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.

We couldn't do this without our sponsors, thank you!
Dance Team Union | www.danceteamunion.com
The College Classic | www.thecollegeclassic.com

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

Thank you for supporting No Counts Given this past year. I appreciate every single one of you that tune in weekly. I hope you enjoy this 2 hour ONE YEAR B-DAY episode.

We couldn’t do this without our sponsors, thank you.

Dance Team Union | www.danceteamunion.com
Rebel Athletic | www.rebelathleticdance.com
Sharpen Up! Dance Team Training | www.sharpenupdtt.com
Dance Team Supply | www.danceteamsupply.com

Today on the show, I’m breaking down IDL Sydney and sharing my overall predictions for how this series stop could play out.

We’re also diving into a few Blind Items, including some advice submissions that definitely need to be unpacked. Then, I’m sitting down with Ashley and Courtney Frato of The Source Dance Lab for an honest conversation about transparency and the ongoing questions surrounding USASF Dance Worlds.

Later in the episode, T.J. Maple from Stephen F. Austin State University joins us to talk about major developments in SFA’s season, including their decision to attend both UDA College Nationals and NDA College Nationals.

To close out the show, I’m sharing my Top 10 routines from the 2025-2026 season.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro: We Have A Packed Show
06:59 Ad: The Rankings by Dance Team Union
08:00 IDL Sydney Breakdown & My Official Predictions
19:45 Blind Items: Advice, Drama & Real Talk
37:09 DTU Ad: Hear It From The Coaches
39:47 The Source Dance Lab Speaks Out on USASF Transparency
1:41:26 Breaking Down SFA’s Move To Both UDA & NDA Nationals
1:45:51 Ad: Road To Nationals by Dance Team Union
1:46:24 T.J. Maple Talks SFA Doubling Down This Season
2:00:36 My Top 10 Routines From The 2025-2026 Season
2:04:04 June Schedule, Final Thoughts & Outro

The divisions everyone’s watching? Yeah… we’re breaking it ALL the way down.

In this episode of No Counts Given, we’re diving into the DII, DI Small, and DI Large divisions from The College Classic… where the margins are tight, the pressure is real, and every single detail matters. This is where titles are earned… and where the conversation gets LOUD.

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

Follow No Counts Given on all social media platforms @nocountsgiven and follow our host, Kyle Rush, on all platforms @itskylerush

Plus, we’re going straight to the source with exclusive interviews from the coaches behind the programs making waves:

Saginaw Valley State University Dance Team
University of Tampa Dance
Lamar University

The divisions that don’t always get the spotlight? Yeah… we’re putting them CENTER STAGE.

We couldn't do this without our sponsors:

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

Follow No Counts Given on all social media platforms @nocountsgiven and follow our host, Kyle Rush, on all platforms @itskylerush

This episode is dedicated to highlighting the athletes, the coaches and the programs that demanded the stage at The College Classic.

In this episode of No Counts Given, we’re breaking down the NAIA, Junior College, and DIII divisions from The College Classic and trust, this is where some of the most competitive, overlooked, and straight-up impressive routines of the weekend lived.

Plus, we’re bringing you straight to the source with exclusive interviews from the head coaches/captains leading these standout programs:

St. Ambrose University
Trinity Valley Community College
North Central College
SUNY Cortland

From strategy and scoring breakdowns to behind-the-scenes insight on what it actually takes to compete at this level, this episode gives these divisions the respect, analysis, and spotlight they’ve earned.

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

#NationalsSeason #RoadToNationals #DanceTeamAnalysis #JudgesPerspective #DanceBreakdown #CompetitiveDanceTalk #EliteDanceTraining #PerformanceQuality #IntentionalChoreography #DanceTeamCulture #CollegeDanceInsights #HighSchoolDanceTeams #AllStarDanceTraining #PomTechnique #HipHopJudging #DanceEducation #BehindTheScores #DanceMedia

Hannah Stutts (@hannahstutts) breaks down what it really takes to stand out in the dance and pro cheer world, and it’s not just talent.

From her early days in Alabama to performing with a top NFL team, Hannah shares how she built a career by doing what most dancers are told not to do: show her personality. She dives into her journey through studio training, convention circuits, and pro cheer, revealing how each step shaped her resilience, confidence, and growth mindset.

The conversation gets real about the industry… booking major opportunities like Justin Bieber, signing with an agency at just 15, and navigating the pressure of elite-level performance spaces. But the biggest takeaway? Your ability to communicate who you are matters just as much as how you perform.

This episode is all about personal branding, authenticity, and learning how to turn visibility into opportunity. If you’re trying to break into or level up within the dance, cheer, or entertainment world, this is a blueprint on how to stop blending in and start building a name for yourself.

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

Follow No Counts Given on all social media platforms @nocountsgiven and follow our host, Kyle Rush, on all platforms @itskylerush

🔗 Relevant Tags:

No Counts Given, Kyle Rush, dance team podcast, dance team news, dance team analysis, competitive dance, college dance team, high school dance team, all star dance, dance competition coverage, UDA College Nationals, DTU Nationals, NDA College Nationals, Dance Team Union, pom dance, hip hop dance, jazz dance, dance judging, dance scoring, routine breakdown, choreography analysis, dance team coaching, behind the scores, road to nationals

#DanceTeamPodcast #DanceTeamNews #DanceTeamAnalysis #CompetitiveDance #DanceCompetition #CollegeDanceTeam #HighSchoolDanceTeam #AllStarDance #UDANationals #DTUNationals #NDANationals #DanceTeamUnion #USASFDanceWorlds #ICUWorlds #PomDance #HipHopDance #JazzDance #DanceCoaching #DanceJudging #BehindTheScores #RoadToNationals #NationalsSeason #RoutineBreakdown #ChoreographyAnalysis #NoCountsGiven

Most teams are chasing perfection… but the programs winning RIGHT NOW are chasing something deeper.

In this episode of No Counts Given, Kyle Rush breaks down the biggest global stages in the industry, the ICU World Cheerleading Championships and USASF Dance Worlds, and why these events are quietly reshaping the future of dance teams and “performance cheer”.

From Team USA’s dominance to the rise of international programs leveling up FAST, this episode dives into how choreography, storytelling, and athletic innovation are setting the tone for the next era of competition.

Then, Kyle sits down with Jesse Hernandez, head coach of University of Louisiana Ragin Jazz, to unpack the real formula behind championship-winning routines. It’s not just about difficulty, it’s about connection, authenticity, and creating moments that actually move people.

Thank you to our sponsors:

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

Follow No Counts Given on all social media platforms @nocountsgiven and follow our host, Kyle Rush, on all platforms @itskylerush

⏱️ Chapters:

0:00 — DANCE WORLDS + ICU WORLDS BREAKDOWN + Jesse Hernandez JOINS THE SHOW
0:27 — DTU SUMMER CAMPS ARE HERE: WHY THIS IS A MUST FOR YOUR TEAM
1:41 — TEAM USA DOMINATES ICU WORLDS: HOW THE USA CONTINUES TO SET THE GLOBAL STANDARD
5:12 — UNLV: I’m Sorry.
6:31 — TEAM USA LIGHT-UP SHIRTS: WHO MADE THE CALL?!
7:43 — WHY THE USA CONTROLS TRENDS IN DANCE (AND NO ONE IS CLOSE)
11:46 — “PERFORMANCE CHEER” EXPLAINED: WHAT ARE WE ACTUALLY CALLING THIS SPORT?!
13:45 — USASF DANCE WORLDS HOT TAKE: WE NEED TO TALK…
16:02 — MAY CONTENT TAKEOVER: WHAT’S COMING NEXT FOR NO COUNTS GIVEN
18:02 — SHARPEN UP SUMMIT: WILL I SEE YOU THERE?!
19:12 — DANCE TEAM SUPPLY: PREPARE YOUR TEAM FOR SUCCESS
19:45 — INTERVIEW: JESSE HERNANDEZ ON STORYTELLING, WINNING, AND BUILDING CHAMPIONS

🔗 Relevant 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

#NationalsSeason #RoadToNationals #DanceTeamAnalysis #JudgesPerspective #DanceBreakdown #CompetitiveDanceTalk #EliteDanceTraining #PerformanceQuality #IntentionalChoreography #DanceTeamCulture #CollegeDanceInsights #HighSchoolDanceTeams #AllStarDanceTraining #PomTechnique #HipHopJudging #DanceEducation #BehindTheScores #DanceMedia