2023 TWD Nationals Booklet

THIS

IS MORE THAN DANCE. Here, memories are made.

Welcome TO THE 5TH ANNUAL TWD NATIONALS!

We are excited to host the 27th year of TWD competitions. Just For Kix was started in April of 1981.

TOGETHER WE DANCE COMPETITIONS were created to provide our participants with a venue to perform in front of a huge crowd. Many of our dancers from small towns never get to hear the ROAR of a crowd. It is so fun to watch them in these exciting moments. Remember, it is important to cheer for all teams when watching. Everyone is someone’s child! Celebrate the successes of all children.

FUN FACT: The first JFK Competition only lasted an hour.

We thank you for your involvement today. We know you had to travel and make sacrifices in your regular life to be here with us. We hope that you enjoy the journey here! It is not just about the 3 minutes on the floor, but the road trip, the hotel stays, the friends made, and the memories shared.

As GRANDPARENTS, we have the vantage point of looking back and thinking where did the days go, when we were sitting in the stands watching our kids. It goes faster than you think!!! The days are LONG but the years are short! Life is made up of moments, make sure to enjoy the journey. Thanks for participating!

We invite you to do more with Just For Kix. We have camps and intensives in the summer and the Annual Collegiate Bowl Game Tour to Florida in the winter! Even if your director does not go, YOU can go as a family. Check out these events online at justforkix.com.

THANKS TO OUR EVENT STAFF

Our staff is the greatest. These weekend gigs are TIRING and our staff also work during the week. We always say we are going to take time off, but there is too much to do. We all jokingly say we have TWD hangovers on Monday. They are a real thing, LOL. If you see one of our STAFF please give them a WHOOP WHOOP and thank them for their great service. It is hard to get trusted people to work weekends and who care as much as they do for our patrons. We appreciate them so much.

THANKS TO OUR TALENTED DIRECTORS AND ASSISTANTS

Coaching youth can be challenging. Many times they are bombarded with criticism and only hear the negative. Remember to be a positive force as a parent! Our kids model what they hear. Say thanks to your director for spending these days with your children.

Dear Parents, Dancers, and Friends, Still

Kickin’,

Divisions are made up from the following steps:

•The level the director registered the team for (classic, selec t, or elite)

•Classic: recreational classes, class average of 0-1.5 hours of class per week or entry level at your program

•Select: B level classes, class average of 1.6-3.5 hours of class per we ek or middle level at your program

•Elite: A level classes, class average of 3.6 hours of class per week o r top level at your program

•The average grade of the dancers registered for the class. We do not adjust divisions based upon those in a class that can attend an event rather the avera ge grade of the entire class.

•Wee: 2-3.5

•Mini: 3.51-5.5

•Middle: 5.51-7.5

•Junior: 7.51-9.5

•Senior: 9.51-12

In the event of low participation, divisions may be combined to allow for adequately sized divisons.

We want to award as many teams as possible, while leaving no less than two teams on the floor without a place. Point level ribbons will be given to all dancers entered in the competition even if they do not place. Teams that place in the top 2 of each category will receive a team plaque.

Point Total Ranks (determined by total points from 3 judges)

DIVISIONS rd place

Silver (Marginal) 0-99 Points

Gold (Below Average/Average) 100-149 Points

High Gold (Above Average/Good) 150-199 Points

Platinum (Very Good/Excellent) 200-249 Points

Double Platinum (Outstanding/Superior) 250-300 Points

Award Guidelines (team with the highest point total in the division wins)

# of Teams in Divison # of Awards Given

2 teams Award 1st-2nd place

3 teams Award 1st-3rd place

4 teams Award 1st-2nd place

5 teams Award 1st-3rd place

6 teams Award 1st-4th place

7+ teams Award 1st-5th place

st place nd place

th

POINT DISTRIBUTION INFORMATION POINT DISTRIBUTION INFORMATION

We have added a scale of Silver through Double Platinum rankings in addition to placement rankings to recognize our dancers, their efforts and points earned. Because of this, we are now able to acknowledge each team’s level of excellence regardless of final placement rankings at each award ceremony.

Double Platinum (Outstanding/Superior)

Platinum (Very Good/Excellent)

High Gold (Above Average/Good)

Gold (Below Average/Average)

Silver (Marginal)

SCORE SHEET BREAKDOWN SCORE SHEET BREAKDOWN

Technique = 30 Points

Execution/Timing = 40 Points

Difficulty = 10 Points

Overall Effect = 20 Points

Total 100 Points from Each Judge

SENIOR SHOWCASE EXPLANATION SENIOR SHOWCASE EXPLANATION

Two Categories: Kick and Hip Hop

Hip Hop Subcategories: A (Smaller Student Count) and AA (Largest Student Count)

Top 8 Teams from A and Top 7 Teams from AA Advance to Finals

Kick Subcategories: A (Smaller Student Count) , AA (Medium Student Count) and AAA (Largest Student Count)

Top 5 Teams from A, Top 6 Teams from AA and Top 7 Teams from AAA Advance to Finals

6 STEPS

TO TEACHING TO TEACHING Sportsmanship

At Just For Kix, every dancer is encouraged to have outstanding sportsmanship. Learning to practice good sportsmanship takes time, much like preparing for a dance sharpens the dancer’s skill.

The best teachers of this lesson are the generations that come before them. We ask that YOU help us set an incredible standard of good sportsmanship to show our dancers so that they create a habit of it towards their friends and competitors. Clap for all teams, support judges decisions.

1. ENCOURAGE TEAMMATES AND OPPONENTS

For many children, encouraging dancers who aren’t on their team can be difficult. Young athletes tend to think they can only support their team, but supporting the other team(s) shows gratitude and maturity. Although it may not be the easiest thing to do, it is one of the most important.

2. RESPECT YOURSELF, YOUR TEAM AND YOUR COACHES

Showing respect for yourself, your team and your coaches will allow your team to become more unified. As parents, we should teach our children to value the concept of teamwork and leadership brought to us through our program director.

3. WALK THE TALK

Children are always watching and imitating parents. With this being said, ensure your words are matching your actions. Children are going to look to you when good and bad times arise. Show them how to react to both situations.

4. POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

Positive reinforcement goes a long way. Even if your team made a mistake, it is best not to stress over it. Parents should model this behavior for children by acknowledging and praising them for certain things they have done well, even if they didn’t perform or place as well as they had hoped.

5.

BE GRACIOUS DURING AWARDS

Take pride in a win and a loss. If your competitor wins, accept defeat, realize their strengths and strive to improve for next time. If your team wins, resist flaunting and bragging to other teams. Be humble in a win and accepting of a loss.

6. HAVE FUN

Having fun is the best way to promote sportsmanship!

A sense of sportsmanship stems from the attitude of the parents and the coach. A team sport should be 80 percent good sportsmanship and 20 percent fun - a team with good sportsmanship is bound to have a blast!

RELIAQUEST BOWL PERFORMANCE TOUR

Once in a Lifetime!

WE ARE KNOWN FOR:

• First Rate choreography

• Affordability & Incomparable Value

Travel with Just for Kix!

Reliaquest Bowl Performance Tour

Dec. 28, 2023 - Jan 3, 2024

For dancers 2nd to 12th grades at all skill levels

For 31 years, we have been devoted to providing fun, educational and unforgettable travel experiences for every dancer, family, and coach.

Get ready for thrilling performances, surrounded by hundreds of marching band members, in front of over 60,000 Reliaquest Bowl fans at the beautiful Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida!

• Exclusively Designed Costume

• Superb Organization

• Perfect Balance of Dance & Fun

• Team Bonding & Making New Friends

• Supportive & Approachable Staff

• Once In A Lifetime Opportunity

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

• Disney World / Universal Studios

• Busch Gardens

• Clearwater Beach

• Dinner Cruise

• New Year’s Eve Party

• Bowl Game Performance

• Awards Ceremony

July 30th - August 2nd BRAINERD, MN

MORE THAN JUST A DANCE INTENSIVE

Vacation to the beautiful Brainerd Lakes Area and build friendships while increasing your dance skills!

NATIONALLY ACCLAIMED TEACHERS

Our teachers are brought in from around the United States to bring you the top training and cutting edge choreography from the industry.

PRICING:

LEADING CURRICULUM

With 10 years of experience offering dance intensives, our curriculum has proven to be successful. It exposes dancers to different styles while getting technique and strength training.

MORE THIS YEAR

Experience and be in a real Just For Kix photoshoot! Dress up and get fancy for banquet and dance party night.

***Ages 13 and under MUST be accompanied by an adult chaperone

6 Person Occupancy $563

5 Person Occupancy $585

4 Person Occupancy $617

EXPLORE BRAINERD Fun for the whole family!

3 Person Occupancy $688

2 Person Occupancy $837 Commuter Rate $455

*Commuter rate includes lunches & dinners

While dancers are increasing their skills, modeling in the JFK Model Experience, or attending our celebratory banquet, relax and enjoy all the Brainerd Lakes Area has to offer. Golfing, fishing, shopping, zipline tours, you name it!

Just For Kix Summer Intensive Experience is MORE than just a dance intensive! Vacation with the whole family to the home of Paul Bunyan and the well-known Minnesota’s Vacationland - the Brainerd Lakes Area.

REACHING HIGHER

In 2013, Just For Kix held the first ever Senior Showcase Competition.

The event is held to enhance the competitive experience for our Senior Kix and Hip Hop dancers. The competition is designed to allow dancers to reach higher and strive for greater excellence.

WHEN & WHERE:

April 28th, 2023 in Rochester, MN

WHO :

Just For Kix Dance Programs’ Senior Kix and Hip Hop dance teams who have been registered by their director.

• All teams compete together in the preliminary category, the top scoring teams will compete in finals.

• Top teams will be announced and awarded.

• Just For Kix programs are not required to participate.

Congratulations to all of our 2023 Senior Kix and Hip Hop teams who participated, and to those who advanced to finals!

SENIOR SHOWCASE HISTORY:

This will be our 10th year of offering this event.

2014 we had 29 teams compete:

1. Austin

2. Brainerd

3. St Cloud

4. Marshall

2016 we had 28 teams compete:

1. Brainerd, MN

2. Austin, MN

3. Richfield/Bloomington, MN

4. St. Cloud, MN

2018 we had 32 teams compete:

1. Brainerd, MN

2. Austin, MN

3. Thief River Falls, MN

4. Minnetonka, MN

2021 we had 39 teams compete: A

1. Elk River, MN

2. Marshall, MN

3. Stewartville, MN

4. North Fargo, ND

2015 we had 29 teams compete:

1. Brainerd, MN

2. Austin, MN

3. St. Cloud, MN

4. Tie Between: Elk River, MN & Marshall, MN

2017 we had 32 teams compete:

1. Brainerd, MN

2. Austin, MN

3. Minnetonka, MN

4. Richfield/Bloomington, MN

2019 we had 32 teams compete: A

1. Elk River, MN

2. Belle Plaine, MN

AA

1. Brainerd, MN

2. West Fargo, ND

3. Minnetonka, MN

2022 we had 47 teams compete:

1. Elk River, MN

2. Fridley, MN

3. Marshall, MN

SENIOR HIP HOP

3. Shelton, NE

4. Fridley, MN

4. Thief River Falls, MN AA

1. Minnetonka, MN

SHOWCASE HISTORY:

This will be our 5th year of offering this event.

2019 we had 26 teams compete:

1. Shelton, NE

2. Belle Plaine, MN

3. Minnetonka, MN

4. White Bear Lake, MN

2021 we had 27 teams compete:

1. Crookston, MN

2. STMA, MN

3. Shelton, NE

4. Elk River

2022 we had 37 teams compete.

1. Grand Island, NE

2. Minnetonka, MN

3. Belle Plaine, MN

AA

1. Brainerd, MN

2. Thief River Falls, MN

3. St. Cloud, MN

4. Sioux City, IA

AA

1. Brainerd, MN

2. Thief River Falls, MN

3. St. Cloud, MN

4. Richfield/Bloomington, MN

AA

1. Brainerd, MN

2. St. Cloud, MN

3. Thief River Falls, MN

DANCE COMPETITIONS: Parent’s Perspective

INITIAL RESULTS

Following each competition, parents who are not familiar with d ance often wonder about the results and the criteria judges follow. Involvement in a judged sport can be frustrating and more often than not, results are questioned from the beginner level, all the way to the collegiate level.

POINTS TO CONSIDER

• WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN OUR EVENTS. Our goal is for each competition to be as fairly judged as possible. We go to great lengths to train our judges with our criteria and select knowledgeable, reputable dancers in the industry to be a part of our judging panel.

• MISTAKES CAN HAPPEN. For this very reason, we have multiple judges to evaluate each entry/number as a whole. One judge may see the mistake, while another might not.

• WHY DO JUDGES HAVE VARIED RESULTS?

While we do train our judges to score/judge aligned with our score sheets, each judge has their own personal preference. One judge may be stricter about pointed toes and straight legs, while the other might be stricter on emotion and facial expressions. As we all have our own preferences, judges can vary while sticking to the parameters of our Just For Kix scoring sheet.

• AS A PARENT, YOU MAY BE MORE INCLINED TO WATCH ONLY YOUR CHILD RATHER THAN THE ENTIRE GROUP.

Our judges are instructed to judge the complete picture, instead of one or two dancers. We believe our Just For Kix score sheet embodies all aspects of fairly judging a routine; including technique, execution/ timing, difficulty, and overall effect.

• JUDGES LOOK FOR TECHNIQUE IN ALL STYLES (KICK, JAZZ, POM, LYRICAL, HIP HOP, BALLET).

Even though each style of dance varies, technique is one constant judges are looking for. However, the measure of technique slightly differs from one style to the next. For example, in the kick category, judges look for pointed toes, straight knees, timing, straightness of backs, kick height and execution; while in the hip hop category judges look for the use of resistance, isolations, quality of movement, and execution.

• MOST OFTEN, RESULTS ARE VERY CLOSE

This circumstance is a recurring theme across most dance competitions; beginner to collegiate level. At the 2022 college dance team nationals, first place scored 96.7971, while second place scored 96.1304. When scores are this close, it comes down to the smallest details.

• COSTUMING AND MAKEUP ARE NOT CRITIQUED. Costumes and makeup are not a part of the score sheet, but showmanship, neatness and sameness does count.

• CHOREOGRAPHY IS NOT PART OF THE SCORE SHEET.

Due to the fact that all routines performed are provided by Just For Kix, we judge based on difficulty, execution, timing and showmanship

K-9TH GRADE

DANCE CAMP

LOOK OUT! Just For Kix is thrilled to be offering our youth dance camp experience at our studio in Brainerd, MN.

We specialize in teaching children how to dance, but more than that, we bring kids together to teach them to work hard, how to work as a team, and most importantly, how to have fun!

Corporate Run Camp: Brainerd, MN July 20 - 22

Check with your local director to see if they will be offering Rockin’ The 80’s: Summer Youth Camp in your area!

To learn more about our K-9th Grade Dance Camp, visit our website www.JustForKix. com/DanceCamps

2023 JUST FOR KIX CAMPS

SUMMER 2023 DATES

6-12th

FAMILIES OF THE FAMILIES OF THE Year

The Cobler Family

GRAND ISLAND, NE

Parents: Tom and Cari Sydney, Mariah and Avery

THIS FAMILY IS ONE OF A KIND!

They always go above and beyond not only for their girls, but for all of our dancers. Constantly cheering them on, offering to assist with financial woes, assuring everyone gets fed and hydrated, the list goes on and on!

Cari is known to our whole dance family for her constant smile, boisterous cheers, and her absolute kind open heart! When she was diagnosed with Stage IV Cancer 8 years ago, she never missed a beat. She was a warrior who fought with all of her might, nothing could keep her away from a dance performance! Our stands have not been the same without Cari in them this season. Grand Island’s dance family is better for knowing and loving Cari and the whole Cobler crew.

MORE ABOUT THE COBLER FAMILY

Avery and Mariah have been at Just For Kix for 25 years between the two of them. Mariah is a third year staff member!

Sarah Garduno

GRAND ISLAND DIRECTOR

The Huot Family

MEDINA, MN

Parents: Kat and Adam Elena, Cecilia and Evelyn

HUNGRY FOR SUCCESS

Not only are they so involved with the studio, the Huot Family does it in the most gracious and kind way possible. Kat and Adam are the sweetest and nicest parents to work with. They care tremendously for their three daughters and it shows as they wait in the car for them to finish their classes, or bring dinner into the studio and have a studio family dinner in between their class breaks. All three dancers are so respectful towards the Medina staff! They are so determined and have high goals that I know they will all achieve. They are advanced technique wise but also are kind and caring to their other teammates and step up to the plate when needed. They are more than prepared for any curveballs thrown their way!

I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT THIS FAMILY!

The Huot’s are at the studio pretty much every night of the week and are so grateful for our space. They are beyond dedicated and they all have the best attitudes! They take any opportunity they can to grow and improve. I can’t say enough nice things regarding their dedication, flexibility, understanding and communication styles. They truly are the best and we are so grateful to have them at Medina!

Sarah Jakovleski MEDINA DIRECTOR

The Williams Family

Parents: Victoria and Travis Allison, Josie, Nora, Brother Bennett and Baby Williams

JFK FOR GENERATIONS!

The Williams Family has been involved in JFK for generations. Victoria was in JFK and is a former Rangerette, as well as her sisters Alicia and Taylor! Victoria’s mom, Nikki Wassen, used to coach varsity so it’s safe to say dance runs through the family! You can tell that all three girls spend a lot of time dancing at home. Allie is very flexible and Josie is nonstop learning! Little Nora is following in her big sister’s footsteps.

MORE ABOUT THE WILLIAMS FAMILY

Both parents work full time and are busy but they always make time for their kids to be involved in dance, performances and competitions. It is so special that Victoria was one of three sisters involved in Just For Kix and now has three daughters in it.

Amy Lundgren CROSBY DIRECTOR

The Anderson Family

CROSBY, MN WINDSOR, CO

Parents: Trisha and Melvin Amberlyn, Audreanna and Emery

COMMITTED TO OUR WINDSOR JFK FAMILY

The Anderson family has been a part of the Windsor Just For Kix Family since 2018. It began with both Audreanna (11) and Amberlyn (9) taking a class to see if dance was something they enjoyed and wanted to pursue. Since then they have grown in their dance abilities and love for dance. Both Audreanna and Amberlyn are now on placement teams and love to share their passion for dance on stage. Little brother, Emery(6), joined the dance family in 2020 and is loving Little Boys HipHop. After watching the Adult HipHop perform for a few seasons, Trisha (mom),stepped out of her comfort zone to join the JFK family in 2021. Melvin (dad), has danced with both daughters every year in the spring father/daughter dance. It has not been an easy road for the Anderson’s. Between job losses during the pandemic and major medical issues with two kids, the Anderson’s have stayed committed to their desire to dance. This year they are at the studio about 15 hours a week and everyone travels to competitions and shows to support their dance family. The Anderson’s are grateful to have found such an incredible dance family that can surround them when times are tough and cheer them on during the joys of life. Last year the entire family took the stage in our Spring Show!

Christin Randall WINDSOR DIRECTOR

to be featured!

TAG US TAG US at Just For Kix CAREERS CAREERS

SENIORS

Heading off to college in a different community? Consider applying to be an assistant or head instructor! We have over 200 programs in areas all over the country. Our directors are looking for outgoing and talented head instructors and assistants. Apply at support@justforkix.com Down the road, consider applying to become a DIRECTOR!

Consider applying to be a part of the HOME OFFICE TEAM in Brainerd, MN. Graphics, production, catalog, marketing, dance rep and more! Email support@justforkix.com for more information.

Interested in adjuducating? Apply to be a TWD JUDGE and work weekends at TWD’s. Must have experience to apply.