237. Every Dancer Matters | Keeping Alternates Engaged and Ready

Cindy sits down with April Wagner to talk about how to be a great coach to your alternates with tips to keep them engaged and ready. April shares her approach to coaching alternates and explains how they fit into a strong team. They also cover one of the hardest parts of coaching, which is handling parents who are upset about placements, with practical tips for keeping those conversations calm and productive. Whether you’re a new coach or a seasoned director, this episode will help you build a team where every dancer feels valued. A must listen for all coaches! April Wagner is a dance educator, coach and choreographer with more than 32 years of experience building award-winning programs. A 1989 graduate and former captain of the Lake Mary Marionettes, she went on to captain the UCF Sun Dolls while earning her degree in health, physical education and dance in 1994. After starting her teaching career at Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, Florida, she founded the RV Dance Team at Rancocas Valley Regional High School in Mount Holly, New Jersey, 27 years ago. Under her leadership, the team has won 18 New Jersey state championships and six NDA national championships, competing mainly in team performance and high kick. Welcome to Anything But Routine presented by Just For Kix. This podcast covers Everything & Anything dance. Stay up to date with the podcast by hitting the subscribe button. https://www.justforkix.com/anythingbutroutine