#54: That’s Not Fair! – Dance Competition Levels & What Skills Really Mean

Feeling frustrated after a competition because your dancer didn’t place how you expected? Or maybe you’ve found yourself wondering, “How is that trick allowed in novice?”—then this episode is for you.This week, Brittany dives deep into one of the most debated (and misunderstood) aspects of dance competitions: skills vs. levels. ✨ Just because a dancer throws a back tuck or an aerial doesn’t mean they belong in the advanced category. ✨ Not every trick is executed with advanced technique—even if it’s flashy. ✨ Not all studios structure their teams the same way, and that impacts levels too. ✨ Most importantly: trust that competitions handle things behind the scenes. Just because you didn’t see it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.What You’ll Learn:Why it’s not always "cheating" when a high-skill trick shows up in a novice or intermediate routineWhat judges really look for: execution, not just tricksThe problem with comparison and how it damages your child’s experienceWhat integrity and maturity at competition really look like (hint: it’s not ranting on Facebook)Support the showGot a question or story you'd like to share? Message me HERE, and your submission might even be featured in an upcoming episode!