The brand new dance season has simply begun, which implies dancers across the nation are selecting which conventions to attend this 12 months. If all the alternatives are making your head spin, you’re not alone. Between greater expectations, the stress of competing and social media, many dancers discover themselves in a race the second they start their dance journeys. Whether or not they really feel strain to attain expertise at a youthful age, practice extra hours, win awards or titles, or simply be “seen” and do as many issues as attainable, feeling overwhelmed or discouraged at instances is an expertise many dancers relate to. So, what position ought to conventions play in a dancer’s life in the present day?

“It has definitely been wonderful to see the extent of expertise and dedication at such a younger age these days, however the problem is to proceed to discover, to push previous set requirements that dancers could evaluate themselves to,” says Elina Gordienko, co-founder of Transcend Tour. “Dance conventions have a giant position to play in inspiring the following technology of dancers and artists.” However Transcend believes that “extra” isn’t all the time “higher.” “For us, the query grew to become ‘How can we create an surroundings the place exploration and risk-taking are inspired?’ To succeed long run, it’s extra necessary than ever for dancers to give attention to their particular person paths and attempt to interrupt molds as a substitute of becoming into them,” says Gordienko. 

As a former skilled dancer, Gordienko remembers her personal expertise as a younger dancer within the conference world and the way she felt initially unprepared when the time got here to launch her personal skilled dance profession. After becoming a member of views with a longtime studio proprietor and pal, they got down to create a conference expertise that may equip dancers with the most effective device belt attainable—it doesn’t matter what their subsequent steps in dance and life could also be.

“The objective has all the time been to be a hub of knowledge, sources and group. We do our greatest to be very deliberate and always reevaluate what we provide based mostly on analysis in the neighborhood,” Gordienko shares. Transcend school member Jessica Richens elaborates: “The tradition of our conference begins on the prime; it’s a close-knit, family-oriented group the place everybody strives to share related information with the following technology of dancers!” 

As Transcend gears up for its fifth season, listed below are the “…5, 6, 7, 8” causes dancers may be positive it’s a conference that can assist them develop.

…5 Study From Working Professionals Who Are Passionate About Sharing Their Craft 

As a way to guarantee dancers are receiving essentially the most related info, Transcend school are at present working professionals, who’re additionally obsessed with passing on their information. “TV, movie, Broadway, firm work—whether or not they dance or choreograph, we search for lecturers who’re constantly creating their craft,” Gordienko explains. Bonus: These lecturers are additionally all the time the judges!

In line with Richens, sharing experiences with college students does greater than create a connection. “I attempt to go alongside the knowledge I’ve realized as a dancer in order that this technology is usually a little forward of the place I used to be after they get to the place I’m.” Curating a gaggle of lecturers and choreographers who’re obsessed with giving again to youthful dancers is one Transcend’s priorities. 

…6 You Gained’t Be Misplaced in a Sea of “Numbers”

Transcend is concentrated on creating an optimum class surroundings, so the capability of every room has all the time been based mostly on the scale of every explicit area. At many conventions, dancers are only a quantity within the room, however that isn’t the case at Transcend. “Everyone seems to be tremendous supportive, heat and welcoming,” shares 15-year-old Sophie Baldwin, who has attended Transcend for 4 years. “The lecturers actually have a look at us and get to know us, and they’re very approachable.” 

…7 No Audition Stress

At Transcend, the emphasis is on the tutorial facet of the weekend. Dancers can nonetheless earn scholarships and regional titles, however they’re based mostly on contributors’ efficiency all through the whole weekend—versus a single scholarship audition. This creates the chance for extra class time, and for dancers to be rewarded for his or her versatility and work all through the length of the weekend. 

“Not having the audition makes the conference stress free—you should not have to fret about being excellent in an audition, and since lecturers zone in on us in each class, it feels extra personable,” Baldwin says. Richens remembers the hour-long audition class being the whole focus of conference weekends when she was younger. “I like that we don’t do the auditions—dancers can give attention to exhibiting as much as each class and preserving their power all through the entire weekend as a substitute of being consumed by an audition,” she says. 

…8 Additional Alternatives, Lessons and Particular Visitors

Transcend offers alternatives for dancers past common workshop lessons and competitors. Each weekend, Transcend provides business lessons for Teenagers and Seniors led by an business choreographer. “Quite a lot of instances, they train choreography from knowledgeable set and supply dancers with real-to-life skilled situations,” Gordienko says. 

Transcend additionally provides scholarships for varied packages, summer season intensives, and company consultations, and sometimes invitations faculty representatives, brokers, or different business professionals to regional occasions for bonus lessons, Q&As, and seminars. Macey Herbison, 14-years outdated, says these alternatives have been actually useful, and he or she is grateful for the prospect to satisfy one-on-one with business professionals. “Transcend has given me so many real-world experiences; they gave me the prospect to have an company assembly, and I obtained to satisfy with Michael Damien, who created the Excessive Strung motion pictures,” she shares. 

In the end, a weekend at Transcend provides a next-level conference expertise for these trying to be impressed and pushed in new methods. “Lately, we’re all so centered on the consequence and getting there as quick as attainable,” says Gordienko.” “We wish dancers to benefit from the journey and discoveries made alongside the best way as properly!”