I sit through many lyrical solos when I judge. Her performance at 8 years old is very detached from the song. It's mechanical. It's a competition routine. Turn on a different song. It will still look the same. It's a problem that is growing and growing. Routines are just slapped together with the same short phrases and standard tricks. She should be taught how to really use the floor, how to prep for her turn while maintaining her turn out, connecting her phrases, and creating more suspension in her movement. She shouldn't be performing turns in 2nd at 8 years old. Her arms aren't correct. Her working leg is swinging up and down. Her turn out is lacking. The sad fact is at 8 years old her performance is at a much higher level than her older peers. I see too many girls with poor training start foute turns and I literally throw my pen because I know I am about to vomit. What happened to the days when a dance was enjoyable? I feel like teachers are going to a BUILD-A-DANCE store. (THINK OF BUILD-A-BEAR) At checkout, for an additional charge of 49.95, you have the option of incorporating technique.  Parents are throwing away huge amounts of money on competitions. Why don't they splurge for that additional technique upgrade?

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ALERT: RANDOM TANGENT

BUILD-A-DANCE---That's hilarious. Can you imagine? Rhinestoned costumes are in the BLING Aisle. Concepts for dances can be found in the REALITY DANCE TV RIP OFF Aisle. Make sure you pick up your own park bench and flower combo pack. (You have no idea how many people have ripped that Mia Michael's dance and tried to pass it off as there own. Pathetic. I wrote a blog about that too.)  I think BUILD-A-DANCE should be a game here on danceruniverse.com. If anyone agrees with me contact Joe Cote, our friendly site administrator. joecote@danceruniverse.com      You can thank me later Joe!

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I would much rather see her do a clean triple piroquette into a movement that showcases her grace and control. Instead we are treated to an over choreographed routine that shows more flaws in basic technique than the true prodigy she is at 8 years old.

The dance should showcase the dancer.
The dancer shouldn't be showcasing a routine.

Teachers and Competition Choreographers: Take this critique seriously. Judges are constantly complaining about choreography with tricks just to show tricks. Choreograph appropriate dances for the appropriate student. I wrote a blog about this very topic. It's also completely necessary to find music that is going to inspire the dancer. Most lyrical songs are just the standard pop ballad or the usual competition lyrical song. Red Football is completely overdone. Phenomenal Woman is like 9 years ago. Defying Gravity has landed so give it a rest. Stay away from Tori, Bjork, Ani, Sarah McLachlan, Tracy Chapman, and any one hit wonder from the 90's. If you think the song sounds familiar from competitions don't use it. Judges sit through so many numbers over the years. Hearing the same whiny songs is like nails on a chalk. Some might argue with me but lyrical dance is not a real dance genre. It's made up to make competitions more money. Have you heard a lyrical based dance company?  No. Can you make a career being a lyrical dancer? No. Why can't a lyrical dance in a competition be a happy dance? Why are these dances always portraying these young girls on the brink of suicide. Most of the time these dances make me giggle. It's like sitting through an audition for a dance concert version of the musical  Les Miserables. One by one all of these girls come in to audition for the part of Young Cosette. (The CASTLE ON A CLOUD girl)

She gets extra points for smiling. I might deduct points though if her mother doesn't stop taking pictures with a flash.