Lark Life

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Gretchen Jost is the coach of the national championship team West Fargo Packatahnas.  We talked about all kinds of great dance team stuff including how she has handled the pandemic with her team, planning a “normal” dance team year, building team culture, teaching skills and conditioning, cleaning routines, virtual competition tips, improving performances before and…

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Mishra Keller has been a competitive cheerleader, dancer, choreographer, instructor and judge so her perspective comes from years of experience.  Her perspective is also unique because she through her company Nutrisults, she offers a holistic approach that beautifully translates into dance teams, individual dancers, choreographers, and coaches.  We talk about choreography, improving routines and maximizing…

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Brianne Zborowski has a lot of experience in dance as a performer, instructor, and cofounder of successful competition teams in multiple states.  Brianne received her B.S. in Business Management with an emphasis on Management and Marketing from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan while teaching dance and working in the family business. She moved to Los…

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Jodi Maxfield danced as a Cougarette at Brigham Young University back in the day, but as a coach of that program for 30 years, she built the program into the internationally celebrated and acclaimed powerhouse that it is today.  This legend shared so many valuable pieces of advice, tidbits of info, and all kinds of…

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I’m so pleased to have Dr. Adrian Singletary on the podcast!  He’s been an athlete, a coach, an athletic director, and an administrator, but my favorite role of his is that of our Natalie’s husband.  We spend a little time talking about what those of us in dance team want to know:  motivating our dancers,…

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Coree Smith has extensive dance team experience as a performer, choreographer, instructor, and judge.  Although she is an expert in this field, she is still a very enthusiastic, lifelong learner when it comes to dance team, and her positivity is contagious.  Her routines have won more than 65 state championships in Iowa alone over the…

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I’m joined by the wonderful Nick Clement as guest cohost as we’re continuing to celebrate this milestone birthday.  We talked about surprises that this podcast has brought and some choreo successes and failures.  Then  I spilled the tea or brought the juice or whatever the cool cats are saying these days, by sharing some details…

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On today’s episode of the podcast, my dear friend, talented choreographer, king of kick, and guest cohost extraordinaire Nick Clement asked me the questions and I gave the answers!  It’s a very forward looking episode, as I  spent a great deal of time talking about where I see Larkspur in 10 years and things I’d…

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Sara Heptig coached the Olathe North Eaglettes for years, leading them to national championships for two different brands.  She is now coaching the Kansas State University Classy Cats, a role she cherishes because she too was a Classy Cat during her time at K-State!  We talk about her journey to secure that coaching position, which…

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In this episode, I talk with my dear friend, long time educator, guidance counselor and dance team coach Shelley McCain about what she has seen that has worked when dealing with the Covid pandemic, the effects on our dancers we’re going to witness, and how to deal with this situation both in the present and…

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Dave Sanchez, also known as Dazzman, ran a wildly popular Yahoo Group dedicated to dance team, and he was known for accurately predicting outcomes of competitions on a national level.  Many did not know that Dazzman is also a Harvard educated attorney whose passion for dance team started in a really unique way.  He’ll also…

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Missouri Dance Team Association President and experienced dance team judge Brett Elder and I share helpful tips and advice for showing your team’s routines in the best possible light via video for virtual competitions.   You can submit routines for video feedback only or to have them considered for the Show-Me State Showcase for $60/team…

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Kate Ridge is from Australia, and that’s where she currently resides, but she spent years here in the United States, and during that time she was a performer, instructor, choreographer and judge.  Her experience isn’t limited to America and Australia though.  She has also worked in other countries including China and Korea.  I picked her…

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Rachelle Kiehle is the coach and choreographer for the Eisenhower Dance Team.  This powerhouse program from Michigan has been national champions eight times over, and has achieved the honor of double national championships in jazz and hip hop for three of those years.  Rachelle passed on so much great advice, tips, and pointers on building…

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Katie Groven is a certified personal trainer, a dancer with 25 years of dance experience, holder of two world championship titles and has coached for ten years.  She is also the owner of Dancer Fitness, an extensive exercise library with training plans she’s carefully created with coaches and dancers in mind.  We talked about important…

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Mallori Walker is not only the coach of the Purdue Dance Team, she is also a former member of the team.  She is so passionate about dance team and the team she coaches, and she passed on so many tips for not only how the team is getting through Covid, but how they are utilizing…

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One of the most listened to episodes of the podcast was at the end of Season 2.  It was during a very uncertain time of the pandemic, and I just picked up a microphone and started talking.  This episode is done in that same spirit.  I’m joined by Larkspur members Kayla and Natalie (our precious…

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Savannah Miller has had a baton in her hand for about as long as she can remember, and through tremendous dedication and hard work, she has won numerous titles on the national and world level, and was the featured twirler at the University of Arkansas, entertaining thousands.  She also has worldwide acclaim when videos of…

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In an effort to keep this topic at the forefront, our second episode in our FLOURISH with Larkspur series of the podcast discusses the sensitive topic of race again.  This time I sit down and chat with Yvonne Cole, the longtime coach of the Lindbergh Flyerettes and Missouri Dance Team Association founder and board member,…

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Rob Miller has influenced and guided the most successful and significant dance team coaches through Proactive Coaching, an organization that  works with coaches to help them create character-based team cultures, provide a blueprint for team leadership, develop confident, tough-minded competitors, and train coaches for excellence and significance.  He is one of my favorite speakers, and…

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Lindsey Lococo is the coach and choreographer for the University of Illinois – Chicago Dancing Flames, but her fantastic choreo can also be seen on other high performing teams.  She shares with us her choreo process, what she does to keep things fresh for game day, how she cleans routines, and she also shares some…

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T.J. Maple’s dance team story is full of perseverance, hard work, and an untiring pursuit to better himself and the teams he works with.  He also has an ability to create some of the most stunningly visual routines that win national titles.  He is so generous with his knowledge and experience, and gives us so…

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We’re very excited about new FLOURISH themed episodes for this season’s podcast that will involve other important aspects of our lives besides dance.  In our first FLOURISH episode, I welcome back my dear friend Iris Lynne Sherman, who gave us all some great advice from her long and varied career as a performer during a…

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Teri Rowe’s dance team experience goes way back!  She has coached and judged dance teams at the middle school, high school, college and all-star levels for over 30 years. Her teams earned numerous state, national and world championships, and she has also served as the President and Vice President of the Washington State Dance/Drill Coaches…

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Karl Mundt has choreographed some of the most beautiful and memorable national championship routines for so many teams at the high school and college level.  Not only is he amazingly talented, he is also amazingly generous and humble.  I picked his brain and he provided so much knowledge and information!  We talked about his dance…

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I’m joined by Carrie Smith, who was kind enough to offer up her services as interviewer so that I could finally share my own dance story, along with advice and tidbits of info that I’ve learned along the way.  We talk about how I got started, my high school and college experiences, teaching dance camps…

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The first episode for Season 3 of the Larkspur Dance & Choreography will be uploaded next Tuesday, September 15th!  Here’s a little preview of what to expect for our third season!   Connect with Larkspur at the following links: Website: https://www.larkspurdance.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larkspurdance/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LarkspurDance/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/LarkspurMelanie

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It’s just me, Melanie, on the podcast today sharing what has inspired me during the pandemic and some more coping mechanisms.  I got such a  positive response to the first episode I did where it was just me, so I decided to share some more things that have really helped me.  So glad others are…

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Carrie Smith’s dance team experience is vast, and includes coaching at Carlsbad High School and San Diego State, working for UDA for many years, and starting the National Dance Coaches Association.  She is the perfect combination of insightful and hilarious, and there’s no question that she is amazingly generous and loves talking dance team and…

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For this episode, it’s just me, Melanie,  sharing what I have done to cope with the pandemic for myself and my family, in hopes that this might help someone else.   Connect with Larkspur at the following links: Website: https://www.larkspurdance.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larkspurdance/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LarkspurDance/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/LarkspurMelanie

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Toya Ambrose’s dance team experience is vast,  including the University of Memphis Pom Squad and with NBA’s Chicago Luvabulls and Memphis Grizzlies.  Toya was the Head Coach of the University of Connecticut (UCONN) Dance, Cheerleading, and Mascot Teams, and also the former Head Coach of the 2-time National Champion University of Illinois at Chicago Dancing…

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Andie Stitt has loads of experience in studio dance and has traveled extensively with conventions and teaching.  She graduated with a degree in dance from Wichita State and is currently a dance teacher at the University of Kansas.  Her choreography has won numerous awards at the local, state and national level.  I chat with her…

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Rachel Levetzow, coach of the Ole Miss Rebelettes, talks about how they’ve gotten creative during this pandemic to keep the wheels turning for their team.  Her dance story is full of great lessons for all of us.  She also shares tips on game day, competition, team culture, cleaning routines, planning your dance year, and shares…

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Britney Hinote has a ton of dance team experience both at the high school and college level, and is currently the head coach for the UMKC Dance Team.  She shares all kinds of insight and advice on handling this uncertain time, building a great program, choreography, routine cleaning, and improving technical skills.   Connect with…

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David Moore has years of experience in many different forms of performing arts:  studio, band, color guard, dance team, and professional dance.  He’s full of stories, lessons, and advice on taking class, choreography, and improving performances.   Connect with Larkspur at the following links: Website: https://www.larkspurdance.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larkspurdance/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LarkspurDance/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/LarkspurMelanie

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Chasity Tyus danced on two of the best teams in Missouri and is currently the head coach of the Florida State University Golden Girls.  We talk about how she followed her dream to become FSU’s coach, and she gives great advice on cleaning routines, preparing for competition and being true to yourself and your team.…

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Cyndi Kraemer has been involved in dance team for many years and during that time she has been a dancer, coach, judge and dance team association board member.  During this busy time of the season, we often lose track of what’s important, and my chat with Cyndi is just what we need to get us…

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This is a continuation of a very important conversation I had with my friend and former college dance teammate, Nicole Jacobs Silvey.  We finished up our talk on diversity, and she also gives some great advice that she utilizes with her clients through her company, Connection Coach LLC. Nicole’s recommended diversity resources:   http://www.racialjustice.org https://www.racialequityinstitute.com…

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Kimberly Campbell has many years of dance team experience as a performer, instructor, choreographer, coach and judge.  She shares all kinds of advice and insight on building or rebuilding a team, improving choreo and performances, what it was like to be on the first national championship Lindenwood team, and many times the only person of…

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Lynsey Payne is the head dance team coach at Baker University and has built this program into one of the top competitive teams in the NAIA.  We talk about how she has done that through recruiting, team culture, practice schedule and structure, conditioning, and fostering leadership.  We also talk about the strides the NAIA has…

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Dr. Chelsea Pierotti has been utilizing her coaching experience and PhD in Sports Psychology to help coaches and dance teams all over the country.  We talk about coaching philosophy, accountability, choosing leaders, punishment, building confidence and mental preparation.  Her website is filled with all kinds of helpful info.  passionatecoach.com Connect with Larkspur at the following…

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Shelley McCain has been a dance team coach for over 30 years and has built one of the strongest programs in Missouri at Lee’s Summit North.  She’s also a longtime executive board member of the Missouri Dance Team Association and is relied upon by so many of its members as a mentor and friend.  She…

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I attended the NDCA Conference again this past year and had another fantastic experience learning and connecting with other dance team people!  For this recap I’m joined by Lynsey Payne, dance team coach at Baker University, who attended the conference as well.  We go through our notes and share all the inspiration, knowledge, tips and…

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Susan Dustin was on her pom team in high school, became a Golden Girl at the University of Missouri, and then spent the next several years as a professional dancer at Disney, Branson, Las Vegas, on a cruise ship, and then finally as a Radio City Music Hall Rockette in New York.  She shares behind…

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A lawsuit that was filed by a dancer against a local school district accusing a dance team coach of discrimination rocked the dance team world and gained national attention.  In an effort to contribute  productive and proactive ideas, I sit down and chat with my friend Nicole Jacobs Silvey.  Nicole is a philanthropist, activist, successful…

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Get ready for lessons in dance team history and geography and loads of great tips from one of the most astute and helpful judges I know!  Julie was a member of the first Lindbergh Flyerettes team to compete nationally.  She shares from her wealth of knowledge and experience and passes on her guiding philosophy.  …

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Melissa McGhee is the coach of two time national champions The Ohio State University Dance Team.  Get ready to be inspired by this humble, hard working, down to earth, helpful and generous coach as she talks about team culture, preparing for competition and the surprising source of support that she leans on year after year.…

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Nick Clement is the owner of NKC Choreography, which specializes in high kick intensives and pom, kick and team performance choreography.  Nick is a former Disney dancer, but now works full time with dance teams and has been an instrumental part in the success of many teams on the national level.  He shares so many…

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Many, many years ago, I, too, was a dance team coach!  On this episode of the podcast, I sit down and chat with one of my former dancers, Gina Artese.  Gina is a professional dancer and actress in New York, with an impressive resume that includes Black Swan, Center Stage, 30 Rock, and The Unbreakable…