As Encore Performing Arts Nationwide Dance Competitors nears its 30th anniversary, house owners Brad Barnes and Aaron Pomeroy, who took the helm in 2022, are reimagining what a dance competitors could be. Dance Informa sat down with Pomeroy to find how he and Barnes are constructing on a legacy of integrity and inclusivity whereas creating an area the place each dancer, studio and story issues.
“Karen (Encore’s earlier proprietor), began a Dance With out Boundaries class, and we’ve up to date it just a little bit,” Pomeroy shares. “We’re very happy with it. I’ve a sister with Down Syndrome who I deal with full-time, and he or she travels with us on the street. She loves to assist out onstage and move out trophies. Our Dance With out Boundaries class is for dancers who might have some kind of particular wants – in another way enabled is what we wish to name them. This class provides them an area to bounce and specific themselves.”
That very same coronary heart for inclusion reaches past the stage. “We even have a trophy for charity program,” Pomeroy explains. “A variety of our studios don’t need trophies, as a result of they accumulate mud and take up area. So, we choose a charity that has one thing to do with arts, arts schooling, and so on. For the previous three years, that charity has been Arms Large Open, which is a nonprofit in San Diego County. They placed on reveals and supply dance lessons, and I’d say 99 % of their studio are adults with particular wants. Yearly, we take the cash that’s donated again from studios for trophies and write a examine to Arms Large Open.” Over the previous three years, Encore has donated about $30,000 to Arms Large Open – proof that its dedication is backed by actual {dollars}.
Inclusivity additionally shines in Encore’s cowl mannequin contest. Pomeroy provides, “This 12 months, I’m actually proud that our program cowl picture is of a woman with Vitiligo. We didn’t select her due to it; she actually had the most effective picture. However, it’s superb to have that inclusivity on our cowl.”
In an effort to steadiness competitors with a constructive, uplifting atmosphere, Encore prioritizes taking good care of each dancer. One of many methods they do that is by breaking down High 10 Awards as a lot as attainable. Pomeroy shares, “Our Junior class is ages 9-12, and typically there are almost 100 solos. So, relying on the maths, we’ll do a high 10 for 9-year-olds, high 10 for 10-year-olds and so forth. We attempt to get as many dancers within the high 10 as attainable. We do that for all ages and division ranges – solos by way of teams. It’s superb to see when a dancer wins first total as a result of we broke it down like this. If we had mixed all of it collectively, they may not have been within the high 10 in any respect. We love seeing their response, and by getting extra dancers into the highest 10, their confidence grows. Plus, it provides one other shout-out for the studio.”
One other approach Encore takes care of each dancer is thru considerate particular awards. Pomeroy displays, “In the event you come to a dance competitors and go away, you simply go away. However when you go away with one thing, whether or not it’s a way award or choreography award or a persona award, or scholarships on your dancers, possibly you didn’t win the massive prize, however you have got one thing. We attempt to deal with everybody, and it’s not superficial; they’ve to actually earn it. However we attempt to unfold the wealth with regards to particular awards, so that everyone leaves feeling valued and like their cash was spent nicely.”
Encore additionally respects actual life. Competitions by no means begin earlier than 3pm on Fridays and wrap by 9pm Sundays, retaining college, work and journey manageable.
This 12 months, they’re additionally leveling the enjoying area with manufacturing numbers. Pomeroy explains, “Manufacturing numbers are usually scored just a little greater as a result of they’re extra of a spectacle. This 12 months, we’re having all productions compete in opposition to one another no matter age or division stage, they usually’ll have their very own overalls. We’re taking them out of the combination score-wise for our high scoring studio to provide studios a fairer likelihood when competing for the highest scoring studio award.”
This variation took place as a result of suggestions from studios voicing issues that the scoring was unfair. Pomeroy emphasizes the worth Encore locations on having open communication with their shoppers: “We all the time advocate communication. With communication, I could make virtually something occur.”
This 12 months, Encore’s Nationals offered out in 52 minutes – proof that Encore’s open communication pays off, and studios really feel heard, valued and desirous to return. Pomeroy shares, “We’re in Lake Tahoe on the Tahoe Blue Occasion Middle. It’s inside a hockey enviornment, which we’ve by no means performed earlier than. The stage shall be on the ground, with seating within the bleachers. We all the time have complimentary grasp lessons, a teen social gathering and a lecturers’ reception. There’s a giant gala on the finish of the week. We haven’t been to Tahoe shortly, so we’re very excited to return.”
Encore’s supportive atmosphere creates a tradition that lasts past competitors years. “We’ve got a variety of dancers who graduate, go to varsity after which come work for us. It’s all the time enjoyable to have these dancers come again. It actually helps whenever you develop relationships with these children and also you’re making an attempt to assist their after-competition life,” shares Pomeroy.
Backstage, the enjoyment is contagious. He continues, “We wish to have enjoyable – we dance backstage, we’re easygoing, we’re all the time there to encourage. I feel that’s why we’ve grown since Brad and I took over the enterprise. We preserve asking ourselves how we are able to get higher, and I feel studios are seeing that, they usually have belief in us to maintain getting higher. That’s what retains them coming again.”
Pomeroy encourages studios of all kinds and sizes to provide Encore a attempt. “If you wish to come to a contest that’s honest and goes to acknowledge everyone, come to Encore. It doesn’t matter what you deliver, whether or not it’s 100 routines, 50, 5 or 1, you can be handled equally and identical to everybody else. That’s my promise to you, and why I really feel like we’re profitable.”
On the finish of the day, it’s all about giving dancers a joyful area the place they’ll develop. “I all the time inform folks whenever you stroll offstage, it is best to ask your self three issues: What did I do nicely? What can I do higher subsequent time? Did I’ve enjoyable? With that, you praise your self, you permit room for enchancment, and also you settle for the enjoyment of being onstage,” Pomeroy concludes.
Encore’s 2026 season kicks off January 30, 2026, in Albuquerque. Study extra at encoreperformingarts.com, and comply with them on Instagram @encoredanceco.
By Melody McTier Thomason of Dance Informa.
