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CSC x Dance Champions on Redefining the Rhythm: Building an Improved Competitive Dance Framework

On International Dance Day, the Dance Champions and the CSC teams came together to discuss Dance Champions’ dance competition’s journey in tackling dance industry norms. Featuring Andrew Rusk, Co-Founder of Dance Champions, Paul Beirne, Developer of Technology for Dance Champions, and Keanu Uchida, Competition Director, the group explained their vision on redefining traditional dance competition models. By prioritizing dance development, safety of the dancers, and accessibility (in both financials and inclusivity), Dance Champions and its team highlight their evaluative scoring approaches. With a focus on the unique six-point scoring framework that Dance Champions has created, it expands the scoring, increases dancer well-being and improvement, and refines how judges score dancers to improve consistency and integrity.

More topics touched on in this panel include; the implementation of initiatives like the U15 category, weekday and evening scheduling, technology advancements to improve dancer safety and judges’ feedback, and their mission to reduce competition costs for parents and studio owners. Furthermore, the group explored the long-term vision for building an improved dance competition that leaves a lasting impact on the dance community, with hopes to expand into all of North America.

CSCSWG X Burlington Soccer Club Partner Feature

Paige Culver

Paige Culver and the CSCSWG Team have released a Partner Feature interview to discuss her journey as a professional soccer player in Europe and how her experiences have led up to her career within the soccer industry and completing her master’s in Sweden! Paige is the Manager of Soccer Operations for one of the CSCSWG’s partner clubs, Burlington Soccer Club. Paige discusses her background and journey playing for the London City Lionesses, the benefits of working within the non-profit sector, and how she has translated her player experiences to her operations role.

Specific topic discussions include; effective team-focused communication techniques, strengths and weaknesses Canada presents within its soccer industry, her experiences playing for the London City Lionesses during the 2023-2024 season, her 7 year professional soccer player tenure, the under-promoted benefits working for local clubs and soccer academies, the structural and systemic differences between soccer in Europe versus North America, call to actions for increasing women and girls playing soccer through the Canada Soccer ACCELERATE-HER program, and more!

A Look at Non-Profit Sport Organizations with a Soccer Specialization

Samantha Stewart

Samantha Stewart and the CSCSWG Team have released a Partner Feature interview to discuss non-profit organizations within the soccer industry. Samantha is the Director of Marketing and Community Relations for one of the CSCSWG’s partner clubs, Burlington Soccer. Samantha discusses her background and journey within the non-profit sector, along with her private sector professional experiences. Specific topic discussions include; bureaucracy within non-profit sporting clubs, macro perspectives on how non-profits function, recognizing proper allocation of resources, skills needed to be successful within the sports industry, different types of measurements to success within non-profit clubs, leadership styles, calls to action for improvement of the accessibility of soccer, and more! If you are a leader, student, or a working professional within the non-profit sport industry, check out this interview for skills towards organizational success such as management and leadership qualities, a deep dive on non-profit organizations, and how you and the CSCSWG can improve your non-profit!

Challenging dance competition judging frameworks interview. How do we improve this with the launch of a new dance competition?

Andrew Rusk

Andrew Rusk, co-founder of Collective Advantage, a branding studio in advertising services, and co-founder of Dance Champions dance competition, joins Dr. Taylor McKee and CSC winter 2926 intern, Amanda Nash as they interview Andrew. They discuss the application of safe sport practices he hopes to embed within his dance competitions. Andrew and his partners are looking to change the dance industry norms and implement standardized judging frameworks to improve dancers, studios, and families competition experiences. Tune in to understand the value of safe sport principles and how the beginning processes are established when choosing to implement them; learn about an insiders scoop on the dance industry; and gain valuable lessons that Andrew has gained along the journey of his branding, entrepreneurial, and marketing career!

Soccer Industry Perspectives and Reflection Interview

Dr. Shannon Kerwin

Dr. Shannon Kerwin, Full Professor in Sport Management at Brock University and the CSCSWG Team have released a Member Feature interview to kickstart the launch of the CSC Soccer Working Group. Promoting Dr. Kerwins most recent findings within the soccer industry, this interview identifies strengths and weaknesses from the perspective of athletes, coaching staff, referees, parents, organizational staff and more. Tune in for a featured conversation surrounding topics such as; the Bodycam Pilot Project (2023–2024), the Ontario Soccer IModel Evaluation (2022–2024), productive internship development approaches for soccer clubs, a deep dive on the marginalization of girls who play on boys’ teams and/or in male-dominated spaces and how soccer clubs can adapt to these challenges, governing organizations by values, changing the narratives surrounding soccer referees, and more!

Safe Sport 2nd Edition Book Feature Interview

Dr. Julie Stevens

Dr. Julie Stevens, Full Professor in Sport Management at Brock University, is a leading scholar in the area of sport and change. As the editor of Safe Sport: Critical Issues and Practices (2nd Edition) she harnesses a diverse range of perspectives about safe sport from academic and professional contributors. Tune into an insightful conversation between her and CSC winter 2026 intern, Amanda Nash as they discuss external viewership of safe sport practices, trends within the industry, athlete-centred approaches, a behind-the-scenes look at the process of publication, and more!