SPRUCE Up Your Program

By Jeffrey Giles

Six sure-fire ways to make sure your team enjoys their dance team experience!
1) Make It Special - A young person needs to feel a part of something special! Something bigger than they are! Dance Team can sort of be the "sorority" of high school. Little specialties such as sleepovers, candle ceremonies, new member teas, etc, all add up to build sister-hood within your team!

2) Make It Personal - Allow your young people to participate in weaving the fabric of your team's personality. Give them some ownership! They will care much more about the outcome if they have had a hand in creating it!

3) Make it Unique - Each team should have a personality all its own. Assess your team's strengths and determine where they will shine the most. Focus your energies, as well as the team's, on what they will do best and make it your signature! Everyone knows it's you by your "signature!"

4) Make it Rewarding - We all need to be appreciated for our efforts! Young people are no different. Don't get too busy to point out outstanding accomplishments with your team! And they don't have to be huge either! Everyone being on time at a Saturday event, all members showing up at a fundraiser, no busts on a Friday night kick routine! Make it worth their effort! Little treasures are held in highest regard!

5) Make It Challenging - Nothing worth having comes easy! If it is too easy, a young person loses their desire to participate. Your program should have challenges that seek to improve the overall quality of your team! Work on accomplishing the next turn. A more difficult leap...always improving on your technique! Each day should hold a new challenge, not just another practice!

6) Make it Educational - There is so much more to a dancer than just the dance… finding their energy, their talents, their leadership qualities, themselves, and ultimately, their place in this world. So much of this growth process can be developed through your program. Make membership in your team an educational experience that your members can use for the rest of their lives. Sprucing up your program can offer so much to you as well as your team. Good luck and keep up the good work!

Jeffrey Giles

• HTE Dance and Spirit Group founder and CEO
• Motivational Speaker and Team Building Expert
• Guest writer and speaker for DTDA and other dance/drill organizations