Guest: Sara Kercho
Hosted by: Kelli Woodruff

Great dance teams are built on more than technique, choreography, and clean routines. They’re built by developing the whole dancer.

In this episode, Kelli sits down with Sara Kercho, Licensed Professional Counselor Associate under the supervision of Laura Wright, LPC-S, and the founder of Mentally Here. We talk about the things happening beyond the eight counts—team connection, confidence, leadership, performance pressure, and preventing burnout.

With a background as a dancer, former dance team director, TCU Showgirl, and MA Dance staff member, Sara understands the unique demands of the dance and drill team world. She now brings that experience, along with her counseling background, to help dancers and teams grow from the inside out.

In this episode:

• Why developing the person behind the dancer matters
• Simple, tangible team-building activities directors can use
• Creating connection and a positive team culture
• Developing officers and social officers into stronger leaders
• Helping dancers navigate pressure, comparison, and self-doubt
• Practical tools for building confidence and handling mistakes
• Recognizing burnout in dancers—and directors
• Knowing when to push, when to mix things up, and when everyone may just need a break

Connect with Sara & Mentally Here

Website:mentallyherecommunity.com
Instagram: @mentallyherecommunity
Email: mentallyherecommunity@gmail.com

As a new season gets underway, there’s no better time to be intentional about the culture you’re creating and the dancers you’re developing—both on and off the floor.

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Instagram: @LightsLinesLeadershipPodcast

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Guest: Miranda Richter
Hosted by: Kelli Woodruff

Game day is about so much more than the few minutes a dance team spends performing on the field.

In this episode, I’m joined by longtime dance team director Miranda Richter to talk about everything that happens beyond the halftime performance—from the final school bell to the ride home.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Preparing, packing, and organizing before the buses roll
• Delegating responsibilities to officers, managers, parents, and other game-day helpers
• Pregame logistics and those little details directors have to remember
• Stand etiquette, stand dances, and keeping dancers engaged throughout the game
• Third-quarter breaks, away games, and game-day procedures
• The traditions and little moments dancers remember long after the season is over
• Miranda’s tech tip for using Google Keep to make game-day organization easier

Whether you’re heading into your first football season or your fifteenth, this episode is full of practical ideas to help game day run a little smoother—and a reminder that some of the best memories happen beyond the 50-yard line.

BONUS RESOURCE: Miranda generously shared some of the actual checklists and resources she uses with her team. You’ll find them linked below in the show notes!

SAMPLE Football Itineraries

SAMPLE Checklists

SAMPLE Game Day Responsibilities

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Instagram: @LightsLinesLeadershipPodcast

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Guest: Kim Cardwell
Hosted by: Kelli Woodruff

Learning the choreography is just the beginning. The real work comes when you start turning a group of individual dancers into a clean, polished team moving together with precision and uniformity.

In this episode of Lights, Lines, & Leadership, I’m joined by my longtime friend, former colleague, and THE cleaning queen, Kim Cardwell, for a practical conversation about the cleaning process. We share strategies directors can use throughout football season, along with a few contest-cleaning tips that take the details to another level.

Whether you’re a first-year director or a seasoned veteran, you’ll walk away with practical ideas you can take straight back to your next practice.

In This Episode

• Making sure dancers know the choreography before cleaning begins
• Preparing officers to effectively lead cleaning groups
• Using cleaning rotations to give dancers more individualized feedback
• Auditioning, setting spacing, and moving into detailed team cleaning
• Cleaning head-to-toe and hand-to-hand—including focus, body angles, pathways, and timing
• Changing your perspective to catch details you may be missing
• Cleaning entrances, exits, victory lines, fight song, and other football details
• A few contest-cleaning strategies to take the details one step further

Follow the Podcast
Instagram: @LightsLinesLeadershipPodcast

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If you enjoyed today's conversation, please follow the podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with another dance team director, dancer, parent, or industry professional.