How To Stay Inspired During Summer

August can feel like an in-between month in the dance world. The rush of the summer competitions has faded, and the autumn/winter season hasn’t kicked into gear yet. Without the buzz of Feises, seeing your Feis Friends, and stage lights, Dancers (and their parents) can feel a little lost. But a quiet month doesn’t have to mean a lack of progress or inspiration.

At Move with Meg, we believe these slower moments are golden opportunities - not gaps in the calendar, but bridges to your next breakthrough. Here's how to make the most of August and stay inspired, focused, and energised before the next wave of competitions arrives.

🎉 Reconnect with the Joy of Dancing

Competitions can sometimes shift the focus to results, and perfection. August is a perfect time to fall back in love with the simple act of dancing.

• Freestyle for fun: Turn on your favorite song and create some new choreography
  
  
• Dance for YOU: No mirrors, no audience - just joy.
  
  

Encourage your Dancer to remember why they started in the first place. That love is the fuel that powers progress.

✍️ Reflect and Set Intentions

Take a moment to review what worked and what didn’t during the last season. For both Dancers and parents, reflection is a powerful motivator.

• Dancers: What were your proudest moments? What feedback excited or challenged you?
  
  
• Parents: What made your Dancer light up? Where did they feel the most supported?
  
  

Then, flip the lens forward:

• What’s a small goal you can set for September?
  
  
• Is there a skill or technique you want to strengthen before the next Feis season begins?
  
  

🧘 Cross-Train Creatively

Keeping the body moving is important, but it doesn’t always have to be in a dance studio. This is a fantastic time to explore other forms of movement.

• Pilates or yoga for core strength and flexibility
  
  
• Swimming or cycling for endurance and joint health
  
  
• Musical theatre or acting classes to boost stage presence
  
  

Dancers are artists and athletes. Diverse movement keeps things fresh and builds strength in surprising ways.

🧠 Fuel the Mind and Spirit

Inspiration doesn’t only come from results and compliments. Feed your Dancer’s imagination:

• Watch iconic performances or documentaries (e.g. JIG or your favourite parade of champions on YouTube or TikTok)
  
  
• Listen to a podcast that you find inspiring (check out our Meg Talks Podcast) 
  
  
• Attend a local performance and enjoy watching other people enjoy their own sporting passion
  
  

Parents, this is also your chance to learn more about the world your Dancer loves and spark conversations that go deeper than “how was class?”

💤 Rest Is Productive, Too

This is often the hardest tip to accept, especially for goal-oriented dancers, but rest is not lazy. It’s smart.

• Sleep well and eat well
  
  
• Schedule tech-free time for creativity
  
  
• Don’t overbook the calendar - leave room for spontaneity
  
  

A rested body is more agile. A rested mind is more creative. A rested Dancer is more resilient when the next challenge comes.

Instead of seeing August as a “dead month,” see it as a blank canvas. The downtime is the perfect time to reset, rediscover, and reignite. The most passionate dancers aren’t just training hard - they’re learning how to sustain inspiration all year round.

So breathe. Stretch. Reflect. Dream. Then return in September not just ready, but inspired to smash those remaining 2025 goals.