I survived DEX 2026!
And got bit by the DEX bug… not an actual bug, just the overwhelming, positive, and life changing feeling of being part of something bigger, something that embodies a spirit of inclusivity and possibility.
I thought I had an understanding of Dance Excellence (DEX) and how it alters you from my experience in 2024. But in 2024, I was there as Danielle’s mom and had a limited experience. Although DEX 2024 was amazing, I was much more involved this year as an INDISU team member, which granted me access to the very fiber of the event. Maybe I could have accessed it already back in 2024, but mentally I was not there, and I almost missed it this year as well.
Over the past two years, I have become more involved at INDISU Dance Theater. It was not really a choice. There has been a certain pull, and I am learning to answer that pull, even when I don’t fully understand it. It has been easy because, on one hand, I am helping my friend, and on the other, I am supporting my two children, their peers and all the dancers. Oh, how these dancers have grown on me. They are my kids (yes, I am that person).
It has been a rough year, and many will never know what we (Ihndhira, Rochelle, and the greater INDISU team) have undertaken to make it this far. I call it INDISU magic, much like Disney magic. There was a moment when I was not sure we would make it to Los Angeles this year, but we did! And we showed up and showed out!
I knew that DEX has a way of removing the shyness from a dancer, but this year, being able to see them in class and watch them overcome their blocks in real time was amazing. I also knew each dancer more intimately from back home, so my perspective was different.
These dancers showed up in rooms of about 100 dancers (or more) and danced like no one was watching. It was heartwarming. Watching them show up every day, even when I wanted to sneak away for coffee and a nap, was inspiring. Experiencing other dancers embracing and supporting our dancers was wonderful.
The other INDISU moms also noticed the shift and asked how we could bring that same energy back to St. Maarten for other dancers who weren’t able to experience DEX firsthand. So then I thought, how could we do that?
What is it that has made Dance Excellence thrive for 35 years and made everyone so emotional about this being the final one? There are amazing master teachers with lots of experience, and the staff are like family, which really spills over to the attendees. But there is more. And Annie embodies it.
If you have a conversation with her, Annie has a way of making you feel like nothing is impossible, and if anyone can accomplish it, it is you. And I know you are probably saying, “Dominique, lots of people can do that.” But I would have to say no, not quite.
Every director spoke about how Annie supported and motivated them throughout the years. Annie is everyone’s best friend and she truly shows up, believes in them, and stands behind them. She believes in every one of her team members, every studio director, and every dancer. And that belief and positivity are what carry people. It allows them to show up as themselves and to do their best.
I learned from Ihndhira that Annie explained to the group of 29 directors that she learned early on in life that her purpose was to gather. She had a gift for bringing people together and devoted her career to producing these magical gatherings. She rounded up people from different walks of life, but all with the same love and passion for dance, so that their strengths and qualities would bring out the best of the others in the room. Despite our differences, we had more in common than we realized as dancers, dance moms, dance teachers, choreographers and studio owners.
Our dancers walk into those rooms for the week, and person after person pours into them, telling them they are amazing and that they can do this. Even when they make mistakes, they are applauded for trying. Their differences are celebrated. The teachers highlight the good while still correcting them.
And I know we have people who do that back home too. But what I also know is that society can sometimes be negative and limit our kids. Their peers can be mean to them. They are told they are the future, but then receive little to no support. We, as parents, can get caught up in our day to day struggles and although we have good intentions, we sometimes lose sight of the bigger picture.
By no means do I want to be a negative Nancy. I believe DEX excels because of the positivity and belief in all involved. I want to encourage us to do the same here for our kids and our community. But if I did not mention the reality and the struggles we face, then I would just be selling a dream. We all have our struggles and although we sometimes think our kids’ issues are not as serious, for them, they’re pretty big.
So how do we spread that DEX feeling locally? Let’s keep pouring into our babies and being a light in our communities. Our kids ARE capable of great achievements, and it is also okay for them to make mistakes or accomplish success differently than we envision for them.
This week, Nahjah Wyatte won the gold medal in the 800m U17 Boys at the Carifta Games in Grenada. A video from last year has resurfaced where his coach believed in him even then. Our kids are more than capable and they always have been. They just need a community that believes in them. Not just when they win medals, but every day, every practice and every attempt. Every day won’t be a great day for them but we can extend grace to them and encourage them to keep going. It does not change overnight, but one by one, we can make a difference.
I do hope that Annie and her team will try to bring a bit of DEX back in some form because, for a couple of days, our dancers are in a supportive and loving environment very different from real life. We all slow down and focus less on the competitive aspect of dance and more on the reasons ‘we’ dance and how dance connects us all. It allows the dancers to try and fail, or try and excel, but either way, they know they are in a safe space to do so.
I have watched these dancers over the past couple of months and witnessed their growth as we prepared for DEX. But seeing them on stage, performing, incorporating all of the corrections, while being vulnerable and sharing of themselves so generously, made me tear up.
I now owe my/the Junior Elite group a pizza party. My/The Teen Elite members also stepped up to the challenge, and I am so grateful they got to experience this. To my/the Company dancers, you are all amazing, and I pray you continue to reach for the stars and show up with enthusiasm and open hearts.
MotherLovingDiva 