16 Jan

A 5 Step Guide For Teen Goal Planning

Learning how to set goals is such an important life skill and you should start now- yes, as a teen! Goals are great because they constantly give you something to work on and help make you a better version of yourself! By mastering teen goal planning, you’ll live a more motivated and successful life.

Here are the 5 main steps that’ll make teen goal planning much easier:

1. Write down your goals

Your goals can be as big or little as you want. You may have a short-term goal of wanting to pass your next exam or you might have a long-term goal of wanting to save money for one of our dance tours. Narrow it down to your most important goals and write them down. Feeling stuck? Think about what you really want to do with your life. What are your biggest dreams? What would you really regret not doing? What areas do you want to improve? Is there something you want to do less or more of?

2. Give each goal a time frame

After you decide on what you want to accomplish, identify the time frame you want to give yourself to achieve each goal. Do you want to reach this goal within a month, 6 months, 1 year or 2 years?

3. Write down what you need to do for each goal

Underneath each goal, list the tasks you need to complete in order to achieve the goal. What steps do you have to take to get where you want to be? Further, write down the things that you need in order to complete each of these steps. For example, if you’re trying to save money, one of the things you might need could be a job.

4. Schedule your to-dos

Map out all of your goal to-dos onto a calendar. Schedule what you need to do daily, weekly or monthly in order to achieve your goals. By scheduling your to-dos, you’ll stay organized and on track to reaching your goals!

5. Start working towards your goal and review your progress

Now is the time to just go for it! Every so often, review what you have accomplished and celebrate! Be proud of the progress you’ve made, and take time to reflect on what you’ve learned along the way. Once you’ve achieved a goal, create a new goal or revise an old goal to give yourself a new challenge. Before you know it teen goal planning will become second nature to you, and you’ll be on the road to success!

16 Dec

Top 5 tips To Keep Strong Dance Technique Over The Holidays by Lauren From Our SHINE SQUAD

Schools out for most of us, which means nearly 2 months off before we have to head back to reality! While this is amazing because you get more time to just chill- it’s also super important to not lose what you’ve worked so hard to get throughout the year. Yes, I’m talking about dance technique! Here are my top 5 tips to keep strong dance technique over the long Christmas break!

1. Make a plan

Choose a goal. Your goal may be to maintain your strong dance technique, or it might be to improve your technique over the summer break. Whatever it may be, come up with an action plan on what steps you need to take in order to achieve this goal. This may be as simple as a half an hour of stretching 3 times a week to help improve flexibility, or you might even commit to doing daily dance workouts! Just make sure whatever you’re doing gets you closer to achieving your goal! 

2. Get Outside

Get outside and walk, swim, bike, hike… whatever you love doing! Summertime is the perfect chance to stay active without trying so hard because long, sunny days brings more time to play outside. The fresh air and sunshine does wonders for your health… trust me it’s been proven! You can’t have strong dance technique without good cardiovascular fitness, so make sure you are making the most of the beautiful weather and get outside!  

3. Youtube Dance Videos

There are so many awesome dance videos just on Youtube. You might want to search for a dance video that teaches you a new style, technique or combination. There are even some great workout videos for dancers. Pilates and yoga are a couple of my favourites because they help with my flexibility, core and mindset- all really important when it comes to strong dance technique!

4. Summer Intensives

Find a summer intensive and get involved! Summer intensives are a perfect way to keep your strong dance technique and cardiovascular fitness in tip top shape! Plus- you meet new people and form amazing friendships! Nothing better than making lifelong memories and bonding with other people over dance- something that you all love so much!

5. Don’t Forget To Relax

Yes, it’s important to maintain your dance technique over the holidays, but it’s also just as important to kick back and relax. Find time to relax, rejuvenate and rehabilitate- your body (and mind) will thank you for it! After all, the summer holidays are in a way a gift to us for how hard we’ve worked all year. So reward yourself with some rest and relaxation… you’ve earned it!  If you consciously take some time off from dance, you’ll be able to come back fresh and ready for an amazing new year!

These 5 things can be easily achieved, right? I hope you all have an amazing Christmas Holiday, and can’t wait to see you on the dance floor in 2020!

xoxo,

Lauren

new zealand dancer lauren

14 Oct

9 Ways To Beat Anxiety As A Teen

One thing we’ve learned from working with so many teens is that anxiety is one of the biggest hurdles that this age group faces. Let’s face it- nowadays life is a lot more busy and hectic than ever before. From the unrealistic standards of social media to endless school exams to those performance nerves that always seem to come back, being a teen can be so tough! And unfortunately having so much stress in your daily life can cause anxiety. Symptoms of anxiety include nervousness, agitation, tension, a racing heart, shortness of breath and chest pain. Any of this sound familiar? Please know you are NOT alone and that there are ways to manage anxiety, here are so good starter tips!

 

1. Practice deep breathing

Beat Anxiety- belly breathingDid you know that when we are anxious we tend to take quick and shallow breaths? Opposite to this, deep breathing techniques have been proven to help us relax in the most anxious of times. Practicing deep breathing settles your body and slows your mind. When you breathe in deeply through your nose, your lungs fully expand and your belly rises, slowing down your heart rate and making you feel more relaxed. So the next time you’re feeling anxious, slow your breathing down and make sure it goes all the way down to your belly. Focus all of your awareness on your breath.

 

2. Do some exercise

 

Beat Anxiety - workoutExercise is one of the best ways to burn off anxious energy. Studies show that people who exercise regularly are less likely to suffer from anxiety than those who don’t exercise. Through physical activity, mental stress is relieved. There are countless benefits to exercise. It lowers your body’s stress hormones, releases endorphins, and can improve the quality of your sleep. Plus- when you exercise regularly, you tend to feel more confident in your body, which results in a stronger mental wellbeing. Try finding a physical activity you enjoy- whether it be walking, dancing or yoga!  

 

3. Talk to someone

Beat Anxiety - talk

Support from your friends and family is so important during hard times. To beat anxiety, try taking a walk with your best friend (or whoever you feel most comfortable venting to) and just talk it out! Sometimes just getting things off your chest by vocalizing it does miracles in lowering anxiety levels. Talk through all of your anxious thoughts- you’ll feel much better after doing it!

 

4. Write down your feelings

Beat Anxiety - write

If vocalizing and talking isn’t your thing, try expressing your anxious thoughts through writing. You might want to keep a journal or even write up a quick pros and cons list. Research shows that even creative writing has helped teens manage anxiety. While writing about what your problems is one approach to feeling better, don’t forget to try jotting down all the things you are grateful for! 

 

5. Mindfulness & Meditation

Beat Anxiety - meditate

Once you feel anxiety creeping in, turn off your phone, find a quiet place, light some candles, and try to meditate. Meditation is a great tool for managing anxiety, as it helps slow racing thoughts, making it easier to manage stress and anxiety. There are a variety of meditation styles, including mindfulness and meditation during yoga. Practicing mindfulness is great because it focuses you in the present moment, which in turn combats any negative thinking that often triggers anxiety.

 

6. Simplify your life

Beat Anxiety - simplifySometimes taking on way more than you can handle can cause you to feel anxious. Juggling way too many commitments, whether it be family, work or school related, can leave you feeling extremely overwhelmed. The key to beating anxiety in this case is to simplify your life. It’s okay to say “no” when you’re too busy to take on any new responsibilities. You have the control to be selective with what you take on. By simplifying your life, you’ll also be able to more effectively manage your time, which will dramatically make you feel less stressed and anxious. 

 

7. Practice Gratitude

Beat Anxiety - gratitudeAnxiety occurs when we are focused on things we do not want, things that scare us or general overwhelm. Our thoughts dictate our feelings and our feelings dictate our life! A great interceptor of negative thoughts is gratitude. Stopping and switching your focus to all the good things in your life, all the things you are grateful for (i.e. my breakfast this morning, the fact I have clothes to wear, my Mum for taking care of me) will take you away from any negative thoughts and help you realise you have it pretty good. Focus on the positive and you will see more of the positive show up in your life. Focus on the negative, and, you guessed it, you will get more of the negative! 

 

8. Self Talk

Beat Anxiety - self talkWhat we say to ourselves is the number one factor determining our happiness in life. When we are feeling anxious, we are literally stressing ourselves out due to what is playing on the tape inside our heads. Two people can witness the same situation but have completely different experiences purely based on what they are saying to themselves before, during and after the event. So next time you are starting to feel that anxiety creep up say to yourself “I’ve got this”, “I can do this”, “I am strong”, “I am amazing”, “I know how to do this”, “Everything is going to work out perfectly”, “This is kind of fun!”. Even if you do not believe yourself in the beginning and if you continue to say words of encouragement to yourself, your inner being will start to come around and you will see your inner confidence begin to blossom. You will also be able to handle stressful situations a lot easier. EVERYTHING is mindset, and it all starts with how you talk to yourself in your own head.

 

9. Embrace the ‘7 Principles of Health’

Beat Anxiety - 7 principles of healthMake sure you check out our ‘7 principles of health article’ and read all the goodies in there re steps you can take to make your life work for you! Such good stuff! You can find it here.

Anxiety is common, but it does not need to be. You have the power to control your thoughts. They are your thoughts. It they are no longer serving you, it is time to do things a little differently. Work towards implementing the 9 practices mentioned above into your daily life and see how your life transforms. You’ve got this. We believe in you!

17 Sep

A Week In The Life Of Kiwi Dancers In LA

This past April, two dance studios from New Zelaand, Precision Dance and MasterClass Dance Studios, joined us on our LA Dance Tour! These dancers enjoyed two incredible weeks filled with world-class dance classes, professional dancer seminars, performances, theme parks, site seeing, shopping… oh my! Here’s a glimpse into a week in the life of Kiwi dancers in LA! 

 

Sunday, 14 April

We kicked off the day with some Team Building. After becoming inspired to work as a team, we then became inspired to become super successful after going on the dreamy Star Homes Tour! To top an already amazing day off, we visited Madame Tussauds Wax Museum and explored Hollywood Blvd! 

kiwi dancers in la

 

 

Monday, 15 April

After a day of high energy dance classes at IDA, Kim revealed a very special surprise she had been keeping from us! We ate dinner and shopped at The Grove (not the surprise)… then got to attend a live taping of American Idol!

Kiwi dancers at American Idol

 

 

Tuesday, 16 April

What a dream it was to take classes at the world famous Millennium Dance Complex– one of Hollywood’s hottest studios! After being so inspired by our amazing choreographers, we then got to sit in on the most eye-opening Agents Seminar. We learned all about how agents operate, how to get good representation, and how to get auditions! We ended the day with more dance (yay!!!), rehearsing for our upcoming Disney performance.

Millennium dance complex

Wednesday, 17 April 

Today we had an entire free day to enjoy Universal Studios! If you’ve never been, it’s one of the most amazing experiences ever. Arguably, one of the most favorite activities on the entire trip! The Spider-Man ride, Transformers: The Ride 3D, Revenge of the Mummy… all amazing! And we totally geeked out at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

Universal Studios

 

 

Thursday, 18 April 

After a much needed sleep-in, we were off to dance our butts off at EDGE. We then soaked in some gorgeous panoramic views of LA after conquering the Runyon Canyon hike! At the end of the day, we wound down nicely with a Personal Development Seminar.

Views of LA

 

 

Friday, 19 April

Can’t think of a better way to start off your day than a Twerk dance class with Cedric Botelho! AMAZING… high energy and so much fun! We then attended Pro Dancer Seminars before our long awaited performance on Hollywood Blvd!

Twerk Class with Cedric

 

 

Saturday, 20 April

Today we got all fancy and visited the oh so glamorous Rodeo Drive… talk about #goals! We also visited the Abbey Lee Dance Company (so cool!) then hopped over to vibrant Santa Monica Beach for some much needed vitaman sea! We can’t forget our trip to Walmart– this store is like The Warehouse but way better!

santa monica

 

 

Monday, 22 April

Sunday was spent resting as we prepped for Disney, so we’ll skip to Monday! This was the most magical way to round up the most amazing week of our lives, as we finally got to perform on stage at Disney- a dream come true. To top it all off the next two days were free to enjoy the parks! From meeting all the Disney characters to the amazing rides, these were hands down some of the best days ever! What an amazing week for us Kiwi dancers in LA (and we still had one more week to go!).

Kiwi dancers in LA at Disney

12 Sep

Top 9 Cities For Dancers To Live

Dream of pursuing a career in dance but have no idea where to begin? If that’s what you want to do, we encourage you to just go for it and never look back! To give you a bit of a nudge here are some of the best cities for dancers to live. 

1. NYC

nyc is one of the best cities for dancers to live

NYC is home to thousands of professional dancers. With some of the world’s most renowned studios and choreographers, the city is a mega hub for the international dance community. New York City’s famous Broadway and Theater District make it one of the top cities for dancers from all over the world! Whether you dream of dancing on Broadway, in the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular, or dancing courtside for the New York Knicks – there’s no doubt about it there are plenty of professional dance opportunities in the Big Apple!

2. LA
dancer in la

Welcome to the center of all things Hollywood! Moving to LA to pursue a professional dance career is a no brainer considering it boasts the largest commercial dance community in the world. There are numerous opportunities for dancers in LA- movies, TV shows, commercials, concert tours and more!

3. Orlando

dancer in orlando

Most girls at some point in childhood dream of becoming a real-life Disney princess. Well, the city of Orlando offers just that! Dance on stage, become a Disney character or prance around in one of their parades! The vast number of amusement parks, dance conventions and professional sporting teams in the area provide a lot of great career options for dancers.

4. London
london one of the best cities for dancers to live

From dance shows to dance events, the city of London buzzes with energy that’ll make you want to kick up your heels! London’s famous West End is the only other place in the world to give Broadway a run for its money! Being a massive thriving metropolitan city, you’re bound to find work in London as a dancer.

5. Paris

dancer in parisWhen you think Paris, you probably immediately think Cabaret. But Paris also offers dancers so much more, making it one of the best cities for dancers to live. From dance shows to dance clubs, there are so many options in this beautiful city of love!

6. Sydney
dancers in sydney

Sydney is Australia’s performance capital! It’s home to the iconic Sydney Opera house,  where you’ll find a ton of amazing dance, opera and drama performances. In Sydney, you’ll also find many of Australia’s top dance companies, including Brent Street, Village Nation and the Sydney Dance Company.

7. Melbourne
live and dance in melbourne

Melbourne is another popular city in Australia for those who love performing arts! The city moves year round, with everything from Broadway shows to contemporary dance. Plus- Transit Dance and Patrick Studios are located in the heart of the city, offering some of the most state-of-the-art dance facilities in the world!

8. Miami
live and dance in miami

Considering the fact that Miami has one of the busiest cruise ship ports in the world, there are sure to be plenty of professional dance opportunities aboard! Plus- the city is home to the Miami Dolphins football team and the Miami Heat basketball team- both having amazing dance teams!

9. Las Vegas

dancer in vegasImagine bright lights and beautiful show girls everywhere… That pretty much sums up Las Vegas! Vegas is a city built around entertainment. From the spectacular stage shows, super conventions and corporate events, dancers who move to Las Vegas definitely hit the jackpot!

07 Aug

Kim Davey: A letter to my teenage self

Dear Teenage Self,

What a journey you are in for! I believe everything in life happens for a reason and without pain and struggle we do not have the desire to seek and improve. So my dear, everything in your life has happened just the way it was intended!

Don’t stress the small stuff – it’s all small stuff

Remember when you spent days stressing out about whether you should take year 10 Graphics or Japanese – because due to the time table clash you couldn’t do both? You were so worried that this one decision would impact your future career you even went to the Dean about it! Hehe! Guess what my darling, you didn’t end up utilizing either AND you still haven’t been to Japan! Guess it wasn’t that important after all! Like many things we feel stuck about at the time – everything has a resolution and the unnecessary stress we put ourselves under is just that – unnecessary. Learn to trust yourself more, go with your gut and know that you can always make changes to your decisions later.

Perfectionism is a hindrance not something to be proud of!

Remember when you wouldn’t let anyone see you with a bump in your hair? Or how you used to stay up till 3am finishing assignments to make them perfect? Or all the opportunities missed b/c you needed something to be perfect and it wasn’t? Well guess what?! You will soon learn that ‘done is better than perfect’ and that perfect actually doesn’t exist. You will be told that ‘things will evolve over time’. Therefore, it is better to get started on the journey with ‘good enough for now’- knowing that you can always add and tweak and evolve. And guess what?! You get it! You do this! And then life and opportunities and traction really get exciting!

Be kind to yourself

So often you were so super hard on yourself that if it had been someone else saying those things, it would have amounted to extreme bullying. While you had high standards which is commendable, you did yourself no favours in beating yourself up. You were so young, so eager, so determined and so disciplined. You deserved praise and love and yet you were so, so hard on yourself. I want you to know that you are loved, you are worthy and you are enough. The biggest lesson you will learn as you get older is that kindness is the key to life. Being kind to others lets your own heart soar. And kindness towards others will only come when you find kindness for yourself. You will learn to speak to yourself in the mirror with loving kindness, and this will parlay into your relationships with others. It is a beautiful cycle of positive, loving kindness. You just have to give it a try – it all starts with you!

Being busy is not the goal

For some reason at school the idea of being busy, participating in every single extracurricular activity, and proving that you could do it all was the goal. While you did adore 99% of the things you were participating in – school production, dance, theatre, rowing, netball, life saving, Duke of Edinburgh, World Vision, Young Enterprise, singing, working… phewy- it did take its toll! It left very little time for you to reflect and take charge of your mental health at times. You would have anxiety attacks and get sick because you were run down. Well guess what? As you got older and learned all about the body and how we are 100% responsible for our health, you learned to listen to your body. You learned when to rest and what to feed it in order to sustain you. You learned that busy was not the goal, but instead living purposefully based on what was most important to you was the goal. You learned that you can have it all, as long as you honor, love and look after your physical body and mindset through juice fasts, meditation, self-reflection and personal development. It’s OK, you end up doing real good! 

Self love is the answer

When you were younger you did not have the tools to understand and care for yourself in the way you deserved to be cared for. You burnt out, struggled with anxiety and made yourself sick at times with worry. But you were very resourceful. You knew there was more. Your desire for experiencing the world to the extent of everything it offered lead you down the path of personal development. You invested $23K in a seven program package after you had just quit your job at the law firm and had a massive student loan and no job – because you believed. You believed in yourself and you LISTENED to your gut. You knew this was the right thing for you. You trusted yourself. And it was one of the most profound and important turning points in your life. Fast forward two years and you had travelled half the world, completed most of the courses, developed your sense of self confidence, purpose and joy, met incredible people, paid back your student loan in full (as well as the course), and started putting together the pieces of what would be a very successful business. Go you! You rock star!!!

So missy, relax, be kind, done is better than perfect and DON’T STRESS THE SMALL STUFF – because it’s all small stuff! 

Brace yourself, it’s going to be one incredible ride!

Love you!

Kim xxx

06 Aug

Mentorship Winners Make Huge Changes to Achieve Dreams

About 3 months ago, Helena Harvey and Jessica Harnett were announced as the winners of our SSO Lifestyle Mentorship program. Since then Helena and Jessica have had bi-weekly mentorship calls with Kim. Both girls have experienced tremendous personal growth and lifestyle changes in order to push themselves closer to achieve dreams!

Helena’s Progress

“I have had mentorship from Kim on working on my goals, and we have started to crack down on achieving these. She has given me contacts, who have helped me get over little hurdles in my brain that were blocking me from my dreams. Kim is holding me accountable for doing amazing things! I have learnt all about the “Secret” to being successful and have become hyper aware of following these instructions! I have already made so many life-changing decisions in the past few months, and it’s all thanks to Kim!”

helena's road to achieve dreams

Jessica’s Progress

“I’ve been crazy busy the last few months. I have secured 3 internships with Performing Arts Organisations around Wellington (Rata Studios, Java Dance Theatre Company and Toi Whakaari NZ Drama School). Thanks to Kim for suggesting these internships, as they will allow me to get fast work experience and develop connections within the Industry. I have also organised a trip to Vietnam and Thailand, where I will be spending two weeks volunteering at the Surin Project (an elephant conservation project). All very, very exciting!”

jessica's road to achieve dreams

SSO couldn’t be more proud of Helena and Jessica’s progress so far. We can’t wait to see what the next few months bring. Keep working hard towards your dreams, ladies!

10 Jul

5 Dance Jokes That Only Dance Friends Understand

There are some things that only dance friends will ever understand! You know what we mean. These 5 dance jokes are sure to make you giggle! Who can relate?!

 

1. Pirouette, Arabesque, Fondue, Pique, Jeté, Tendue, Effacé, Demi-plié, Développé, Fouetté, Glissade!

Dance Joke - When you know more French

Oui Oui! You probably know more French words than your friends taking the class in school! How cool is that though?!

 

2. That one time you got caught dancing in the grocery store by your crush…

Dance Joke - Dancing in the grocery store

People may think we’re crazy, but we have to rehearse EVERYWHERE because practice makes perfect. Plus, the grocery store aisles make the perfect dance floor!

 

 

3. In math class you be like…

Dance Joke - 5, 6, 7, 8

Our all-time favourite numbers! (obviously, we also know 1, 2, 3, 4)

 

4. When someone says dance isn’t a sport…

Dance Joke - When someone says dance isn't a sport

Dance takes strength, coordination, flexibility and balance… just to name a few! We compete and work as a team. Now tell me, why is it not a sport again?

 

5. Sorry I can’t, I have dance.

Dance Joke - Sorry I can't, I have dance.

Story of our lives! How many weekends have you had to turn your friends down because you had dance practice? With classes, rehearsals, dance tours and conventions, dance = LIFE! And there’s nothing wrong with that because we love it!

10 Jul

The Power of Positive Friendships

It’s true- positive friendships bring happiness and health. It’s been scientifically proven! The more positive friends you surround yourself with, the more upbeat and energetic you’ll be, as their positive energy naturally rubs off on you. Studies by Michigan State University have shown that the power of positive friendships lowers your chances of chronic illnesses like depression, diabetes, and heart disease.

Every once in a while, what may seem like a good friendship may actually be toxic- the type of friendship that makes you feel bad and brings you down. If you have a friend that constantly treats you with jealousy or disrespect, you should distance yourself because this type of negative energy can lower your self-esteem.  

How can you tell if your friendships are good for you? 

They Support You

Positive friends are the first to offer you help when you need it most. When you’re feeling down, they will do whatever it takes to make you smile. Have you ever walked off stage feeling really disappointed in your performance? Your positive friends are the ones waiting in the wings to give you a big hug and tell you how proud of you they are! They support you through it all- the good, the bad, the ugly! No matter what these positive friends are by your side.

Positive Friendships Bring Out the Best In You

The best of friends have a special way of motivating you to be the best version of yourself. You’re inspired by them! Spending time with them has lead you to face your fears, try new things and achieve life goals. Perhaps you have always dreamed of dancing on Broadway? Your positive friends are the ones who give you the encouragement and push you to go after what you want in life! 

They Make You Feel Good

This is probably the most obvious sign that your friendship is positive. Positive friends make you feel good! They lift you up. After spending time with a positive friend, you’ll feel happy and confident, not criticised and judged.

Good Friends Have Strong Character

Look at a friend’s morals and character when deciding whether they’re a positive friend or not. Key traits that positive friends have include being good listeners, reliable, empathetic, non-judgemental, and trustworthy. A good sense of humour is always a bonus!

The bottom line? 

The best of friends are the people who you laugh the hardest with, the ones who are your biggest fans, greet you with the biggest smiles, and are always just a phone call away. 

How do I attract positive friendships?

In order to attract positive friendships, you need to be a good friend yourself! Be the kind of person you want to spend time with! It all starts with positivity from within yourself. If you’re happy and positive, most likely your friends will be too! Aspire to lift each other up, let each other know you are there for one another in the good and bad times… and always help each other achieve your goals!

As the saying goes “Give a little love and it all comes back to you!” 

You get what you give, so give a lot! 

Your life and friendships will thank you for it.

13 Jun

Top 4 Places to Network as a Teen

You may think that networking is something only older business people do, when actually it’s something that you should start doing now – yes network as a teen! Networking is super important because one day the connections you make now could help you land your first job or the one after that! The networks you form can also help when it comes to providing references, as well as the friendship and support you need to make it in the real world. Everyone you meet is a new connection that could potentially be a big help for you in the future. So always be kind and genuine to everyone you meet!

The good news is – networking is actually really easy! It’s all about making connections with other people. Still a bit unsure about this whole networking thing? We’ve narrowed it down to the top 4 places that you can network as a teen, so listen up!

network online

1. Network as a Teen Online

If you parents allow you to use social media, it’s super important that you always keep your pages in check. Before you post anything, ask yourself if it would be appropriate if your future boss saw it. If the answer is no, don’t post it! Linkedin is a great tool that is specifically designed for professional networking. Have leadership roles at your high school? Just completed a cool internship? Maybe you spend your weekends volunteering? Proudly place those accomplishments onto your Linkedin profile.

network as a teen by getting involved

2. Get Involved

The easiest type of connections to form are with people with similar interests as you. Love to act? Join your local youth theatre club. Love to sing? Join your local choir. Whatever it is you love to do – just get involved! Workshop, retreats, camps and yes dance tours are all great ways to get active and meet people.

network with friends of friends

3. Friends of Friends

We know you already know your best friends really well, but what about friends of friends? Your current circle of friends could introduce you to a whole new network of people! Same goes for your parents’ friends, your teachers’ friends, your coaches’ friends and so on!

network as a teen when travelling

4. Travel Places

Don’t just stop once you’ve made a strong network in your hometown. Broaden your network by travelling to new places. Our dance tours take you to LA, NYC & Orlando and even London & Paris! The more people you know in more places, the stronger your network will be! Everywhere time you travel, meet people. You’ll be bound to run into some super friendly, intelligent and creative people – those are the ones you want to stay in touch with!

» PARTICIPANT LOGIN