The Reality of Competitive Dance with Alexis

TL;DR:

Competitive dance is an elite sport requiring intense athleticism and a sharp mental game. This post covers how to turn stage fright into fuel, why technique always beats flashy tricks, and how to use the "off-season" to level up your dance career.

What does it actually take to be a competitive dancer? If you think it’s all glitter and effortless twirling, you’re missing the grind behind the glamour. On the latest episode of the DanceVibes Studio podcast, I sat down with Alexis from The Space Dance Company to peel back the curtain on studio culture, the mental game of performing, and what it’s like to train for the big leagues.

Debunking the "Just Dancing" Myth

One of the biggest misconceptions about competitive dancers is that we don’t work as hard as "traditional" athletes. Alexis pointed out that many people think we just hop on stage and spin. In reality, it’s a grueling cycle of strengthening, conditioning, and mastering multiple styles. It’s not just about the performance; it’s about the athleticism required to make the impossible look easy.

Mindset: Turning Nerves into Excitement

We’ve all been there—the "shakies" right before the curtain goes up. Alexis shared a game-changing tip from her coach: your body has the same physiological reaction to being nervous as it does to being excited. By simply telling your brain, "I’m excited," you can flip the switch on performance anxiety.

To stay grounded, Alexis also recommends:

•Finding your circle: Surround yourself with a "dance family" you trust to breathe and shake out the nerves with you.

•Setting class-specific goals: Instead of worrying about everyone else in the room, focus on one thing—like nailing every accent or perfecting your spotting.

Technique vs. Tricks: The Hot Take

In the age of TikTok and Instagram, it’s easy to get caught up in "trick-flation." But Alexis dropped a truth bomb: a trick without control or technique has no real value. You can have a world-class routine without a single "wow" trick if the choreography and execution are solid. It’s about movement quality and musicality—letting the music move you, rather than just moving to the music.

The Summer "Developmental Period"

For many, summer is a break. For dancers like Alexis, it’s a "developmental period." It’s the time to drop into new classes, experiment with styles, and prepare for the upcoming season. Whether you’re eyeing a conservatory like CLI or The Space or dreaming of dancing backup for Tate McRae, the off-season is where the real growth happens.

What’s Next for the danZING App?

We even talked about the future of dance tech! Based on Alexis’s feedback (and a ton of your DMs), we’re looking into adding a corrections counter and personalized training experience to the danZING App. Imagine tracking how often you get the same correction and having a specific drill to fix it. Stay tuned!

a note from the interviewer, Prisha:

I’ve been wanting a true dancer yap conversation for a long time, and this episode with Alexis came at the perfect moment. We dive into competitive dance, dancer mindset, and how dancers can make the most of their summer training, goals, and downtime. Alexis shares thoughtful insights on balancing growth, motivation, and the realities of being a dedicated dancer.

If you're wondering how to spend your summer as a dancer, navigating competition season, or simply looking to hear another dancer’s perspective, this episode is for you.

One of my favorite parts of our conversation was discussing the future of technology in dance and the tools dancers actually need. That’s exactly why I created danZING—a free app designed to help dancers organize corrections, notes, choreography feedback, and training resources in one place. Instead of juggling notebooks, WhatsApp group chats, and endless Notes app pages, dancers can keep everything organized and accessible whenever they need it. Download danZING for free on the App Store and streamline your dance journey.