INTERVIEWS. COVERAGE.
ANALYSIS.

🎧 LISTEN TO NO COUNTS GIVEN: https://nocountsgiven.com 📲 FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/nocountsgiven/ 🔥 FOLLOW KYLE RUSH: https://www.instagram.com/itskylerush/ Dance recruitment is changing and Sharpen Up is betting on something bigger than the traditional recruiting event. In this episode of No Counts Given, we break down the newly announced Ready by Sharpen Up, a hybrid experience combining dance education, recruitment, performance opportunities, net

🎧 LISTEN TO NO COUNTS GIVEN: https://nocountsgiven.com 📲 FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/nocountsgiven/ 🔥 FOLLOW KYLE RUSH: https://www.instagram.com/itskylerush/ Subscribe to No Counts Given for more reactions, dance competition analysis, choreography breakdowns, scoring discussions and honest dance industry commentary. Real Talk. Real Talent. All Things Dance. TAGS: IDL Seoul, IDL Seoul reactions, IDL Seoul commentary, IDL Seoul analysis, International

Kyle Rush sits down with industry expert Jessica Holyfield for an in-depth breakdown of the IDL season, including IDL scoring, judging criteria, score sheet captions, choreography, staging and team strategy. They discuss the growth of Royal Family, GRV, Quick Style, Jam Republic and other top dance teams while comparing competition trends across IDL, HHI and UDA. From judging consistency and scoring systems to rule loopholes, performance quality and what teams must improve be

In this full interview, Laurel Ritter, head dance coach at St. Ambrose University, joins No Counts Given to talk about building one of the strongest NAIA dance programs in the country. Laurel breaks down the legacy of St. Ambrose dance, the team’s championship mindset, and how athletic training, scholarship support, JV and varsity opportunities, and strong institutional backing have helped create a true powerhouse program. From explaining the NAIA competition structure to sha

In this episode of No Counts Given, Kyle opens the show with a look at the latest updates from Dance Team Union’s The Rankings as well as rule changes across major dance team competition circuits, including DTU and UDA. Then, Kyle sits down with dance judge, educator, and choreographer Gloria Castillo for a conversation about her journey in the dance industry, from small-town roots to judging competitions across the country. Gloria shares her perspective on what she’s seeing

Dance Team Union has released its updated rules and regulations for the 2026–2027 competition season, and while this is not a complete overhaul, there are several changes that coaches should understand before registering routines, building rosters and planning for Nationals. The updated rules apply to school-age programs, including Varsity, Junior Varsity, Middle School and Elementary teams - as well as All-Star and Studio programs. DTU has also made it easy to identify the u

Two powerhouse cheer and dance companies. One word at the center of the fight: “Worlds.” In this episode of No Counts Given, we break down the legal battle between USASF and Open Championship Series over branding, ownership, legacy, and control in the All Star cheer and dance industry. USASF says it is protecting the prestige and consumer recognition of The Cheerleading Worlds and The Dance Worlds. Open says USASF is trying to claim a word that has been used across the compet

UDA has released its updated School Dance divisions and rules for the 2026–2027 season and there is a lot to unpack. The changes that will have the greatest impact involve new Varsity division sizes, Game Day rosters, enrollment verification, athlete trade-outs, Intermediate restrictions, and Nationals eligibility. Here is the simplified version of what every school dance coach needs to know before building rosters and registering for competition. Photo Source: "Results: UDA

In this full interview, Lindsey Goldaper, head coach of the University of Tampa dance team, joins No Counts Given to talk about building a standout collegiate dance program from the inside out. Lindsey shares how Tampa continues to grow its presence in the college dance space, the challenges of developing strong team culture, and what it takes to push creative boundaries at Nationals. From leadership development and choreography strategy to community engagement and future goa

In this episode of No Counts Given, we sit down with Taylor Vasek, Head Coach of the Minnesota Premier Dance Team at the University of Minnesota, to talk through her journey from dancer to coach and what it takes to lead a competitive program at a high level. From team culture and choreography choices to the pressure of Worlds and NDA, Taylor opens up about the lessons, challenges, and defining moments that have shaped her coaching career. This conversation dives into the det

Why Do My Dancers Look Tired When They Have Good Stamina? It is one of my biggest pet peeves in dance team: a routine where the athletes clearly have stamina, but the details disappear by the end. The feet get lazy. The wrists stop being placed. Turn technique starts to slip. Textures blur together. Plie levels change. Picture moments lose their shape. But hey, the team can land a full team back tuck in the last eight-count. And listen, I love a wow moment just as much as the

Kyle Rush is back with a full breakdown of IDL Sydney, diving into the scores, judging trends, team strategies, and standout performances shaping the season so far. From GRV and Royal Family to Jam Republic and Brotherhood, this episode takes a closer look at how teams are building their competitive identities, where the scoring is getting tighter, and why judges may be raising the standard as the season progresses. Kyle also looks ahead to the next stops on the IDL circuit,

Emma Cox, the leader of one of Texas’ most competitive college dance teams, joins No Counts Given to break down what it really takes to build a high-standard, high-performing program with discipline, unity, and legacy at the center. In this interview, Emma shares how her team approaches choreography, music selection, routine structure, competition preparation, recruitment, and team culture while preparing for nationals and maintaining excellence year after year.

Go inside Western Michigan Dance Team’s back-to-back College Classic wins and the mindset, preparation, and team culture that helped them rise to the top. In this interview, we talk about their journey through The College Classic, the balance between artistry and technical excellence, and how storytelling, connection, and performance quality shaped their routines. Susan talks about finals prep, competing in a changing division, building chemistry through a new recruitment mod

In this episode of No Counts Given, Kyle Rush sits down with Shan Stavropoulos and Ramona Kitching for a deep dive into the world of pom performance, judging, and routine construction. Thank you to our sponsors, this would not be possible without you. Dance Team Union | www.danceteamunion.com Sharpen Up! Dance Team Training | www.sharpenupdtt.com Pom is more than sharp arms and clean visuals. The routines that truly stand out are the ones that combine technique, musicality, s

In this episode of No Counts Given, Kyle Rush sits down with Erin Alvarado, Head Coach of the Texas Tech Dance Team, for an educational conversation on coaching, choreography, and the evolution of competitive dance team performance. We couldn't do this without today's sponsor, Dance Team Union. Dance Team Union | www.danceteamunion.com Erin shares her journey from dancer to coach, diving into the mindset, strategy, and creative decisions behind building and leading a successf

In this episode of No Counts Given, Kyle Rush sits down with Travis Lake, a trailblazing choreographer known for his work with programs like BYU, University of Minnesota, and Dance Mania All Stars, for an honest conversation about creativity, competition, and challenging the rules of the dance team industry. We couldn't do this without our sponsors, thank you! Dance Team Union | www.danceteamunion.com The College Classic | www.thecollegeclassic.com Travis opens up about the r

Thank you for supporting No Counts Given this past year. I appreciate every single one of you that tune in weekly. I hope you enjoy this 2 hour ONE YEAR B-DAY episode. We couldn’t do this without our sponsors, thank you. Dance Team Union | www.danceteamunion.com Rebel Athletic | www.rebelathleticdance.com Sharpen Up! Dance Team Training | www.sharpenupdtt.com Dance Team Supply | www.danceteamsupply.com Today on the show, I’m breaking down IDL Sydney and sharing my overall pre

SFA Dance Team secures the Runner-Up spot in Division I Pom at the 2026 NDA National Championships For most college dance teams, the road to nationals has one destination. One peak. One championship weekend circled on the calendar. But for Stephen F. Austin State University Dance Team, the 2026-2027 season is shaping up differently. Head Coach T.J. Maple has shared with No Counts Given that SFA is transitioning from the usual college dance team standard of competing at one na

The divisions everyone’s watching? Yeah… we’re breaking it ALL the way down. In this episode of No Counts Given, we’re diving into the DII, DI Small, and DI Large divisions from The College Classic… where the margins are tight, the pressure is real, and every single detail matters. This is where titles are earned… and where the conversation gets LOUD. Dance Team Union | www.danceteamunion.com Sharpen Up! Dance Team Training | www.sharpenupdtt.com Dance Team Supply | www.dance