--- title: "5 Reasons to Join Nan’s Competitive Dance Team and Elevate Your Skills - Nan's School of Dance in Raleigh" description: "Why join a dance team? Five reasons a competitive team helps dancers grow, from stronger technique and confidence to friendships and skills for life." url: https://www.nansdancenc.com/blog/5-reasons-to-join-nans-competitive-dance-team-and-elevate-your-skills/ --- # Why Join a Dance Team? 5 Reasons to Join Nan’s Competitive Dance Team - [Hillary White](https://www.nansdancenc.com/about-us/hillary-white/) - February 12, 2025 Have you ever watched a dance performance and thought, “I want to be part of something like that”? So why join a dance team? A competitive dance team helps you improve faster, builds your confidence, and gives you friends who love dance as much as you do. You get the thrill of competing, and you learn skills that help long after you leave the studio. If you’re ready to take your dancing further, here are five reasons the Competitive Team at Nan’s School of Dance could be a great fit. ## 1\. You’ll grow as a dancer like never before Being on the Competitive Team means learning routines, and it also means working to become the best dancer you can be. Our team trains in several styles, including ballet, jazz, contemporary and hip hop. Training across all of them, you’ll clean up your technique, get more flexible, and learn choreography that pushes you out of your comfort zone. Our teachers are with you the whole way. They’ll challenge you, cheer you on, and celebrate when you get better. Maybe you finally land that triple pirouette, or you learn how to show emotion through contemporary movement. Either way, the skills you build on the team will stay with you. Want to get a head start? Nan’s holds Company Prep Workshops each spring. They introduce the skills and style of movement dancers may see at evaluations, and they’re open to any dancer who wants to learn more about the team and sharpen their technique. It’s a good way to feel confident heading into evaluation season. ## 2\. It’s about more than dance: it’s about confidence Performing in front of judges and an audience can be nerve-wracking. It’s also one of the best confidence boosters there is! On the Competitive Team you learn to carry yourself with poise, on stage and off. You’ll practice handling pressure, setting goals, and celebrating your wins, big and small. Parents often tell us their dancers walk a little taller, speak up with more confidence, and are braver about facing challenges. We love hearing that! ## 3\. You’ll build lifelong friendships Dance is more fun with friends, and the bonds you make on the Competitive Team can last a lifetime. Company dancers train on teams at three levels: Performance Company (the Amethyst teams, kindergarten through 12th grade), Select Company (Garnet, Opal, Sapphire and Emerald, 2nd through 12th grade) and Elite (Ruby and Diamond, 6th through 12th grade). The [Company information packet](https://www.nansdancenc.com/documents/company-info-packet-2026-27.pdf) has the details for each level. Each group becomes a kind of family. You’ll laugh together during warm-ups, cheer each other on during performances, and make memories that go well past the studio. Working toward the same goal and celebrating what you’ve earned as a team is something special. ## 4\. You’ll experience the thrill of competition If you’ve never been to a dance competition, you’re in for a treat! Picture yourself stepping onto the stage, feeling the energy of the crowd, and giving it everything you’ve got. That’s what the Competitive Team is all about. At Nan’s, Company teams compete at local and regional events each spring. Awards are exciting, but the experience is the bigger reward. You’ll see other talented dancers, get feedback from industry professionals, and grow as an artist. (Here’s how to [grow from competition critiques](https://www.nansdancenc.com/blog/the-power-of-feedback-how-to-grow-from-dance-competition-critiques/).) And hearing your team’s name called for a special award is something you’ll never forget! ## 5\. Build skills that help you beyond dancing Competitive dance teaches life skills that help in the classroom, in group projects, and one day at work. You’ll learn time management, discipline and how to work with others. Balancing rehearsals with schoolwork teaches you to prioritize and stay organized. Working closely with teammates builds communication, empathy and leadership. When you’re all perfecting a routine together, you’re also learning how to support each other, work out disagreements, and celebrate as a group. Those skills come in handy whether you’re giving a presentation at school or working on a project with classmates. Dancers on our Competitive Team often tell us that what they learn in the studio helps them feel more confident and prepared everywhere else. It’s a big part of [why competitive dance is about more than winning](https://www.nansdancenc.com/blog/why-competitive-dance-is-about-more-than-winning/). ## What Nan’s Competitive Company Team is about The Competitive Company Team gives committed dancers a chance to train further, show what they can do, learn from different teachers, and compete. We want it to be a happy, supportive place to learn, with a team atmosphere where dancers learn to believe in each other as much as they believe in themselves. Trophies are nice, but they aren’t the main focus. What matters most to us is building skills and competing in a setting that grows each dancer’s self-confidence and self-worth. Hillary White, who opened Nan’s Raleigh studio in 2012, has been dancing since she was a child. She competed at the national level in college, where she learned about discipline, drive, and what it takes to put a top-scoring routine on stage. She loves sharing that experience with the dancers on the team. Each Company group is named after a gemstone. Gems are valued for their strength, durability and rarity, as well as for how they look, and that’s how we think about our team. The bond between teammates makes them strong, and the time and energy they put into dance gives them a strength that lasts. ## Ready to join the team? If this sounds like the right fit for your dancer, we’d love to welcome you to the Nan’s Competitive Team family. Whether you’re an experienced performer or new to competitive dance, there’s a place for you on our team. You’ll find current details on the [Competitive Company Team page](https://www.nansdancenc.com/dance-classes/competitive-company-team/), and these [tips for standing out at dance auditions](https://www.nansdancenc.com/blog/proven-strategies-to-stand-out-during-dance-auditions/) will help you get ready. Placement on the team comes through Company Evaluations, held each June. This year’s dates are on the Company Team page, so mark your calendar and come ready to bring your A-game. ## Reach your goals with Nan’s School of Dance [At Nan’s School of Dance](https://www.nansdancenc.com/about-us/), our goal is to provide top-quality instruction at a competitive price. We encourage our students to reach technical proficiency in their favorite dance form and build self-discipline, poise, and self-esteem. We offer instruction in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Acro, and Pre-Dance, at all levels. We love having new members in our dance classes and will help get your child acclimated to our dance school to make them feel right at home. When your child attends Nan’s School of Dance, they will become a part of our dance family and share in our love for dance! ## Don’t forget to register! From ballet to hip hop, we offer dance classes for ALL ages and skill levels in a variety of styles. We place students in classes that will challenge them while offering a fun atmosphere for learning and growth. We also offer Mommy & Me classes (18 months – 2.5 years). [Register online](https://www.nansdancenc.com/register-now/) or give us a call at [(919) 803-6044](tel:+19198036044) to hold your spot! \*Feel free to follow us on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/NansSchoolOfDanceRaleigh) | [Twitter](https://twitter.com/NansDanceNC) | [Instagram](https://instagram.com/NansDanceNC) ## Want to read more about dance? Take a look at some of our other articles about performance & competition. - [Why Do Dancers Wear Costumes and Dance Makeup?](https://www.nansdancenc.com/blog/why-do-dancers-wear-costumes/) - [The Power of Dance Feedback: How to Grow from Competition Critiques](https://www.nansdancenc.com/blog/the-power-of-feedback-how-to-grow-from-dance-competition-critiques/) - [Why Competitive Dance is About More Than Winning](https://www.nansdancenc.com/blog/why-competitive-dance-is-about-more-than-winning/) ## Want to learn more about our classes or studio? Just fill out this form and we can answer all your questions. We look forward to seeing you soon in our studio! Warmly, Hillary *This form is on the web page: *