In this episode of No Counts Given, Kyle Rush sits down with Shan Stavropoulos and Ramona Kitching for a deep dive into the world of pom performance, judging, and routine construction.

Thank you to our sponsors, this would not be possible without you.

Dance Team Union | www.danceteamunion.com
Sharpen Up! Dance Team Training | www.sharpenupdtt.com

Pom is more than sharp arms and clean visuals. The routines that truly stand out are the ones that combine technique, musicality, storytelling, staging, and intention in a way that feels clear, elevated, and memorable.

Shan, Ramona, and Kyle unpack the evolving expectations of the category and offer insight into how teams can elevate their routines beyond the basics.

If you’re ready to better understand the judge’s perspective and what it takes to build a pom routine that actually lands, this conversation is for you.

In this episode of No Counts Given, Kyle Rush sits down with Erin Alvarado, Head Coach of the Texas Tech Dance Team, for an educational conversation on coaching, choreography, and the evolution of competitive dance team performance.

We couldn't do this without today's sponsor, Dance Team Union.

Dance Team Union | www.danceteamunion.com

Erin shares her journey from dancer to coach, diving into the mindset, strategy, and creative decisions behind building and leading a successful college dance team program.

From full-team skills to intentional routine design, this episode breaks down what it takes to compete at a high level while staying true to your team’s identity.

If you’re a coach, athlete, choreographer, or dance team fan looking to better understand the strategy behind elite-level dance team competition, this conversation with Erin Alvarado is packed with insight, perspective, and real coaching takeaways.

00:00 Coming Up on This Episode
00:27 From West Virginia to Texas Tech
05:02 Ad: The Rankings by Dance Team Union
06:12 Avoiding Burnout When You Love What You Do
08:31 Consulting for the National Champs, West Virginia
11:40 Inside One of the Only Full-Time Coaching Jobs
12:35 Why Texas Tech Switched from NDA to UDA
14:49 Competing with Team USA Jazz and Pom
19:36 Like, Comment, and Subscribe!
20:10 Ad: A Coaches Perspective
22:55 THE FULL TEAM BACK TUCK MOMENT
27:47 How You Know an Athlete Is Bought In at Texas Tech
30:47 Recruiting at Tribe 99 + The Common Recruit Video
34:12 All Star Growth and How to Succeed at the Top
35:11 Ad: Road to Nationals
35:45 Erin’s Advice: Making Finals and Climbing to the Top
40:17 Conflict of Interest? + Erin’s New Superpower: Staging
42:36 Trends Shaping the Dance Team Industry
43:30 What’s Next for Texas Tech Pom
45:21 Blending Artistry with the Sport of Dance
49:22 Visit NoCountsGiven.com + See You Next Week

In this episode of No Counts Given, Kyle Rush sits down with Travis Lake, a trailblazing choreographer known for his work with programs like BYU, University of Minnesota, and Dance Mania All Stars, for an honest conversation about creativity, competition, and challenging the rules of the dance team industry.

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Travis opens up about the routines, risks, and creative choices that helped shape his career, while also sharing the personal and professional challenges that come with pushing boundaries in a highly regulated competitive space.

This episode dives into what it really means to challenge the status quo without losing sight of excellence, clarity, and purpose. Travis shares insight into the creative process, the emotional cost of chasing greatness, and why some of the biggest breakthroughs come from refusing to play it safe.

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro + Thank You Dance Team Union
00:43 - Growing Up in Utah: Religion, Identity & Early Challenges
07:43 - Travis’ BYU Journey + Being Ghosted by a Top Dance Program
21:37 - AD: Dance Team Union | A Coach’s Perspective
24:22 - Underpaid in the Industry, Even at the Top Level
27:33 - Reaching the Childhood Dream: Working with Minnesota
46:37 - Thank You, Travis
47:11 - AD: The Rankings by Dance Team Union
48:13 - How Music Rule Changes Shifted the Dance Team Industry
50:42 - Hitting Rock Bottom: Travis Opens Up
56:21 - Dance Mania: Setting a New Standard in All Star Dance
1:03:51 - Getting Fired from Dance Mania
1:11:03 - Sam Houston: Teaching and Choreographing for the Dance Team
1:20:05 - Travis’ Advice for Choreographers

Tags:

nationals season, road to nationals, dance team analysis, judges perspective, dance breakdowns, competitive dance talk, elite dance training, performance quality, intentional choreography, dance team culture, college dance insights, high school dance teams, all-star dance training, pom technique, hip hop judging, dance education, behind the scores, dance media commentary