Work It Dance Challenge is more than a competition – it’s an experience. Offering both one-day events and traditional competition weekends, its high-energy, low-pressure events leave dancers feeling confident and inspired. Now entering its ninth season, Work It was founded by owner Arielle Lask, who recently spoke with Dance Informa. Lask began dancing at age two and competing at six, an experience that ultimately inspired her to launch Work It.
Lask shares, “When I was a kid, I remember competition being great, but also stressful. Competition brings a lot of pressure onto dancers, and can affect children in a negative way. I knew from a young age that I wanted to do this, and do it with my own spin on things.”
That stressful past fueled everything. Lask is determined to rewrite the old stereotypes. “The experience I had was similar to what people might think competition dance is,” Lask says. “I didn’t grow up in a world filled with positivity. I loved dance, but I didn’t love all aspects of dance. Reflecting as an adult, a lot of things happened that weren’t great for my growth and development. So, when I started Work It, it was very important to have positivity and build kids up. It’s always been at the forefront of every event we’ve done.”
Lask explains, “A lot of our rules and structure come from my mind as a dance teacher. As a dance teacher, I would go to competition and think, ‘Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could do this and not have to get the kids out of school on a Friday? What if we could still do it and not give up the whole weekend, but still get the joy of bringing our kids to competition?’ I knew a lot of studios that felt that same way. Work It really likes to give a different experience to directors and teachers.”
Her years in the studio directly inspired Work It’s one-day format. “Studios choose the weekend,” Lask says, “and we pair them with similar-level studios so they get the full competition experience. They still get the amazing prizes and all of the fun without the commitment of a full weekend.”
For studios wanting a traditional three-day competition, Work It has its Mega Events. Lask says, “When we first started, we had two one-day events. As we grew, we realized that there is a market for Mega Events – the more traditional three-day events. So, we do even bigger prizes and an improv competition and more awards for that. We want to make sure there’s something for everyone. We have a place for smaller studios as well as bigger studios.”
This year, Work It is hosting its first Mega Nationals at Jay Peak Resort in Vermont. The inaugural event sold out in one week. Lask shares more, “Essentially, we are doing a week-long dance party extravaganza. We’re melting down an ice rink and hosting our event inside it. Outside the rink is a huge waterpark, a golf course for dads, and a million amenities onsite where everyone can stay. On top of that, we’re hosting so many events for Work It kids. There will be free convention classes, a silent disco, a late-night waterpark party – rented out just for Work It dancers and their families. All of these things are included in the cost.”
Nothing captures the Work It culture better than the moment they named their first ‘Work It Warrior’ at a Regional event last year. Lask shares, “At one of our Regionals last year, a teacher who was coming to the event emailed us to let us know they had a dancer competing who had just beat cancer. We were able to read her this speech during the Award ceremony and crown her a ‘Work It Warrior’. Every person in the audience stood up and cheered. That was the first moment I think I’ve ever cried onstage. This is what competition is all about – building children’s self-esteem and supporting one another. That moment was also pivotal in my life, because I saw for the first time that these studios feel safe enough to share this type of information with Work It.”
Ultimately, Lask wants dancers to carry memories, not just trophies. “I grew up competing and, while it’s important, I don’t remember today what trophy I won or if I was the Title Winner, but I do remember the experience I had with my mom, fellow dancers and teachers. All of those memories are the building blocks for who you are as an adult. Sometimes we lose sight of that, but it’s really nice when everyone comes together and remembers that the experience and joy of dance is more important than any trophy you could ever win.”
To make sure every dancer feels seen, Work It hands out a variety of creative awards. Lask shares, “We have a ton of fun awards: Work It Dance, Star Performer, Vibe Check, and all these different things we’ve created to get the dancers involved and excited to showcase not just the best dancers, but to highlight all of them. Whether they’re recreational or advanced, we want all of our dancers to feel seen. By doing all of these fun and unique awards, we’re able to highlight many dancers throughout the weekend.”
Lask herself was never the top-scoring dancer growing up. “I wasn’t the best dancer, which everyone’s shocked to hear since my life revolves around dance. I use that story a lot when talking to kids who didn’t get the scores they wanted. For me, I was never the best, but I had a passion for dance. That’s also where all these special awards came from. You might not have the highest score, but if you’re standing out in a different way, because of your passion, we want to acknowledge that, too.”
Work It judges go through a rigorous vetting process – résumé, mock critiques and mandatory training – to ensure every comment is educational and kind. “We know there are so many talented judges in the world, but maybe not all of them fit the vibe of Work It,” Lask says. “We want to make sure all of our judges align with our values and understand our expectation with the goal that each dancer is treated with care.”
Most of the 2026 tour is already sold out, but spots remain at select events. Lask welcomes new studios. “We’re trying to reach studios that really value a positive environment and want that for their students. Anything they need to know to feel comfortable and confident, just reach out. We’re happy to answer any questions.”
Work It’s season kicks off March 7-8, in Worcester, Massachusetts. Visit workitdancechallenge.com or @workitdancechallenge on Instagram for details and remaining cities.
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