On my 72nd birthday this year, I was surprised to see a social media post that made me feel incredible. The post said that I was an "icon." I was so flattered, and I really started to think about what an icon is. In my eyes, I don't consider myself an icon. True "icons" are the people behind the scenes, the ones you may never know exist. The icons in my life start with the amazing team at Showstopper's national headquarters who work so hard and care so much to make each show perfect. They are our truck drivers who drive all week through tough situations, driving day and night to bring stages and sparkles to dancers around the country. They are the crew at the shows who work 60-hour weekends celebrating talent and dance and giving it a space to shine. The icons are the dance teachers—without them there would be no Showstopper. They are inspiring young dancers and changing the world for the better every day. These people are the true icons who I love and respect—everyday role models, leaders, and doers who make all the magic happen. They're the people we should celebrate. They're the people who make life, and the dance world, one big party.
SUMMER 2023 GOSHOWSTOPPER.COM/MAGAZINE
DANCE & LIFESTYLE
6 Road to Showstopper 8 History of Showstopper 26 45 Years of Party Anthems 34 5 Tips for Better Leaps 46 Netflix's Dance 100 50 Everybody Dance 52 Piece of Cake Recipe 54 Party Playlist 60 Tips for Attending College as a Performance Arts Major
62 Showstopper Merch 64 A Dancer's Guide To: Studio Parties
72 Fashion Worth Celebrating
82 Party-Inspired Spaces
IN EVERY ISSUE
22 30 36 42 44 48 56
Michael Le Everleigh Rose The Sorority Girlz Bella Moore Kelsi Davies Reagan To Jordyn Curet
4 Editor's Letter 12 Dancer's Across America 68 Journey to Crystal 93 Crossword 94 Horoscopes
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A few of my favorite Instas from this season! Tag us @goshowstopper for a chance to be featured. FOUNDERS
Debbie & Dave Roberts EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Holly Childs CREATIVE CONSULTANT: Debbie Roberts • FASHION DIRECTOR: Angel Roberts • ASSOCIATE FASHION STYLISTS: Georgia VanNewkirk, Hazel VanNewkirk LEAD DESIGNER: Holly Childs • ASSOCIATE DESIGNERS: Nikki Cole, Tyler Amaral • LEAD EDITOR: Veronica Good ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Debbie Roberts, Nikki Cole, Abbey Macho, Angel Roberts, Georgia VanNewkirk, Hazel VanNewkirk • PHOTOGRAPHERS: Ana Ochoa, Holly Childs, Eva Nys, Dylan Lujano, Kim Preston, Stefany Blanco, Raul Romo, Katarina Stanic • WRITERS: Holly Childs, Veronica Good, Hayley Mac, Matt Tayao, Gavin Morales DIRECTORS OF PROCUREMENT AND LOCATIONS: Adam Roberts, Greg Kajcienski
SHOWSTOPPER
Photography: (Left) Holly Childs, (Right) Instagram • Design: Holly Childs • Writing: Holly Childs, Veronica Good
NATIONAL DIRECTOR: Debbie Roberts PRESIDENT: Dave Roberts CORPORATE & EVENT PRODUCTION MANAGING EDITOR OF SHOWSTOPPER MAGAZINE ONLINE: Veronica Good • DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT AND LEGAL AFFAIRS: Abbey Macho DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: Richard Knox • DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND MEDIA RELATIONS: Nikki Cole • CONTROLLER: Kim Kouba • ASSISTANT CONTROLLER: Craig Goeppinger • SENIOR VIDEOGRAPHER AND MEDIA PRODUCTION SPECIALIST: Earl Tyndall • EXECUTIVE ASSISTANTS: Christin Sandidge, Dana Decker DIRECTOR OF EVENT OPERATIONS: Laura Button TRAVEL DIRECTOR: Patience Cole • PRODUCTION MANAGER: Jon Greene • TECHNICAL DIRECTORS: Jeff Cole, Jamie Holliday, Brad Bowles • SHOW DIRECTORS: Heather Bills, Bailey Rivara ASSOCIATE SHOW DIRECTORS: Katie Akers, Mackenzi Pizana PHOTOGRAPHY COORDINATOR: Jess Cranney • DIRECTOR OF LOGISTICS: James Williams • SPECIAL PROJECTS: Mike Wager
SPECIAL THANKS TO: (IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE): Brooklynne Webb, Sharar Ali-Speakes, Rosie Mclleland, Jade Chynoweth, Fuego Shoes, Tatum Brady, Gavin Morales, Kennedy Paige, Michael Le, Everleigh Rose, Sydney Bourne, Samantha Bailey, Marielle Caldwell, Brooklyn Juvé, Bella Moore, Kelsi Davies, Reagan To, Jordyn Curet, Hayley Mac, Peace Love Hip Hop, Bronlyn Ward, Marlee Thomas, Rachel McNaughton, Braelyn Schaffer, Rylee Wall, McKenzie Bouhadie, Annie Slemp, Rachel Ross Bunch, Lizzo, Matt Tayao
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Design: Nikki Herr • Writing: Veronica Good
You know Showstopper has been dancing with you since 1978, but you might not know how all of the pink and glitter got here. As we celebrate Showstopper’s 45th anniversary of dance, competition, and talent, we have to look back on where it all began and the steps it took to continue to make dance something to celebrate. In 1967, at just 16 years old, our founder, Debbie Roberts, was in Battle Creek, Michigan working with Civic Recreation to create extra programs for underserved communities. She wanted to start a dance program—she ended up creating dance programs for seven elementary schools in her area. At the end of that first year, the kids in the programs wanted to do something big, so Debbie worked with W.K. Kellogg II (of Kellogg’s Foods) to create a prize pool for a talent competition. She also thrifted and painted a trophy for the first place award and gathered a panel of judges. This was Debbie’s first dance competition, but it was far from her last. In 1978, Showstopper would follow in the footsteps of that first Design: Holly Childs, Nikki Herr • Writing: Veronica Good
dance competition. After years of watching her son, Adam, play competitive sports and knowing the excitement that getting to show their skills brings children, Debbie wanted to give the dance world the same experience. That first year, Showstopper—named by Debbie’s then 8-year-old daughter Angel—held six competitions, with a Finals in New York City, funded by Debbie’s savings and driven by her determination. She wrote letters and knocked on
the doors of local dance
Dance is an all-around
studios to pitch her idea.
experience. It’s studio
Not everyone said yes, but
hours, lifelong friendships,
that first competition had
travel, competition, and
around 400 attendees, and
so much more. Dance is
by the fourth show, people
a passion. It’s a lifestyle.
were excited for what
Debbie would release
was to come. That first
three dance-related books
season Debbie kick started
and continue to explore
this dream, and after the
different ways to bring
first two competitions,
dance to dancers with the
her husband, Dave
addition of Showstopper
Roberts, would start fitting
Dance Conventions in the
Showstopper into his work
late ‘90s. Showstopper’s
schedule. He joined the
National Tour grew to
team full time in 1985.
match the enthusiasm and excitement of dancers
Showstopper was bringing
across the country who
competition to dancers, but
worked hard to bring their
it was also bringing dancers
passion to life on stage—
to people’s attention. Local
and still is.
TV stations and newspapers
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were filled with pictures of
Competitions,
dancers leaping across the
conventions—and even
Showstopper stage. Debbie
a virtual tour during
Roberts graced the cover of
2020—if there is a way
Dance Teacher in 1984—and
to make dance an event,
later topped Glamour’s list of
Showstopper is up for the
Outstanding Young Working
challenge. In its 45th year,
Women. Showstopper
Showstopper is hitting
also made it to the screen.
the road to take its stages
Before So You Think You Can
on a 51-competition tour
Dance and Dancing with
taking place over 40
The Stars, was the American
locations. The tour also
Dance Championships,
includes four conventions,
Showstopper’s National Finals
two issues of Showstopper
Competition. Showstopper’s
Magazine—now in its sixth
hit TV Show filled televisions
year with its online sister
across the nation for 20
Showstopper Magazine
years and received five
Online—and more glitter
Emmy Nominations.
and confetti than ever.
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Photography: Provided by Dancers • Design: Nikki Herr • Photo Editing: Tyler Amaral
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(Brooklynne Webb) Photographer: Dylan Lujano, Hair: Mika Fowler, Makeup: Anton Khachaturian, Stylist: Sophia Rahimi • (Sharar Ali-Speakes) Photography: Kim Preston • (Jade Chynoweth) Photography: Stefany Blanco • (Kennedy Paige and Gavin Morales) Photography: Holly Childs • (Rosie Mclleland) Photography: Provided by Rosie • (Tatum Brady) Photography: Eva Nys • Design: Holly Childs
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Michael Le is not your
support he received from his
Michael's life. “It put me
average dancer. In a world
friends, family, and fans, he
in the mindset of not just
where social media is
kept pushing forward.
being a dancer, but a
king, Michael has taken One of Michael's most famous
into other aspects of
incredible dance moves,
videos is an escalator dancing
content creation that I
earning him millions of
video which is one of the
wanted to explore, like
followers and making
most-liked TikToks of all time.
VFX, acting, anime, or
him a viral sensation. But
The video was created while
even just skit making with
Michael is more than just
Michael was experimenting
my family,” he told us.
a dancer; he's also an
with different ways to
innovator and a creative
showcase dancing in public.
genius who is pushing
“This was just one of those
the boundaries of what is
ideas that we wanted to push
Now, Michael has
possible on social media.
the boundary on and expand,”
collaborated with artists
he shared, “so we worked
like Jason Derulo and
to brainstorm ways to add
has performed in music
BLOWING UP
Photography: Raul Romo • Design/Writing: Holly Childs
creator that could expand
TikTok by storm with his
COLLABORATIONS
reactions. We experimented
videos for Daddy Yankee,
Michael's journey started in
with screaming outside of
Fabolous, and Nicky
2012 when he took a dance
the video and capturing the
Jam. One of his favorite
class at a studio in Florida.
reaction by making sure that
collaborations is with
From the very first class, he
if people saw us dancing,
Jason Derulo, who he’s
knew that he had found his
they would also hear us as
created content with many
passion. He started training
well. We waited for the right
times. Another favorite
three to five days a week
people to react as we went
moment for Michael was
and soon decided to pursue
down the escalator. We had the
when his choreography
dance and social media
cameraman hide, set it up, and
was featured in the
as a career. He began
the rest is history.”
Fabolous music video for
posting his dance classes, choreography, dance
“Flipmode.” “It was such a DANCER + CREATOR
challenges, and tutorials.
special moment because it was my first time coming
Soon, one of his dance
Social media, and specifically
to LA to perform,” he
challenge videos started
TikTok, has completely changed
shared with us.
to blow up. Inspired by the
INTRODUCING: CREA8 Michael hopes that his current project, a hip hop focused dance convention called CREA8, will help shape the dance world. “I want to bridge the gap between social media and dance and show that we can all enjoy dancing together,” he explained. “I hope this event allows other dancers to be able to connect with industry professionals and empowers them to continue to follow their dreams and pursue their passions.” While CREA8 will have incredible teachers–including the Kinjaz, the Future Kingz, Meet the Rods, a few choreographers from the Chaos faculty, and Michael himself–helping dancers to develop their craft is not his only goal. “I want to show [dancers] the ropes and how they can start their own dance career,” he explained. "I want to bring all the social media [hip hop] dance leaders together for the very first time [and] give everyone the opportunity to grow and learn."
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Photography: Shutterstock, Alamy • Design/Writing: Holly Childs