite like a stage deadline to boost a dancer's growth. Knowing a judge will be watching pushes our dancers to refine their movements with a level of precision they might not find in a regular technical class. It teaches them how to set a high bar for themselves and work consistently until they clear it. The feedback that they receive from these judges points out their strengths and weaknesses in a way in which they can watch themselves and see the critiques from the audiences perspective, and sometimes just say the same thing their teacher has been saying to do, but in a different way that might connect better with their dancer mind.

2. Resilience and the "Studio of Excellence" Spirit

As an ADCC Studio of Excellence, we are constantly reminding our dancers that winning is never more important than being a kind human. Competition teaches them how to handle a critique with grace, how to celebrate a teammate or stranger from a different studio who did a great job, and how to get back to work after a tough showing. These are the "wins" that last a lifetime, and that teach our dancers grace in all areas of their life and with every person they interact with.

3. Building the Ultimate Team Bond

Some of the best memories aren't made under the spotlights; they’re made in the crowded dressing rooms, during the crazy quick-changes, and in the shared snacks during their breaks. Competition season turns a group of dancers into a family. They learn to rely on one another, cheer for one another, and lift each other up when the pressure is on.

4. Stepping Outside the Bubble

It is so inspiring for our kids to see the incredible talent from other studios and parts of the world! Stepping onto a bigger stage gives our dancers perspective. It shows them that they are part of a massive, vibrant dance community and motivates them to bring new energy back to our own four walls in North Canton. We are ALL on team dance, and the greater community being built with friends and peers from afar strengthens our positive world view and outlook.

The Bottom Line:

We don’t compete to prove we’re the best or bring home the biggest banner or trophy, we compete to prove to ourselves that we can do hard things. Whether they come home with a Platinum or just a really great memory, our dancers walk away more confident, more disciplined, and more connected than they were on Friday morning.

We can't wait to see our On Pointe family shine this weekend! See you at the stage door!