I once knew a coach who wouldn’t let me see her team’s routine until it was perfect.
I understood where she was coming from…to a point. Maybe her team just wasn’t where she wanted them to be at that time on the calendar, with X number of days to go until their first competition.
Or, maybe she didn’t want me, the person who sees a lot of routines, to subconsciously downgrade their routine just because it wasn’t exactly ready for the 8CA Hall of Fame.
Even worse, there’s a temptation to feel that everything needs to be “Instagram and TikTok-ready.”
I’m here to let you know that there’s real value in keeping things real. 8CA has 25 seasons’ worth of its own content and performance imperfections, and the journey has been rad. I didn’t try to run the business and the social media accounts that way; it’s just how it all came out. Could’ve been better, it is what it is, and I’ve loved the storyline (even if a few moments do belong in an on-fire dumpster).
So back to that coach with the beauty-first mentality. That mindset totally misses one of the most-complimented traits of the 8CA brand and content. I’m interested in a team’s whole journey, not just endings and outcomes. Where did this team start? Where did the road twist and curve as they navigated the path of putting the dance on the floor in front of judges and fans? How did they adjust, how did they grow? Did the journey mean something? What was this team’s story when not in full costume, hair, and makeup?
True — most people don’t want to see “how the sausage is made.” But for those who don’t follow the sport (and who might also happen to have a stake in it, and/or some power over it), it’s important to tell and show the story of how a routine gets to wherever it gets to. What’s visible on the comp floor or halftime field is just the 2 or 2-and-a-half-minute product of endless planning, envisioning, committing, assessing, and revising. And always a lot of heart.
Alright, there ya go…my first stab at some of the deeper thoughts about the world of dance team that I hope to share during 8CA’s 25th anniversary season (fall 2026 – summer 2027). Stay tuned for a whole calendar year of looking at 8CA’s 25 seasons and what I’ve had the honor to witness, feel, and believe in.
