INTERVIEWS. COVERAGE.
ANALYSIS.

Kyle Rush breaks down Royal Family’s journey through the IDL season, analyzing their scoring consistency, choreography evolution, staging, musicality, and what could push them to the next level at IDL Los Angeles. With scores consistently landing between 85–88, Royal Family has established a clear identity and some of the strongest projection and stage presence in the International Dance League but questions remain around choreography complexity, cleanliness, solo moments and

🎧 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

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

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,

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

Explore how St. Ambrose University Dance has built a championship legacy through innovation, athleticism, strong university support, and a deep connection to campus culture. St. Ambrose University NAIA Pom at The College Classic In collegiate dance, success does not happen by accident. It is built through years of consistency, leadership, culture, and the ability to keep evolving while still honoring the foundation that came before. St. Ambrose University Dance is a clear exa

Switching nationals brands can be a major decision for any dance team. Learn how to transition successfully with clear communication, athlete buy-in, strategic planning, and a strong team-first mindset. In the competitive dance world, switching nationals brands is more than changing where a team performs at the end of the season. It can shift the way a team trains, builds routines, approaches scoring, manages expectations, and defines success. For some programs, a brand chan

Learn how to analyze college dance competitions through performance quality, scoring trends, choreography, technique and standout routines from NAIA, junior college and Division III programs. Grand Valley State University competing at The College Classic College dance is not just about who hits the hardest trick, who has the biggest team, or who brings the loudest music cut. At its best, college dance is a full competitive product. It is performance, athleticism, musicality,

Avila brought one of the clearest routine identities in the division, fully committing to their monster inspired theme from the very first moment. The music, performance choices, character work, and movement intention all lived in the same world, which made the concept immediately recognizable. This was not a team just wearing a theme on top of the routine. They actually performed through it, and that commitment helped the character bleed into the quality of movement. What st