Kailena Van de Nes

10/27/2026

Your dancer placed 10th. Does that mean there were nine dancers better than them? **Not necessarily.**

As a dance competition adjudicator and educator, I think this is a conversation we need to have more often.

The same routine can place 2nd at one competition and 10th at another. Different competitors, different adjudicators, different performances, and sometimes different scoring criteria.

But here’s what I really want parents, teachers, and dancers to understand:

**Your dancer can improve and still place lower.**

They can have stronger technique, better ex*****on, more confidence, and deliver their best performance to date — and still not walk away with a trophy.

That doesn’t erase their progress.

And the opposite is true, too. Winning first place doesn’t mean there aren’t corrections to make or skills left to develop.

Competition has value. Scores have purpose. Feedback matters. Recognition should be celebrated.

But somewhere along the way, we need to make sure we aren’t teaching children that their success is determined by where their name falls on an awards list.

Because the dancer who placed 10th might have just had the performance of their life.

**And that deserves celebrating, too.** 🩷

Parents and teachers, what do you want your dancers to remember most about competition day?

👇 Let’s start the conversation.

DanceAdjudicator AcroTrainingCenter

10/20/2026

10/19/2026

An evening of learning, trying, and finding out what’s possible. ✨

A little look inside our Advanced Workshop with Meaghan Wegg! From the corrections to the breakthroughs, there was so much to take away and keep working on.

Thank you, Meaghan, for sharing your knowledge and creativity with our dancers, and to everyone who joined us ready to learn. 💗

Save a little of this inspiration for your next training session!

10/12/2026

A solo can be an incredible opportunity. But it is not a ranking system.
Not getting one doesn’t mean your child isn’t talented.
It doesn’t mean they aren’t working hard.
And it definitely doesn’t mean they matter less.
Casting is complicated. Timing, choreography, age, style, group dynamics and what a piece needs all play a role.
The goal shouldn’t be to raise dancers who only feel successful when they’re singled out.
Raise dancers who can work hard.
Take corrections.
Handle disappointment.
Celebrate someone else’s moment.
Keep growing.
And still love dance when the spotlight isn’t on them.
A solo is an opportunity.
It is not a measure of worth.
Save this for casting season.
Share it with a dance parent who may need the reminder. 🩷

10/07/2026

Dancing through an injury isn’t dedication.

Pain is information. And when dancers feel like they have to hide it, medicate it, or push through it to keep their spot, role, solo or competition opportunity, that’s a problem.

Not every ache means something serious. But repeated pain deserves attention — and sometimes the answer isn’t “push harder.” Sometimes the training, recovery, progression or expectations need to change.

The goal should be a dancer who knows when to push, when to modify, and when to stop.

Longevity matters more than proving how much pain you can tolerate.

Save this. Share it with a dance parent, teacher or dancer who needs the reminder.

09/30/2026

Flexibility training should build a dancer’s body — not break it.
More range isn’t always better range. A deeper split, a bigger backbend or a more extreme line means very little if the dancer doesn’t have the strength and control to own it.
We know more now than many of us did growing up in dance. That means we can do better.
Train the range. Strengthen the range. Respect the dancer in front of you.
Flexibility should be taught — not forced. 💗
Save this. Share it. Start the conversation.

09/28/2026

STEAL THIS ACRO SEQUENCE: beginner/intermediate edition 💗
One of my favorite ways to build confidence across the floor is to connect skills dancers already know. This combination moves through balance, rolls, cartwheels, handstands, and forearm work:
Straddle headstand → side tilt to knees → somersault → straddle roll → cartwheel from one knee to standing → swing handstand to knees → forearm stand → forearm cartwheel to standing.
Practice each transition on its own first, then see how smoothly your dancers can connect the full sequence.
Save this for your next acro class! Which transition would your dancers need to practice most?

09/27/2026

I want dancers to ask questions. If another coach taught a skill differently, let’s talk about why we’re doing it this way.
But an eye roll, back talk, or “my other teacher said…” used to dismiss a correction shuts down the learning before it starts. I don’t need a dancer to get every note right away. I do need them to listen and be willing to try.
Parents can help with this, too. When your dancer says a teacher was “mean,” ask: What did they ask you to change? How was it said? What did you try next? And celebrate the moments your dancer applies a correction—not only the moments they land a new trick.
Corrections should be clear and respectful. Pain should always be taken seriously. But holding a standard and helping a dancer improve isn’t being mean.
Teachers and parents: what has helped your dancer learn to receive feedback?

09/23/2026

“She’s nine and still doesn’t have her aerial.”
When did “still” become part of that sentence?
It’s easy to watch another child land a new skill and start questioning your own dancer’s progress.
But stronger basics, better control and the confidence to try again deserve recognition, too.
We can have goals, encourage effort and take training seriously while giving children time to learn.
Before asking, “Why can’t mine do that yet?” try asking, “What has my child improved on?”
They deserve to feel proud of how far they’ve come. 🩷
Share this with a dance parent who needs the reminder.

09/20/2026

Being ready for advanced isn’t the same as wanting advanced. 👏
A dancer can have the skills and still need more time to develop the consistency, technique, independence and training maturity required at the next level.
And sometimes the best thing a coach can do is keep challenging a dancer exactly where they are — instead of rushing them forward.
Placement isn’t a reward.
It isn’t a punishment.
And it isn’t a race.
The goal isn’t to GET into advanced.
The goal is to BECOME advanced. 🩷
Parents + teachers: what do you think makes a dancer truly ready to move up?