This week on the podcast, Bec chats with Ellie from Carnival Dance Challenge - and honestly, this conversation is such a good one for any studio owner who's ever sat at a comp and thought, "Surely there's a better way to do this."

Ellie shares her own dance journey, from growing up in the Southern Highlands to training full-time at Brent Street and performing professionally, before a massive life pivot during COVID changed everything. With travel plans on hold and motherhood entering the picture, Ellie found herself reimagining what her future in dance could look like… and Carnival was born.

Beck and Ellie dive into how the comp world has changed over the years, what today's dancers really need, and why the future might actually be less about flashy tricks and more about artistry, performance quality and creating genuinely positive experiences for families and studios.

They also chat about Carnival's fresh approach to competitions, the importance of high-calibre judges, and why Ellie is passionate about creating more opportunities for dancers who want to sing, act and dance - not just nail six tricks in a row.

It's a warm, honest convo about big dreams, industry change, and building something that actually serves the dance community.

In this episode, they chat about:

• Ellie's journey from small-town dance student to professional performer
• How COVID and becoming a mum led to a huge career pivot
• Why Carnival was created and what makes it different from other comps
• How the standard of dancers has changed over the years
• Why the industry may need to pull back on tricks and refocus on dance
• The value of judges who are actively working in the industry
• Why Broadway performers and triple threats deserve more recognition
• How studio culture is shifting to become more connected and supportive

Meet with the team from Carnival and our incredible vendors at Dance Teacher Expo in Sydney! https://ticket.danceteacherexpo.com.au/