THE ARTIST VS. THE SCORESHEET, THE SYSTEM AND THE PRESSURE WITH TRAVIS LAKE | NCG 65

THE ARTIST VS. THE SCORESHEET, THE SYSTEM AND THE PRESSURE WITH TRAVIS LAKE | NCG 65

In this episode of No Counts Given, Kyle Rush sits down with Travis Lake, a trailblazing choreographer known for his work with programs like BYU, University of Minnesota, and Dance Mania All Stars, for an honest conversation about creativity, competition, and challenging the rules of the dance team industry. We couldn't do this without our sponsors, thank you! Dance Team Union | www.danceteamunion.com [http://www.danceteamunion.com] The College Classic | www.thecollegeclassic.com [http://www.thecollegeclassic.com] Travis opens up about the routines, risks, and creative choices that helped shape his career, while also sharing the personal and professional challenges that come with pushing boundaries in a highly regulated competitive space. This episode dives into what it really means to challenge the status quo without losing sight of excellence, clarity, and purpose. Travis shares insight into the creative process, the emotional cost of chasing greatness, and why some of the biggest breakthroughs come from refusing to play it safe. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro + Thank You Dance Team Union 00:43 - Growing Up in Utah: Religion, Identity & Early Challenges 07:43 - Travis’ BYU Journey + Being Ghosted by a Top Dance Program 21:37 - AD: Dance Team Union | A Coach’s Perspective 24:22 - Underpaid in the Industry, Even at the Top Level 27:33 - Reaching the Childhood Dream: Working with Minnesota 46:37 - Thank You, Travis 47:11 - AD: The Rankings by Dance Team Union 48:13 - How Music Rule Changes Shifted the Dance Team Industry 50:42 - Hitting Rock Bottom: Travis Opens Up 56:21 - Dance Mania: Setting a New Standard in All Star Dance 1:03:51 - Getting Fired from Dance Mania 1:11:03 - Sam Houston: Teaching and Choreographing for the Dance Team 1:20:05 - Travis’ Advice for Choreographers Tags: nationals season, road to nationals, dance team analysis, judges perspective, dance breakdowns, competitive dance talk, elite dance training, performance quality, intentional choreography, dance team culture, college dance insights, high school dance teams, all-star dance training, pom technique, hip hop judging, dance education, behind the scores, dance media commentary

USASF TRANSPARENCY | BLIND ITEM ADVICE | UDA & NDA NATIONALS PLOT TWIST WITH SFA | NCG 64

Thank you for supporting No Counts Given this past year. I appreciate every single one of you that tune in weekly. I hope you enjoy this 2 hour ONE YEAR B-DAY episode. We couldn’t do this without our sponsors, thank you. Dance Team Union | www.danceteamunion.com [http://www.danceteamunion.com] Rebel Athletic | www.rebelathleticdance.com [http://www.rebelathleticdance.com] Sharpen Up! Dance Team Training | www.sharpenupdtt.com [http://www.sharpenupdtt.com] Dance Team Supply | www.danceteamsupply.com [http://www.danceteamsupply.com] Today on the show, I’m breaking down IDL Sydney and sharing my overall predictions for how this series stop could play out. We’re also diving into a few Blind Items, including some advice submissions that definitely need to be unpacked. Then, I’m sitting down with Ashley and Courtney Frato of The Source Dance Lab for an honest conversation about transparency and the ongoing questions surrounding USASF Dance Worlds. Later in the episode, T.J. Maple from Stephen F. Austin State University joins us to talk about major developments in SFA’s season, including their decision to attend both UDA College Nationals and NDA College Nationals. To close out the show, I’m sharing my Top 10 routines from the 2025-2026 season. Chapters: 00:00 Intro: We Have A Packed Show 06:59 Ad: The Rankings by Dance Team Union 08:00 IDL Sydney Breakdown & My Official Predictions 19:45 Blind Items: Advice, Drama & Real Talk 37:09 DTU Ad: Hear It From The Coaches 39:47 The Source Dance Lab Speaks Out on USASF Transparency 1:41:26 Breaking Down SFA’s Move To Both UDA & NDA Nationals 1:45:51 Ad: Road To Nationals by Dance Team Union 1:46:24 T.J. Maple Talks SFA Doubling Down This Season 2:00:36 My Top 10 Routines From The 2025-2026 Season 2:04:04 June Schedule, Final Thoughts & Outro

THE COLLEGE CLASSIC NATIONALS TOP 3 COVERAGE | DII, DI SMALL AND DI LARGE DIVISIONS | NCG 63

The divisions everyone’s watching? Yeah… we’re breaking it ALL the way down. In this episode of No Counts Given, we’re diving into the DII, DI Small, and DI Large divisions from The College Classic… where the margins are tight, the pressure is real, and every single detail matters. This is where titles are earned… and where the conversation gets LOUD. Dance Team Union | www.danceteamunion.com [http://www.danceteamunion.com] Sharpen Up! Dance Team Training | www.sharpenupdtt.com [http://www.sharpenupdtt.com] Dance Team Supply | www.danceteamsupply.com [http://www.danceteamsupply.com] Follow No Counts Given on all social media platforms @nocountsgiven and follow our host, Kyle Rush, on all platforms @itskylerush Plus, we’re going straight to the source with exclusive interviews from the coaches behind the programs making waves: Saginaw Valley State University Dance Team University of Tampa Dance Lamar University

THE COLLEGE CLASSIC | NAIA, JUNIOR COLLEGE & NAIA COVERAGE | FEATURING COACH INTERVIEWS | NCG 62

The divisions that don’t always get the spotlight? Yeah… we’re putting them CENTER STAGE. We couldn't do this without our sponsors: Dance Team Union | www.danceteamunion.com [http://www.danceteamunion.com] Sharpen Up! Dance Team Training | www.sharpenupdtt.com [http://www.sharpenupdtt.com] Dance Team Supply | www.danceteamsupply.com [http://www.danceteamsupply.com] Follow No Counts Given on all social media platforms @nocountsgiven and follow our host, Kyle Rush, on all platforms @itskylerush This episode is dedicated to highlighting the athletes, the coaches and the programs that demanded the stage at The College Classic. In this episode of No Counts Given, we’re breaking down the NAIA, Junior College, and DIII divisions from The College Classic and trust, this is where some of the most competitive, overlooked, and straight-up impressive routines of the weekend lived. Plus, we’re bringing you straight to the source with exclusive interviews from the head coaches/captains leading these standout programs: St. Ambrose University Trinity Valley Community College North Central College SUNY Cortland From strategy and scoring breakdowns to behind-the-scenes insight on what it actually takes to compete at this level, this episode gives these divisions the respect, analysis, and spotlight they’ve earned. nationals season, road to nationals, dance team analysis, judges perspective, dance breakdowns, competitive dance talk, elite dance training, performance quality, intentional choreography, dance team culture, college dance insights, high school dance teams, all-star dance training, pom technique, hip hop judging, dance education, behind the scores, dance media commentary #NationalsSeason #RoadToNationals #DanceTeamAnalysis #JudgesPerspective #DanceBreakdown #CompetitiveDanceTalk #EliteDanceTraining #PerformanceQuality #IntentionalChoreography #DanceTeamCulture #CollegeDanceInsights #HighSchoolDanceTeams #AllStarDanceTraining #PomTechnique #HipHopJudging #DanceEducation #BehindTheScores #DanceMedia

JUSTIN BIEBER TO COLLEGE DANCE TEAM TO NFL PRO - the HOST of The Rankings | HANNAH STUTTS | NCG #61

Hannah Stutts (@hannahstutts) breaks down what it really takes to stand out in the dance and pro cheer world, and it’s not just talent. From her early days in Alabama to performing with a top NFL team, Hannah shares how she built a career by doing what most dancers are told not to do: show her personality. She dives into her journey through studio training, convention circuits, and pro cheer, revealing how each step shaped her resilience, confidence, and growth mindset. The conversation gets real about the industry… booking major opportunities like Justin Bieber, signing with an agency at just 15, and navigating the pressure of elite-level performance spaces. But the biggest takeaway? Your ability to communicate who you are matters just as much as how you perform. This episode is all about personal branding, authenticity, and learning how to turn visibility into opportunity. If you’re trying to break into or level up within the dance, cheer, or entertainment world, this is a blueprint on how to stop blending in and start building a name for yourself. Dance Team Union | www.danceteamunion.com [http://www.danceteamunion.com]Sharpen Up! Dance Team Training | www.sharpenupdtt.com [http://www.sharpenupdtt.com]Dance Team Supply | www.danceteamsupply.com [http://www.danceteamsupply.com]  Follow No Counts Given on all social media platforms @nocountsgiven and follow our host, Kyle Rush, on all platforms @itskylerush 🔗 Relevant Tags: No Counts Given, Kyle Rush, dance team podcast, dance team news, dance team analysis, competitive dance, college dance team, high school dance team, all star dance, dance competition coverage, UDA College Nationals, DTU Nationals, NDA College Nationals, Dance Team Union, pom dance, hip hop dance, jazz dance, dance judging, dance scoring, routine breakdown, choreography analysis, dance team coaching, behind the scores, road to nationals #DanceTeamPodcast #DanceTeamNews #DanceTeamAnalysis #CompetitiveDance #DanceCompetition #CollegeDanceTeam #HighSchoolDanceTeam #AllStarDance #UDANationals #DTUNationals #NDANationals #DanceTeamUnion #USASFDanceWorlds #ICUWorlds #PomDance #HipHopDance #JazzDance #DanceCoaching #DanceJudging #BehindTheScores #RoadToNationals #NationalsSeason #RoutineBreakdown #ChoreographyAnalysis #NoCountsGiven