Kailena Van de Nes

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Kailena Van de Nes Helping dancers build safe, strong Acro skills
đź“Ť Boca Raton, FL
✨ Private lessons, classes & workshops

A solo can be an incredible opportunity. But it is not a ranking system.Not getting one doesn’t mean your child isn’t ta...
10/12/2026

A solo can be an incredible opportunity. But it is not a ranking system.
Not getting one doesn’t mean your child isn’t talented.
It doesn’t mean they aren’t working hard.
And it definitely doesn’t mean they matter less.
Casting is complicated. Timing, choreography, age, style, group dynamics and what a piece needs all play a role.
The goal shouldn’t be to raise dancers who only feel successful when they’re singled out.
Raise dancers who can work hard.
Take corrections.
Handle disappointment.
Celebrate someone else’s moment.
Keep growing.
And still love dance when the spotlight isn’t on them.
A solo is an opportunity.
It is not a measure of worth.
Save this for casting season.
Share it with a dance parent who may need the reminder. đź©·

Dancing through an injury isn’t dedication.Pain is information. And when dancers feel like they have to hide it, medicat...
10/07/2026

Dancing through an injury isn’t dedication.

Pain is information. And when dancers feel like they have to hide it, medicate it, or push through it to keep their spot, role, solo or competition opportunity, that’s a problem.

Not every ache means something serious. But repeated pain deserves attention — and sometimes the answer isn’t “push harder.” Sometimes the training, recovery, progression or expectations need to change.

The goal should be a dancer who knows when to push, when to modify, and when to stop.

Longevity matters more than proving how much pain you can tolerate.

Save this. Share it with a dance parent, teacher or dancer who needs the reminder.

Flexibility training should build a dancer’s body — not break it.More range isn’t always better range. A deeper split, a...
09/30/2026

Flexibility training should build a dancer’s body — not break it.
More range isn’t always better range. A deeper split, a bigger backbend or a more extreme line means very little if the dancer doesn’t have the strength and control to own it.
We know more now than many of us did growing up in dance. That means we can do better.
Train the range. Strengthen the range. Respect the dancer in front of you.
Flexibility should be taught — not forced. 💗
Save this. Share it. Start the conversation.

09/28/2026

STEAL THIS ACRO SEQUENCE: beginner/intermediate edition đź’—
One of my favorite ways to build confidence across the floor is to connect skills dancers already know. This combination moves through balance, rolls, cartwheels, handstands, and forearm work:
Straddle headstand → side tilt to knees → somersault → straddle roll → cartwheel from one knee to standing → swing handstand to knees → forearm stand → forearm cartwheel to standing.
Practice each transition on its own first, then see how smoothly your dancers can connect the full sequence.
Save this for your next acro class! Which transition would your dancers need to practice most?

I want dancers to ask questions. If another coach taught a skill differently, let’s talk about why we’re doing it this w...
09/27/2026

I want dancers to ask questions. If another coach taught a skill differently, let’s talk about why we’re doing it this way.
But an eye roll, back talk, or “my other teacher said…” used to dismiss a correction shuts down the learning before it starts. I don’t need a dancer to get every note right away. I do need them to listen and be willing to try.
Parents can help with this, too. When your dancer says a teacher was “mean,” ask: What did they ask you to change? How was it said? What did you try next? And celebrate the moments your dancer applies a correction—not only the moments they land a new trick.
Corrections should be clear and respectful. Pain should always be taken seriously. But holding a standard and helping a dancer improve isn’t being mean.
Teachers and parents: what has helped your dancer learn to receive feedback?

“She’s nine and still doesn’t have her aerial.”When did “still” become part of that sentence?It’s easy to watch another ...
09/23/2026

“She’s nine and still doesn’t have her aerial.”
When did “still” become part of that sentence?
It’s easy to watch another child land a new skill and start questioning your own dancer’s progress.
But stronger basics, better control and the confidence to try again deserve recognition, too.
We can have goals, encourage effort and take training seriously while giving children time to learn.
Before asking, “Why can’t mine do that yet?” try asking, “What has my child improved on?”
They deserve to feel proud of how far they’ve come. 🩷
Share this with a dance parent who needs the reminder.

Being ready for advanced isn’t the same as wanting advanced. 👏A dancer can have the skills and still need more time to d...
09/20/2026

Being ready for advanced isn’t the same as wanting advanced. 👏
A dancer can have the skills and still need more time to develop the consistency, technique, independence and training maturity required at the next level.
And sometimes the best thing a coach can do is keep challenging a dancer exactly where they are — instead of rushing them forward.
Placement isn’t a reward.
It isn’t a punishment.
And it isn’t a race.
The goal isn’t to GET into advanced.
The goal is to BECOME advanced. đź©·
Parents + teachers: what do you think makes a dancer truly ready to move up?

09/18/2026

Want your aerial? Don’t stop working on your cartwheels. 👏
Before taking the hands away, build strength, control and confidence through different cartwheel variations:
Cartwheel → knee cartwheel → far-hand → close-hand → flying cartwheel → step-hop aerial ✨
And ALWAYS train both sides. Your “bad side” doesn’t get better by avoiding it.
I also love adding chassé/step-hop cartwheels and pop cartwheels when working toward an aerial because they teach the dancer to create more power and lift while keeping the mechanics of the cartwheel.
Don’t rush to remove the hands. Build a cartwheel that doesn’t need them. 🔥
Save this one for your next acro practice! đź©·

Somewhere along the way, we started confusing “mature” with “talented.”A child can be powerful, captivating, technically...
09/16/2026

Somewhere along the way, we started confusing “mature” with “talented.”
A child can be powerful, captivating, technically advanced and incredibly artistic — without being made to look or perform like an adult.
Age-appropriate doesn’t mean boring.
It doesn’t mean childish.
And it certainly doesn’t mean less talented.
As adults in this industry, we set the standard for what gets created, posted, praised and rewarded.
Dance is art. But “it’s art” shouldn’t be an excuse to stop using our judgment.
They’re children. We’re the adults. Act like it.
Where do you think the line should be drawn? 👇

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