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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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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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

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Instagram: @LightsLinesLeadershipPodcast

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Guest: Melissa Page

Hosted by: Kelli Woodruff

Football choreography is its own art form. What looks great in the studio or gym doesn't always translate when your audience is watching from across a football field.

In this episode of Lights, Lines, & Leadership, Southlake Carroll Emerald Belles director Melissa Page joins me to talk about creating football routines that are visual, entertaining, and memorable. We discuss what styles work best on the field, how to use formations, spacing, transitions, pathways, musicality, and other choreographic elements to create more impact—without simply adding more steps.

Whether you're creating choreography from scratch or looking at a routine and wondering why it isn't quite working, this conversation is packed with practical ideas you can take straight into rehearsal.

In This Episode

• What makes football choreography different from contest choreography
• What dancers love to perform versus what audiences love to watch
• Technical skills that don't always translate well from the stands
• Using spacing, formations, transitions, pathways, levels, parts, ripples, and musicality to create stronger visual impact
• Balancing degree of difficulty with cleanliness, confidence, and projection
• Creating memorable moments, traditions, and performances your audience will remember
• Practical ways to manipulate choreography when a routine just isn't working

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Instagram: @LightsLinesLeadershipPodcast

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Guest: Allie Hudak

Hosted by: Kelli Woodruff

Strong technique isn't built by spending hours in ballet class—it's built through consistency, intentional teaching, and making every minute count.

In this episode, I sit down with veteran dance team director and consultant Allie Hudak to discuss how directors can build stronger dancers by focusing on the fundamentals. From foot articulation and pliés to pirouettes, leaps, and strength training, we explore practical ways to incorporate technique into just 20–30 minutes of practice each week.

We also discuss how strong technical foundations not only improve performance quality but can help reduce injuries, build confidence, and create dancers who are prepared for every style of choreography—from football season to contest season.

Whether you're a first-year director looking for a place to start or a veteran searching for fresh ideas, you'll leave this episode with practical strategies you can implement at your very next practice.

In This Episode

• Why fundamentals still matter—and why they often get overlooked
• Building an intentional 20–30 minute technique block
• Teaching ballet fundamentals that transfer to kicks, pirouettes, leaps, and turns
• Helping dancers understand the why behind each exercise
• Breaking bad technical habits and replacing them with good ones
• Practical advice directors can implement immediately

Connect with Today's Guest: Allie Hudak

Website: Allie Hudak Dance Website

Instagram: @AllieHudak

Facebook: Allie Hudak Facebook

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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, judge, or industry professional.

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.

Guest: Julie Stralow

Hosted by: Kelli Woodruff

The first 30 days of the season can shape everything that follows.

In this episode of Lights, Lines, & Leadership, veteran dance team director Julie Stralow joins me for a conversation about one of the most important—and often most overwhelming—times of the year. Together, we share practical strategies for establishing expectations, building a positive team culture, creating organizational systems, and planning ahead so you can lead your team with confidence instead of simply reacting to each new challenge.

Whether you're a first-year director or a seasoned veteran, you'll walk away with practical ideas to help you create a strong foundation, reduce stress throughout the year, and set your team up for a successful season.

In This Episode

• Why the first 30 days set the tone for your entire season
• Establishing expectations, routines, and accountability from day one
• Building a positive team culture through intentional leadership
• Planning your year before it begins—from calendars and facilities to family communication
• Organizational systems and leadership lessons that reduce stress throughout the season

Follow the Podcast
Instagram: @LightsLinesLeadershipPodcast

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Hosted by: Kelli Woodruff

Welcome to the very first episode of Lights, Lines, & Leadership! In this introductory episode, I share the story behind the podcast, the experiences that shaped my career, and my vision for creating a place where the dance/drill team community can learn, connect, and grow together.

Whether you're a director, dancer, parent, judge, or industry professional, my hope is that you'll leave each episode with practical ideas, fresh perspectives, and encouragement for the journey ahead.

In This Episode

• Why I created Lights, Lines, & Leadership
• The mission and vision behind the podcast
• Who this podcast is for—and how it serves everyone who makes the dance/drill team community stronger
• What you can expect from future episodes and guests
• My vision for building a stronger, more connected dance/drill team community

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Instagram: @LightsLinesLeadershipPodcast

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