Nicole Cutler

Sculpture in the Olympic Games led me down a rabbit hole into ancient Greek competition, the meaning of agon, and a question about competitive Ballroom and Latin American dancing that may be more complicated than simply asking whether it is sport or art.

Why age-appropriateness in children’s Dancesport should be understood not only as a matter of presentation, but as a wider question of welfare, development, training culture and the foundations we ask young dancers to build from.

What happens when one kind of excellence becomes the only kind we see? What kind of dancer do we reward today and what are we asking others to leave behind in order to succeed? This piece invites us to rethink how tone, expression, and influence are shaping the female dancer’s journey.

At a high level, coaching is about communication, not correction by hand. It’s about empowering the dancer — not moulding them physically. When we shift our focus from physical manipulation to thoughtful guidance, we unlock something far more lasting.

Latin American Dancing has always been a vibrant expression of rhythm, character, and chemistry. But in recent years, many in the Dance World - dancers, coaches, adjudicators alike have noticed a marked shift in how it’s danced. The word that often comes up is aggressive.