Competitive dance is a form of dancing where dancers of all categories such as ballet, jazz, contemporary, and hip-hop come together to compete for titles and awards. This gives dancers opportunities to develop valuable skills and dance training that will help them pursue their passions in the future.
Sophomore Kearstin Moore is a competitive dancer here in The Forest. She dances at Nxt Lvl Dance Experience, which is located in Murrells Inlet, SC. The dance studio offers a wide range of classes including ballet, clogging, contemporary, hip-hop, jazz, tap, and tumbling! The company has also won the 2024 first-place Reader’s Choice Award for best dance school/studio.
Moore shares, “I really love dancing there. I have made many friends and I love my dance teachers. They have been so supportive, and I’ve gotten so many opportunities while dancing there.”
Competitive teams vary in size. Some teams may consist of over 15, while others are made up of only two. You can also compete singly to win a title. Teams will compete in front of a panel of judges and while there is no specific set of standards for winning placements, it typically goes in this order from least to greatest: Bronze, high bronze, silver, high silver, gold, high gold, platinum, high platinum, and diamond.
Teams usually get divided into certain divisions depending on age, group size, and experience. These are made to ensure that everyone is competing on the same level to avoid unfair comparisons.
Moore has been dancing since her adolescent years and has been competing for six years. She believes that dance is important because it is a way of expressing yourself and your emotions without having to say them out loud. Dance is an art form that needs to be shared with those who are important to us.
While being a sophomore, Moore is dedicated to her schoolwork. She stresses the importance of being able to balance both school and dance in her day-to-day life.
“It is important to be able to share your hobbies with your passions as well so you do not overwhelm yourself with too much on your plate,” Moore adds.
Moore believes that dance has taught her so many life lessons that hold significant value in her life. She notes that dance has taught her how to be a better person, how to be creative, and how to express yourself while also teaching a healthy amount of discipline that will help her excel in the future.
