09/21/2026
As choreography begins and competition season gets closer, I have a message for parents, especially those whose children are preparing solos.
Every year, hundreds, maybe thousands, of dancers walk onto a stage and show the judges what they cannot do.
Please don’t let that be your child.
Don’t ask the choreographer to add a certain trick, turn, or jump simply because you saw another dancer perform it. Your child’s choreographer is the expert. Allow them to create a solo based on where your dancer shines, not on what someone else is doing.
Every dancer is like a fingerprint. No two are exactly alike.
One dancer’s strength might be turns. Another’s might be jumps. Another dancer may bring passion, while another brings confidence. The possibilities are endless, and that is what makes each dancer unique.
Allow your child to be an individual.
Never make them feel as if their solo needs to look like someone else’s in order to be successful. And please don’t assume a certain trick will earn more points simply because another dancer scored well with it.
The best choreography doesn’t expose what a dancer is still working toward. It celebrates what makes that dancer special right now.
Let the choreographer do their job. Let your child bring their own gifts to the stage. And let the judges see what they can do, not what they can’t.
Have an awesome day and enjoy the journey--Rhee ✌💕
