We have spent 9 years (+25 years more before Summit) in the competitive youth dance industry because we thought that was really the only option. It felt familiar, like we were fitting in, and easy enough to navigate. Though we promoted our morals of being a family-friendly and age appropriate studio, the competitive dance industry does not. Continuing to attend these events pulled at our hearts because we knew that we were contributing to a very toxic industry. They are not a healthy environment for children to be in. We tried to be advocates for our students at these events by meeting with the directors and faculty and leaving lengthy post-event survey results, but we are just one studio in a massive, money-driven business. The obscene hours, the lack of repercussions for studios that weren’t age appropriate, the unhealthy competitiveness and comparing (and not to mention the finances), are just a handful of reasons why we’ve made the decision to step out of the system.

We’ve wanted to pull the plug for years, but have always been scared. Why? Because it’s what we grew up doing. It motivated us to improve. It gave us more chances to perform. But couldn’t there be other ways to achieve those things? YES. Welcome to The Summit Collective.

The Summit Collective aims to provide experiences for dancers that want more. More performance opportunities. More real-world involvement. More growth. Yes it’s new, and new can be scary. But with that in mind, we haven’t felt this passionate about a program since opening the studio. It’s time for change in the dance industry, and we are ready to be that change.