Sarah Verville founded Fluid 20 years ago with 19 routines on a hotel floor. Now 300–500 dancers attend each of nine yearly weekends for live-feedback judging and unique classes.
Twenty years ago, Sarah Verville launched Fluid Dance Convention with a clear goal: build a competition around education, not trophies. That first weekend featured just 19 routines, performed on a hotel’s parquet floor. Today, Fluid welcomes 300 to 500 dancers at each of its nine yearly weekends, traveling with state-of-the-art staging and a reputation for live-feedback judging and top-tier talent.
“Not only is our format different from other competitions, but the overall energy throughout the weekend is beyond compare,” Verville says.
**Education First**
Fluid events run Friday through Sunday, balancing class time and stage time. “We offer unique convention classes,” Verville explains. “They’re not based on learning one combo after another — there’s a wide variety of technique, performance, and developmental classes for all age groups.”
Students compete in solo and duo/trio entries on Friday, group entries on Saturday night, take classes on Saturday and Sunday, and attend the closing show Sunday afternoon. Styles range from hip hop to ballet.
**Faculty Who Care**
Most of Fluid’s faculty have been teaching there for over 10 years. “It’s truly a family,” Verville says. “Since everyone on the team has a different way of delivering their message, every dancer over the event weekend will connect with at least one of them.”
**Live Feedback, Real-Time Corrections**
Each Fluid event has three judges. After a routine, dancers walk downstage and receive in-person, live feedback from each judge. This allows them to implement changes over the rest of the weekend. “We watch these dancers grow over just a few hours,” Verville says. “It’s remarkable.”
The personal connection makes the performance experience “empowering,” she adds. “They build self-confidence and discipline, while creating connections and having so much fun!”
**Extra Opportunities**
Veteran dancers can join the invitation-only Fluid FAMED group, which opens the Elite Finals Gala at Nationals with a special performance. Fluid Force assistants also get multiple performance opportunities throughout the season. “They develop so many skill sets which bring them into the workforce or higher education after graduation,” Verville says.
As Fluid heads into its 20th season, Verville teases surprises — but dancers will have to attend to find out. “We’re building not only strong, confident dancers but also kind, curious, and grateful humans.”
It’s this blend of real-time coaching and community that mirrors the hands-on approach we bring to every class at GoDance.
The GoDance team crafts articles about dance, technique and inspiring stories from dancers.
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Fluid focuses on exceptional education in a safe, encouraging environment instead of flashy prizes. Dancers receive in-person, live feedback from three judges immediately after performing, allowing them to apply corrections over the weekend.
Most of Fluid’s faculty have been with the convention for over 10 years. According to founder Sarah Verville, every team member is there to grow and develop young artists, providing what they wished they knew at their own age.
