Why a Performance Company Might Just Be Better Than a Competition Team

(And No One Has to Cry Over Rhinestones at Midnight)

“Dance is for people—not just JUDGING panels”

Let’s talk about the glitter-drenched elephant in the room: competition dance.

It’s high-energy, high-pressure, and high-budget. It comes with long weekends spent in ballrooms that smell faintly of hairspray and tears, trophies that gather dust by July, and an unspoken rule that if your false eyelash stays on, you win.

But what if there were another way? A way to give young dancers incredible opportunities without the burnout, the endless judging, and the hotel bathroom costume change?

Enter: The Performance Company

No, not a second-tier backup squad. A purposeful, powerful alternative to the competition circuit. And here’s why it might just be the smarter, more sustainable choice for your dancer, your family, and your sanity.

1. It’s About the Art, Not the Score Sheet

Performance companies focus on storytelling, artistry, and growth—not what three over-caffeinated judges think of your toe point. Dancers get to explore choreography in full, take creative risks, and perform pieces that actually mean something—rather than ones designed to hit the “wow factor” checkboxes.

Bonus: no one’s self-worth gets tangled up in whether or not they took “ultra diamond platinum”.

2. More Stage Time, Less Lobby Time

Here’s the competition dance experience: spend 12 hours in a ballroom to dance for 2 minutes and 14 seconds. Then wait three more hours for awards. At a performance company? You rehearse, you perform, you connect with an audience. No sitting on cold floors waiting for your age group to be called. It’s dance, not endurance bingo.

3. Community Engagement > Trophies

Performance companies often get to dance at festivals, community events, senior homes, theaters, and local schools. They become visible contributors to the local arts scene, not just members of an elite club showing off to other elite clubs. Dancers get to perform for people who aren’t dance moms and adjudicators—which is wildly refreshing.

They also learn that dance is for people—not just judging panels.

4. Focus on Versatility and Training

Without the constant churn of new comp routines and cleaning marathons, a performance company can invest time in actual technique. Like, real training. More cross-training. More improvisation. More styles. More development. Fewer rushed rehearsals fueled by Goldfish and tears.

This means dancers emerge not just as clean competitors—but as artists and humans who can adapt, create, and thrive long after high school.

5. It’s Healthier—for Everyone

Let’s be honest: the competition scene can be intense. Kids burn out. Parents burn out. Studio owners fantasize about running away to open a coffee shop in a quiet mountain town. A performance company can still be rigorous and serious—but it’s typically lower-stress, more collaborative, and more grounded in purpose.

And if you’ve never had to hot glue a tiara back together at 7 a.m. in a hotel hallway, you don’t know true freedom.

6. It Builds a Culture of Connection

Performance companies often become tight-knit families because they’re not constantly comparing scores or worrying about who got the “top spot.” The goal isn’t to beat another team. It’s to move together, grow together, and perform something meaningful together. (Also, nobody has to win “1st Overall Petite Jazz Trio” to feel like they belong.)

Final Takeaway:

There’s nothing wrong with competition dance. It teaches resilience, discipline, and how to apply lashes under pressure. I have judged dance competitions for over 20 years. Last year alone, I choreographed over 100 competition dances. So, I’m no stranger to this scene. But it’s not the only path—and it’s not always the best one.

A performance company offers dancers the chance to focus on the craft, connect with the community, and fall in love with dance for reasons beyond shiny hardware.

And in the long run? Those lessons last longer than any trophy.

Consider trading the score sheet for a standing ovation.

Your dancers—and your wallet—will thank you.