“When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better, too.”
LEAD Student Convention is an opportunity to better yourself. And, that better version of yourself can go to practice the following Monday and be better for your team. What happens is a domino effect- you share what you learned to help make your team better. They become stronger teammates and dancers and continue to spread that knowledge and experience. Before you know it, you have a team who wants to push harder than they ever have and to set goals they never thought possible. Because you decided to attend a convention and better yourself, because of your decision to change, your whole team is better.
Now, imagine if other teammates joined you on this journey of positive change and self-improvement? The domino effect happens faster and more intensely. It’s seems like a no brainer, right? Why would anyone choose to not take time to improve?
This is the purpose of the LEAD Student Convention- to have you continue to stretch your limits, to try a genre of dance you don’t normally do, to take a class on character or time management so that you can be the best version of yourself to your family at home and your family in the gym.
When you sign up for classes, spread your teammates out and have them take as many different offerings as possible! That allows you to bring ALL of that knowledge back to your team. Everyone doing the same thing does not equate to the fullest amount of growth you can achieve after attending Student Convention.
To highlight a couple of classes:
The Importance of Performance and Improv/Movement: With the new score sheet allowing for more opportunity for teams to be more artistic and creative with their choreography, these two offerings come at a perfect time. The emotive quality of movement is vital to project your team’s story to the audience and judges. With the improve and movement class, pushing yourself in your movement is often when the best choreography ideas are created.
Kick 101: THIS IS NOT A BEGINNER CLASS! This class is for EVERYONE! Technique of kicks is vital in being successful in the kick category and this class will break down different types of kicks and how to do them properly. Vets should take this class to help break old habits and learn new ways to teach kick technique to rookies. New dancers to kick can start fresh with proper understanding of what kick entails.
Fitness For Dancers: Many teams in the state have had Katie Peyton come work with them and have only the best things to say about the experience. Think of this class as a way to learn strength training for dancers. The suggestions and ideas Katie will give you are easy for your team to incorporate into your warm ups at practice and you will start to see results quickly in your jumps and endurance!
Registration closes on Tuesday, November 7 and classes are filling up quickly! Come join dancers throughout the state of Minnesota as they look to make themselves, their teams, and the sport of dance BETTER.
Kelly McGinnis
Director of Student Convention
MADT Board Member
