In 2020 Chasta Hamilton penned Trash The Trophies: How To Win Without Losing Your Soul. This book chronicled her dance studio’s journey out of competition dance and into a new model of successful, serious, non-competitive dance training. Many studio owners have been finding the competition arena ever more problematic. As a teacher of preprofessional and professional dancers myself, I am finding an ever growing chasm between what competition dance values/produces and what the professional dance industry actually wants. Yet the competition industry still has a tremendous hold on the dance studio industry. Ms. Hamilton’s book serves as an effective guide to transitioning away from competition dance (for those desiring the transition) while maintaining and growing a successful, prosperous dance studio.

In her wonderful new children’s book The Trophy Trap – Unleash Your Inner Winner, with simply adorable art work by Annie Wilkinson, Ms. Hamilton gently approaches the competition arena from a child’s point of view. Thoughtful, considered and sensitive, this book addresses children’s fears, concerns, worries and disappointments inherent in all competitions. The book applies not only to dance competitions but to all competitions and helps children navigate the pitfalls of competition culture. Helping children find their confidence and self-worth, helping children find value in the doing of the work, without the arbitrary reinforcement of a trophy is the aim of this book. And this book hits the bull’s eye. Through a group of delightful puppies, she shares sentiments such as “The dogs that win don’t need constant wins or praise. Instead they push through and do the work in many different ways.”. She reminds us that “… while we can’t change the trophies or results along the way, we can choose how we live our lives each and every day.”.

Sometimes we all need a little reminder, don’t we?

This book would be a sterling addition to every children’s library.