Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Fall Preparation for Coaches:

 As if coaches ever stopped preparing for the upcoming competition season!  Since I know firsthand how stressful it can be to pull together a plan last minute- here’s some reminders of the long list of “to-dos” this fall:
·         Music. Music. Music:  You need it and it’s not worth putting off.  There is nothing worse than getting into a competition season and wishing you hadn’t just settled for something you were less than excited about and being stuck with it from then on.  Don’t forget this is more than coming up with an idea, it’s also about production.  Key mixers Mark Henderson, Matt Wallace, and Chip Rauth fill up fast – they have more to worry about than just you, so don’t delay scheduling a rough draft of your mix.  If you’re saving money mixing at home, look for my upcoming article on music editing at home.
·         Costumes: if you’re planning something new or just ended up needing something new for a theme, costume schedules can take a loooonnng time.  Generally expect 6 weeks to 3 months for the entire project depending on how custom you are getting.  Also note that you have to have cash or check IN HAND to get things started and if your school is anything like mine- it might take weeks to get a check cut in the summer.  Don’t forget that important step. 
·         Schedule: Invites fill up fast and require pre-registration.  Waiting until the last day can often mean you are the first one bumped if its too full.  Practice space is also another one that goes fast if you let the basketball teams get in there first and schedule away without you.  Make sure you’re advocating to be treated equally with the other varsity winter sports – it shocks me how many teams are still turning on French fry grease in the cafeteria every day.  Imagine if we all just said enough of that?
·         Book your consultants, camps, clinics, and special team events when possible.  Outside help at practice once and a while can be refreshing for everyone, and I find it is harder to schedule it when you really need it in the heat of things.  Just giving someone a heads up about coming in at Christmas break goes a long way to making sure it actually happens. 
·         Incentive challenges:  Winter coaches can’t work with dancers in the fall – but what about letting them know about a fitness or skill challenge coming up when the season starts?  One of my favorites is to give out goodies (like hairspray, a team t-shirt, ect) to girls who have flat splits the first day of practice. You’d be surprised how well that works.  Same kind of thing can help with fundraisers if you have trouble getting participation. 

Monday, August 29, 2011

Key Dates for 2011-2012 Season:


Mark your calendars!  These dates will be upon us soon!  Especially remember the DX fall convention registrations are due ASAP - I'll be teaching at the event - I'd love to see you there!

Fall Season Begins: Monday August 15th
Dance Xtreme Fall Connect Convention: Saturday, September 10th – Totino Grace
Coaches/Officials Rules Meetings: October 17th – November 8th
Start of Winter Practices: Monday October 24th
MADT Fall Meeting and Student Convention: Saturday November 5th
Saturday Invitationals Start: November 19th (Complete List Here)
Sections: Saturday February 4th and Saturday February 11th
State Tournament Forms Due: February 7th
State Tournament: Jazz Friday, February 17th, Kick Saturday, February 18th
MADT Spring Meeting and Awards Banquet: Fri/Sat March 16th and 17th

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Fall Preparation For Dancers

Fall is a fun and fast flying time for dancers as you head back to school and winter season dance seems just around the corner.  So what can dancers be doing to come into winter season ready to go and looking your best?  Here are some tips to make the most of fall
·         Flexibility.  Now is the time when it comes to building flexibility and getting those splits for the first time.  Waiting until winter puts you behind the game and sets you up for more soreness and injury when you’re trying to build flexibility while working on competition dances. 
·         Technique.  Try some new skills and fix those long time quirks during summer intensives at studios and camps, as well as making technique a primary focus of your fall seasons.  Coaches love to see improvement as a way to show you’re ready for that hard feature part or to make varsity for the first time.  Coming in looking the same old same old isn’t going to make an impression that you’re ready for anything.  Fall is also great because the pressure is off, you can relax and get the help you need without looking unprepared.
·         Dream.  If you’re helping with choreography, fall is a great time to be watching video, recording formations, and thinking up new skills combos to bring to the table.  Coming in without having thought about anything can make for a stressful 2 week choreo window in October
·         Cross-train.  Some of my best dancers never danced in the fall, rather they explored other sports or activities that built complementary skills and muscles.  The act of cross-training isn’t taking away from your dancing, rather when you come back to it you are more well-rounded and able to grow faster with your new muscle and endurance training you weren’t doing before.  If you aren’t into a fall sport, hit the gym for some weight training or a spin class (my favorite) or you have time to go the full P90X regimen and be in tip-top plyometrics shape.  Jumps will improve with 90 days of this plan.  I have personally done this and incorporated some drills into dance team practices.  Try “swing kicks” from the plyometrics DVD for amazing fans.  If you're a hardcore athlete, Insanity is another great Beachbody offering.  I love the instructor for the series, Tony Horton.  His blog is here
·         Get your gear.  Do everyone a favor and don’t wait until day one of practice to decide you don’t have a waterbottle or good shoes anymore.  Best deals are found online so you’ll need to think ahead and order new goodies for a successful year – don’t forget practice clothes, hair stuff, shoes, dance bag, and anything your coaches specifically want every day at practice.  Spacing out paying for items is also a benefit to your (or your parents) hard earned dime.  (and you’re more likely to get something you want instead of just things you need if you’re on top of it J )Watch for an upcoming article on supply recommendations.
·         Fun.  Remember why you love to dance and enjoy the fall performance season (if you have one) or take some fun dance classes so you aren’t all business and no pleasure.  You never know what you might learn to bring to your competition team. 

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Rochester News Article Sheds Light on Developing Coaching Issues

Read This Link First: Evolution of high school athletics puts coaches in the crosshairs

I'm not sure how I feel about this coming off my tenure at Cannon Falls myself.  I can say that the parents I worked with at CF were some of the most supportive and respectful group I've worked with - they never forgot how far we drove and how hard we worked there.  However, nothing was perfect and there were always a few isolated incidents, as happens anywhere with any sport, but nothing to make me think Cannon Falls is different from any other school in it's quest for the best for its students.  The coaches at CF have endured pay cuts year after year (I make less now than I did my first year of coaching after 2 state championships and 9 years) and often drive from other areas as the town doesn't have the complete resources to fully staff the athletic department with qualified coaches.  I personally never felt there was a legitimate threat to me or my fellow staff if we didn't "win" (whatever that means) - we weren't blamed -- but parents knew we would back it with continuous improvement in coaching techniques, team strategies, and talent development.  This built a trust in the future of the program that is the best job security.   

I think coaches are now getting into trouble if they aren't progressing in their method, more than if they're not progressing in their scores.  Complacent coaching 'cause you've always done it that way very well could have lead to the 7 wins for the CF basketball team last year.  (the dance team had more wins with a greatly reduced schedule) I think AD's should protect their coaches, yes, absolutely - coaches need to be allowed to be in charge and make those important/controversial decisions free from rebuke.  However, its' not unreasonable to expect a top-tier educational experience and training for athletes that has little to do with "winning".  If the educational improvement of the athletes isn't happening, it's ok to examine why and let the school administration make a determination if a change in the program should be made.  The tough part is  - where is that line?  How much say to parents and boosters have?  It's happened already in Minnesota dance team (yup, several years ago in fact) and likely will happen again at other programs. 

The question will be how do we define job performance for underpaid, overworked, basically volunteer coaches that have the precious development of these students in their hands?  Doesn't that statement perhaps isolate the problem?  Why are we allowing something that is seemingly so important to parents be run by someone making less than a minimum wage ?? I don't get my sandwich at Subway from someone at that level of pay to responsibility.  Food for thought. 

Keep the conversation going below

Monday, August 22, 2011

Vintage Video - St. Cloud Tech Kick 1998


Its time for a vintage video review!  This is one of the all time classics.  This one had to be first because it was the reason I fell in love with kick - way back at State '98.  It was my first state tournament and boy did I have no idea what it was "supposed" to look like.  I think the shine of seeing it live has kinda worn off (and when there weren't all the good dances I've seen in the last 13 years to watch) but there won't ever be another dance that was "the one" so I'll always have a special place in my heart for this one.  Comments on the dance:
- Those costumes, while a little strange, are probably my favorite of the "skater skirt" era. 
-they have a sharpness in their shoulder movements that is lacking today - we should bring that back.  But I think we can all live without those "weenie walks" (as my old coach used to call those shoulder hit walking steps)
- the kicks hold up to today's standards I think - nice angles of what is "open" and what is "front"
- wow that transition by hinges out of straightline is actually a lot harder than you would guess...I've seen something like that go wrong more often than not - impressive
- oh yeah, arm breakdown.  Don't see that anymore.  (well, not much anyways)
- this dance is 4:18.  Oh my.  Talk about legs going to fall off...no wonder there was an arm breakdown - you need the rest! 

Classic, Happy Hardcore, Skater Skirts -  need I say more?!

Get the songs from this mix below on Amazon:

Friday, August 19, 2011

Bi-Annual Section Re-Alignment Creates a New “Super Section” in Class AA

Every other March is an exciting time for Minnesota High Schools with the section and class realignment by the MSHSL.  Dance teams in particular wait with anticipation to see how difficult their class or section will be for the next two years.  This year was one of particular significance as there were surprises and changes all over the board.  The complete listings can be found here.  These are the highlights of the changes:
Class A: In section 1, Chatfield will be joining the field with a brand new program we have not seen before, while St. Croix Lutheran and St. Paul Academy and Summit School both add to the jazz mix in the southeast section.  Strong contenders Cannon Falls, Lake City, Zumbrota-Mazeppa, and St. Charles all look to remain in section 1.  In section 2, GFW and New Ulm Cathedral join the mix from the far west section making this the largest geographic section in all of dance team.  While it provides a better competitive mix, I’m not sure either team is happy about the travel that will be required.  Both teams have now been in 3 of the 4 possible sections.   In section 3, Worthington has opted down to join the field, and Canby and Minneota have made a co-op.  Section 4 looks to remain untouched.  Op-downs to class A include Richfield, Columbia Heights, Worthington, and Minneapolis Washburn.
Class AA: This is where things get interesting.  The big story is the now titan sized competition of the best of the best in section 1.  This section now includes kick state finalists Chaska and Faribault from class AAA and Benilde St. Margarets, Austin, and Academy of Holy Angels from AA finals.  In jazz this section will also contain Simley and South St. Paul from AA finals of late.  What a mess.  This should make for some heated competition all year long, culminating in a shootout in Austin during sections.  Section 2 has Concordia Academy joining from class A while Rogers jumps up to AAA leaving space open for a spot to state from this section.  In section 3, Montevideo will move from class A to try to make their mark in the kick division.  Monte was AA in the early 2000’s as well.  In section 4, Albany and Crookston jump up from class A.  Section 4 now contains 5 teams who have all moved up to AA in recent memory.  AA move ups: Montevideo, Albany, Crookston, and Concordia Academy.  Opt (or move) down: Faribault, Chaska, Park Center.
Class AAA:  Section 1 remains intact minus the loss of Faribault so things should ease up in that tight section, while section 2 remains strong with the loss of Chaska.  Eden Prairie and Hopkins will be glad to see another space open in the jazz division while Minneapolis South and Rogers get to join arguably the toughest section in AAA from their former homes.  Section 3 remains basically intact, while section 4 gains Bemidji from AA and both Duluth schools are making section 4 a permanent home after facing reorganization in their district.  AAA move ups: Rogers, Duluth Denfeld, and Bemidji. 

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Coaching changes create new opportunities in 2012

At the conclusion of every winter season there is speculation about who will be back and who will be making a change - with this year being no exception.  There were some big moves to report in all divisions.  Starting in class AA we had some long time coaches depart from top-performing Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield.  They have replaced their entire coaching staff after the resignation of Kelly Newlin and Kerry Marshall*, with Marshall remaing on the MADT board of directors.  Their new coach is Brittany Fowler, a Totino Grace graduate who was a varsity assistant at Andover.  Fergus Falls, Orono, and Rocori will all look to have new coaches in AA.
*Corrected on 8/24, sorry Kerry! 
 In class A, state champions Cannon Falls saw the departure of their entire staff after 4 years in their current arrangement.  The varsity coaches Carrie Pommier, Erin (Hawkinson) Kruesi, and Amanda Hemmingson-Jager all drove the hour trek to Cannon and just couldn’t make the commitment anymore-handing the program over to Northfield grad and Marshall dance team coach, Madi Salisbury.  Also in class A, Lake City, Wabasha-Kellogg, and Lakeview will add new assistants to their existing programs. 
In AAA, Spring Lake Park took Jennifer Blaido away from the Burnsville program to be their new head coach – a logical choice for her since she is a north metro resident.  Burnsville in turn hired their varsity assistant Anna Lardy to be their head coach for 2012.  Park of Cottage Grove took on former Cannon Falls assistant Amanda Hemmingson-Jager as their new program head, and Duluth Denfeld, Edina, and St. Francis all also added new head coaches from their respective areas.  New AAA assistants will appear at Andover, Eagan, Chanhassen, and Roseville. 
When all the dust settles from the yearly changes it will be interesting to see the impact new coaching staff(s) will have on existing dynasties and programs with less of a successful history.  Time will tell how these changes will impact the competitive landscape, but I wish all the new coaches the best of luck in their new endeavors! 
Anyone else I missed?? Add comments below to share the new hires!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Welcome To Something New!

Welcome dance team fans to your new home for all things MN dance team right here at http://www.mnhsdanceteam.blogspot.com/!  This is something new for dancers, coaches, parents, and fans from all across Minnesota looking for the dance team coverage that is lacking in today's media. This new venue will be a location for scores, meet schedules, upcoming events, live coverage of competitions as they happen, videos, product reviews, advice articles, and coverage of topics relevant to anything high school dance team. 

History:  Things all began at State 2011, when I was busy coaching my final season at Cannon Falls High School and writing a guest article for John Milea over at MSHSL covering the state event.  I had a lot of fun and tons of positive feedback about the coverage and the idea to continue doing something to further dance team sports coverage was born.  However I didn't want to take the role of simple scores reporting as I am not a newspaper journalist and most sports reporters simply don't know or don't care anything for dance team to help publish articles.  I thought we should have something of our own as a community to continue to grow, learn, share, and connect in meaningful ways as the unique world we really are - not as something a newspaper or the MSHSL would make us to be. 

Content:  You can expect to find daily, weekly, and monthly updates on competitive events, results, featured teams and what they're up to, reviews of vintage dance team videos, and articles on current topics for dancers, parents, and coaches alike.  There will be live coverage of major competitions and the state tournament as they go on, providing a unique level of detail not seen in other outlets.  Interviews, photos, and new video will be posted to keep you up to speed on the current season.  Sign up for regular email updates or to post comments of your own on articles to continue the conversations.  Email in photos for our weekly photo contest for the best of the best in action photography of the dancers. 

Can't wait to get started!  See you on the dance floor!

-Coach Erin