When my twin girls were eight years old, the dance studio director offered them the opportunity to each have a solo. They had a duo the previous year, and I figured this was the next step in their dance journey. As they got older, we noticed that other dancers had two or three solos each. But because I was a single mom (and paid for dance entirely on my own), I was not able to afford more than one solo per daughter.

That changed in 2023, when Jayden decided that she no longer wanted to dance competitively. I realized that this would free up some financial resources, and asked Jocelyn if she would like to acquire a second solo. Another soloist from our school had worked with a wonderful contemporary choreographer, and I thought that working with him would help Jocelyn develop her skills in that genre. Long story short, she wound up winning a few regional titles with that dance. And through her hard work, she won a national title as well. But the real highlight for us was watching her confidence soar in the genre.

While there are benefits to a dancer acquiring additional solos, there are drawbacks as well. I reached out to our community on Facebook, and asked them to share their ideas about multiple solos (original post here). Here are the takeaways:

Two Is the Magic Number

Well, at least for most of the respondents! Most commenters noted that their dancers competed one solo in their strongest style, and the other in a contrasting style to promote growth. Some of the more popular combinations included contemporary/tap, jazz/hip-hop, contemporary/jazz, and lyrical/musical theater. The parents in this camp mentioned that contrasting styles create more versatile dancers. This approach will serve those kids well if they want to pursue dance past their school years.

Growth Above Winning

What dancer doesn’t dream of being handed a trophy? But any dance parent that’s been around awhile knows that success shouldn’t be measured by hardware. A dancer with multiple solos can experience an explosion of growth. They will be challenged to push themselves outside of their comfort zones, gain more stage experience, and improve their overall technique. These dancers are typically more well-rounded than their peers because of this additional exposure.

It Depends on the Dancer

You knew this was coming! Experienced dance moms (and dads) know that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to ANYTHING in our crazy little world. If you’re considering adding a second (third, or more) solo to your dancer’s repertoire, consider the following: 

• Are they mature enough to handle it?
  • With added solos come added stress, time commitment, and pressure. Being honest with yourself about your child’s maturity level is essential if you’re going to help guide them with this important decision.
• Can they manage their time well enough to incorporate a second solo?
  • Let’s face it – some of our kids absolutely suck at time management. If they complain that they don’t have time to finish their chores after mindlessly scrolling through TikTok for three hours, they may become overwhelmed when tasked with dedicating time to an additional solo. The added pressure of the second solo is likely to cause stress, anxiety, and other ill effects for those that can’t already handle it.
• How well can they tolerate stress?
  • If you have a resilient kid, you might not have to worry at all. But I’ve seen plenty of kids (and their parents) collapse under the pressure of one solo, let alone two.
• What does their school workload look like?
  • Maybe this is just the teacher in me talking, but parents should prioritize their child’s academic education. We give the same advice to athletes; while your body might fail you, your education can never be taken away. If the added time commitment will significantly detract from your dancer’s studies, granting them additional solos could have negative effects in the future.
• Will the dancer enjoy having extra solos?
  • Let’s be for real – sometimes we think we know what our kids want, but we really don’t. No one has a crystal ball; your dancer cannot tell you exactly how much they will (or won’t) enjoy having multiple solos. But as always, taking the time to have a frank, honest discussion with your child is well worth it.

College and Beyond

Dancers who wish to dance after high school graduation can benefit from multiple solos. Through the additional solos, they will expand their training to better prepare for college and professional opportunities. Working with various styles improves a dancer’s versatility, and increases the amount of time they will perform in front of an audience. Plus, judges and recruiters will have more chances to see a dancer when he or she takes the stage more than once.

It’s All About the Money

Very few parents I know are rolling around in disposable income. So when we dance moms and dads consider adding new routines to our kids’ lists, the question that often comes up first is “How much is this going to cost me?” While some might be obvious (the choreography fee, for example), a parent might get sticker shock from the more hidden fees. The additional solo will require extra entry fees, costuming costs, rehearsal fees, and more. 

Studios Call the Shots

Ultimately, a dancer that is attached to a studio is bound by their regulations. And some teams have very clear rules as to what they will and will not allow. Common guidelines surrounding additional solos can address:

• 1 or 2 solos maximum
• Exceptions made for graduating seniors
• Choreographer approval
• Invitation only 
• Limits based on age

Beware the Burnout

Before adding another solo, your dancer (and you) should think about whether the additional stress, pressure, and hours in the studio will increase the feelings of being “burned out.” While a younger dancer might not seem susceptible to “too much dance,” older kids might. Will more solos lead to exhaustion and over-scheduling? Will it create resentment towards dance instead of joy? Instead of focusing on quantity, consider avenues that will enhance the quality of their dance experience. 

Overall Pros and Cons

Pros – The Good

1. Developing versatility
2. Increased performance experience
3. Accelerate growth (overall technical growth, and growth within more genres)
4. Prepares dancers for college and/or professional opportunities
5. Builds time management skills
6. Learning more about themselves as dancers (what they like and don’t like)

Cons – The Bad and the Ugly

1. Costs 
2. Increased risk of burnout
3. Greater time commitment
4. Not the right fit for every dancer
5. Increased stress
6. Risk of prioritizing quantity over quality

If It’s a Go

If you and your dancer decide to tackle more than one solo this season, keep these in mind: 

• Choose the number of solos based on your dancer’s goals.
• Focus on growth rather than collecting routines.
• Make sure dance remains enjoyable.
• Consider your family’s time and financial commitments.
• Prioritize quality over quantity.
• Be willing to change the plan for next season if it doesn’t work out this time around.

Thank you to all of the commenters that contributed to this post!

Being asked to be in a duo/trio is an honor for any dancer, but is your child ready? Read Just Duo (or Trio) It! to learn what to expect!