The competition dancers of Impact Dance Complex went on a road trip to attend the 2023 KAR Dance Convention in East Brunswick, NJ. Part of their yearly dance training, the dancers attend a large convention near New York City to train with some of the best choreographers and professional dancers. A full day of dance, but rewarding at the end! Aside from the wealth of knowledge they get from learning from professionals in the musical theatre, commercial and entertainment dance industries, the dancers also get to catch up with old dance friends from the region.

The day begins bright and early, and the dancers leave Doylestown, Pennsylvania for New Jersey. A small bus filled with blankets, water bottles, headphones and sleepy dancers heads to the Hilton in East Brunswick to start the day. After check-in, the dancers begin warm up together, before splitting up into rooms for a day full of dance classes determined by dance style, age and experience. All dancers are encouraged to try new dance styles, and lessons about commitment, leadership and community are just some of the things learned beyond the dance steps themselves.

Dance classes this year included styles such as hip-hop, jazz, musical theatre, tap dance and contemporary. The dancers also have the opportunity to sit with professional choreographers and learn about the audition process, show business and more. They spend the day working hard, bonding with their competition team members and making memories. At the end of the convention day (9am-7pm 😲) the dancers pile back into the bus to head back to Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Before arriving home, there is always a traditional stop for dinner, where dancers get to reflect on the day, talk about their favorite dance classes, and (this year) even celebrate a few birthdays.

While definitely a long day for all dancers (although they are rewarded with doughnuts!), days like these are really what help dancers grow and reach the next level, while reenforcing concepts that go far beyond the dance floor such as friendship, dedication and professionalism. Thank you to Kids Artistic Revue for another incredible convention! Learn more about the Impact Competition Program here.

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