Showstopper Magazine: Spring 2019

ICA'S AMER

1ANCE # D EEN

T

ZINE MAGA

SPRING 2019

Tate McRae

e r u t n e v d A N THE

SYTYCD TO HIT SINGLE

get to know

EDITIO

CONTORTIONIST

SOFIE DOSSI FEATURED DANCE STUDIO:

The Lab

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF

Ke l tie Knight dance, dance

Switch Up Your Space WITH PB TEEN

QUIZ!

GOSHOWSTOPPER.COM

THE YEAR OF THE GIRL BOSS

$4.99 US/$5.99 CA

DISPLAY UNTIL JULY 1ST, 2019

table of





Contents



SPRING 2019 WWW.GOSHOWSTOPPER.COM



LIFESTYLE

40

Adventure is Out There

54

Ace Your Audition

66

View From the Top

74

Fashion for Every Adventure

86

#SHELFIE: Jordan Matter's Born to Dance

88

Celeb Looks: Have Fashion, Will Travel

90

The Benefits of Changing Your Space

92

Road Trip Tunes

96

Adventure Challenges



68

H

H

H

84

HAPPINESS BLOOMS FROM WITHIN

10 Ways to Cultivate Inner Growth

d



ARIANA: THE YEAR OF THE GIRL BOSS



FEATURES

8

20

34 

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

THE LAB How The Lab

A DANCER'S GUIDE TO: VEGAS

5 Ways to Keep

Trained, Ate, &

From Shopping, to Insta

Your Light Glowing

Bonded their Way

Pics, to Star-Studded

Brighter than Ever

to a Win on NBC's

Shows, a Fun Trip is

World of Dance

Definitely in the Cards





28





KYLA DREW

On Being the Smart Girl & Achieving Her Goals

BEHIND THE SCENES

12 TATE MCRAE Tate Spills All About The Inspiration Behind Her New Single, "Drown"

30 5 STEPS TO STARDOM Showbiz Advice From Lacey Schwimmer

48 CADEN & DYLAN CONRIQUE Fun Facts About this Dynamic Sibling Duo

56

SPOTLIGHT

18

Sarah Reasons

44

Coco Quinn

24

Caitlin Carmichael

46

Ava Cantrell

32

Sheaden Gabriel

50

Nicole Laeno

38

Nandi Hildebrand

60

Merrick Hanna

IN EVERY ISSUE



4

Editor's Letter

5

Publisher's Info

6

The Road to Showstopper

52

Quiz: What's Your Dream Vacay?

93

Embarrassing Moments

94

Horoscopes

97

Crossword



AUSTYN JOHNSON Get the Behind-the-Scenes Scoop on Her Experience on The Greatest Showman





80

62

KELTIE KNIGHT

A Day in the Life of the Fabulous Entertainment Tonight Correspondent

SOFIE DOSSI

On Contortion, Her New Role on Boss Cheer, & Her Rise to YouTube Fame





Copyright © 2018 by Showstopper, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. Requests for permission should be mailed to: Showstopper, Inc., 1340 Dividend Loop, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577.

@GOSHOWSTOPPER

B 3

H

ey, Showstopper Fam! It’s hard to believe it’s been two full years since the first edition of Showstopper Magazine was released. It feels like yesterday that we did our cover shoot with JoJo Siwa where she wore a onesie and Heelies — an iconic duo I will never forget.

It’s unbelievable how much can truly happen in two years!

Just before I started working with Showstopper, I was still in college at Syracuse University. My college was just a mere two hours from my house and it felt safe. I had never been outside of the country (okay, besides Canada), let alone outside the state by myself. I hadn’t really ventured at all outside my comfort zone, and that’s what this fifth edition of Showstopper Magazine is all about: adventure, discovering new things, and leaving some comfort behind in exchange for positive, personal growth.

I was two years into my college degree, and I decided to study abroad for a semester in Florence, Italy. I would be gone four months in a new country, and I wasn’t going with anyone else I knew. I was scared. I was excited.

But, I was ready. To this day, I am absolutely sure that it was the best decision I’ve ever made. It took me out of my comfort zone. I saw how big the world was, and it gave me an inner fire to explore, not just across the globe, but in all areas of my life. Without that one decision, I wouldn’t have been able to explore 8 countries and 32 cities in four months. I may not have had the courage to move by myself down to Myrtle Beach, SC to work for Showstopper the day after graduation. And I definitely wouldn’t have had the confidence to buy Heelies after I saw JoJo having so much fun in them (and try to learn how to skate around the office). But I did! And every decision has been an incredible learning experience.

Life is made up of decisions, big ones and small ones. All of them shape who we are. I hope that this magazine inspires you to take a step or two outside of your comfort zone.

Adventure is waiting for you!

A few of my favorite Instas from this season!

Tag us @goshowstopper to be featured.

FOUNDERS

Debbie Roberts David Roberts EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Holly Ann Seweryn DESIGN Holly Ann Seweryn

FASHION Fashion Director: Angel Roberts Associate Stylists: Georgia VanNewkirk Hazel VanNewkirk

BEAUTY Hair Stylist: Rachel Ross Makeup Artist: Laura Schaffer

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Photography: Lee Gumbs

Caitlin Carmichael, Coco Quinn, Kyla Drew, Merrick Hanna, Nicole Laeno, Sarah Reasons, Sheaden Gabriel, Sofie Dossi, Tate McRae

Ana Ochoa Lee Gumbs Aaron Williams Nina Duncan Collette Mruk Sharon Coker Holly Ann Seweryn Shannen Fife Jordan Matter Victor Beloded John Flynn

WRITERS Holly Ann Seweryn Veronica Good Hayley Mac Arielle Elonys Jen Garaffa Lacey Schwimmer

ONLINE MAGAZINE Media Team: Aaron Williams Earl Tyndall Charles Bryant Nikki Cole Writers: Veronica Good Christy Lyn Huebner Sissy Sheridan Director of Procurement & Locations: Adam Roberts

You can find Showstopper Dance Competitions at the best and biggest venues all across the country — we're in over 40 cities every year!

Compete at a regionals to qualify for finals. You might just head home with a crystal trophy!

goshowstopper.com/regionals

Love Showstopper Mag? There's more where that came from! Check out our online magazine for exclusive content!

www.goshowstopper.com/magazine

Showstopper National Finals are where the best dancers compete.

You might leave covered in glitter, but we guarantee you’ll also leave with the best memories you’ll have all year (until your next Showstopper event, that is!).

goshowstopper.com/finals

Fill your feed with confetti & follow us on social media!

@goshowstopper /goshowstopper /showstoppervideos @goshowstopper

Ready for the best weekend ever?

Learn moves from top choreographers this fall and winter at our dance conventions! It's an unforgettable Download the official Showstopper App to access exclusive digital content, behind the scenes videos, recaps, and more!

Available on Apple & Android

weekend of dance focused on fun, not competition. So you can spend the weekend bonding with your team, learning new combos, and vacationing at top venues across the country!

goshowstopper.com/conventions

@GOSHOWSTOPPER

B 7

D

id you know that on a dark night you can see a candle flickering up to 30 miles away? That is just how powerful a light can shine. That is how powerful YOU can shine, even in the darkness.

We all have a light inside us, but sometimes it can feel a little brighter and stronger than other times. Whether your light feels dim, is flickering in and out, or shining big and bold, here are 5 ways to keep your light glowing brighter than ever.

#1 Love Your Light

#2 Don’t Compare Lights

We have all been around people who are electrifying and full of light.

Their radiance has nothing to do with what they have on the outside, but who they are on the inside. To develop your inner-glow you have to have a strong and vibrant sense of who you are and why you shine.

The fastest way to dim your own light is to start comparing it to others. When you compare, you end up feeling like your light isn’t good enough (and that is just a flat out lie). Comparison always makes you feel unworthy, alone, and inadequate. Accepting your personal and unique qualities, however, will bring about confidence and a healthy dose of self-esteem!

You need to acknowledge that your light has purpose. Your light defines who you are and there is so much power in using your own story and who you are to reach and inspire others. Don’t hide your light under a blanket of fear and insecurity!

Embrace your uniqueness and put your special individual traits out there for others to see.

If you use other people’s successes and accomplishments as your benchmark to evaluate yourself, you will always be dimming your own light. We live in a world where we are constantly trying to be “the best” at something.

Instead of trying to be “the” best, try being YOUR best. YOUR best will always be THE best. #3 Look for the Light at the End of the Tunnel

We gotta keep it real. We all know that sometimes our light struggles to stay on. Going through tough times doesn’t mean we don’t have a bright light, it just means we need some extra patience, care, and intentional time to tend to our light. We just need a little reset.

Bumps in the road are a normal part of life, but you have to be careful not to let them extinguish your light. Instead of a difficult road being an obstacle in your life that

Design/Photography: Holly Ann Seweryn • Writing: Hayley Mac • Location: The Neon Museum, Las Vegas, Nevada • Dancers: Easton Magliarditi & Kiarra Waidelich

SHOWSTOPPER EXCLUSIVE !

@GOSHOWSTOPPER

E

B 9

10 B

WWW.GOSHOWSTOPPER.COM

you can’t overcome, use it as an opportunity to grow, learn, and travel new routes.

Hurdles in life are always hard to navigate because they are never what you expect. Stumbling blocks don’t always have to lead to a hard fall, though. Turn those stumbling blocks into building blocks. Use those bumps in the road to find a new path that you never would have thought to explore and see where it takes you.

If you let it, challenges will build resilience, and resilience will bring about a glow that no one can ignore. Always look for the light at the end of your tunnel. It may not be what you expected, but happiness can be found in the darkest of times if you remember to turn on the light. #4 Surround Yourself with Others Who Shine Bright

We need other people, especially people who build us up. At times when your own light becomes dim, surrounding yourself with people who shine bright can help reignite that spark within you.

It is important to realize who is a flame booster and who is a flame dimmer. Be aware of people who dim your light just because it’s shining too bright in their eyes.

It can be easy to be brought down by others who are intimidated by the way you shine.

Even if you find yourself in a situation where

you're surrounded by dimmers, continue to be the example, and find ways to encourage others in the gifts they possess. Empower the people around you to shine in ways that are specific to them, and never ever let anyone have enough power over you to dim your light. #5 Use Your Light for Good

We all have the power to use our light for good. The true success of having a bright light is when you use it to help light the path for others, and not just for yourself.

Be the light that helps others see.

There are so many ways to use your light for others, but one of the surest ways to help others have that inner-glow is to simply be kind.

Showing kindness to yourself and others is never dull and will always draw people to you. Send a bright ray of light to those around you today by beaming with kindness.

A simple compliment or selfless act is the easiest way to brighten up someone's day.

At times when your own light becomes dim, surrounding yourself with people who shine bright can help reignite that spark within you.

The next time you fix your eyes on a light, notice how unique and special it is. Notice that whether that light is big or small, its purpose is perfect in its own way, and yes, this light is YOU I’m talking about. Now go on and shine bright. Remember, there are never too many stars in the night sky!

E SINGER, DANCER, & SYTYCD FINALIST

12 B

WWW.GOSHOWSTOPPER.COM

Photography: Lee Gumbs • Writing/Design: Holly Ann Seweryn • Dancer: Tate McRae • Makeup Artist: Laura Schaffer • Hair Stylist: Rachel Ross • Wardrobe Stylist: Angel Roberts

A

merica loves to dance, but thankfully for us, so does Canada. We sat down with Canadian dancer and singer, Tate McRae, to talk about her love of dance, breaking into the music industry, and the challenges she's faced along the way.

So We Think Tate Can Dance

If you got to see Tate McRae compete on Season 13 of So You Think You Can Dance, you won’t be surprised to hear that she has been dancing for what seems like her entire life (that talent comes from straight up HARD WORK!). Her mom owned a dance studio for the first few years of Tate's life and she found herself in the studio nearly every day.

Though she was surrounded by dance from a young age, Tate didn’t start formally training until she was seven years old. Like so many dancers, she didn’t immediately know that dance was her passion. In other words, she didn’t take it seriously right away. “I stopped for snacks every ten minutes,” Tate laughed. “I liked to improv more than listen to the teacher!” She did have one immediate passion when it came to dance, though — the emotional connection. “Right from the beginning, I loved to tell stories through my dance,” she said. “I loved performing for anyone who would watch.” Those facial expressions that she’s so well known for today? They appeared at an early age. “I loved dancing to emotional music and really using my face,” Tate explained. “I was super dramatic.” Bring on the drama, if you ask us. We can’t get enough of her emotional performances!

It didn’t take long for Tate to realize that dance was one of her true passions.

“I became seriously interested in dance when I was eight,” Tate told us. “That is when I knew I wanted to be a dancer for real. I clearly remember when I was at nationals that year I told my mom that I wanted to come back the next year to 'actually compete.' I trained my butt off, and went back a year later and won. That is where it all began!”

Though we’ve had the privilege of seeing Tate perform in tons of routines, we just had to know which one she loves most. Her fav? “Swallow.” “My mom and I choreographed it together,” Tate explained. “That piece opened so many doors and was the starting point of it all.” She had to give a shout out to her other favorites, though, in particular, “She Used To Be Mine,” choreographed by Travis Wall, which she performed on SYTYCD. Although Tate has been putting a lot of work into her other passions, singing and songwriting, dance will always be incredibly important to her. “I don’t know who or where I'd be without dance,” Tate told us. “Dance has helped me through the ups and downs, and never fails to help me redefine myself. You can never understand the knowledge that dance gives you unless you are a dancer yourself.”

Getting Into Music

Dance isn't the only thing Tate has been passionate about from a young age. “I actually started singing lessons when I was seven and used to compete in music festivals,” Tate shared, “but I never really began to share my songs

ADVENTURE CHALLENGE I CHALLENGE YOU TO: TAKE A CLASS OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE! -TATE MCRAE GO TO PAGE 96 FOR THE FULL CHECKLIST OF CHALLENGES!

until the end of the year 2017.” Thank goodness for 2017; life just wouldn’t be the same without "One Day" blasting through our speakers.

One thing that’s different about Tate from so many other young singers is that she writes a lot of her own music.

Surprisingly (okay, not that surprising since it’s Tate McRae), she’s been writing songs since she was a little girl!

Were they always the amazing hits they are today? Well, Tate said, “when I was younger they made absolutely no sense at all!”

We already talked to Tate about her favorite dance routine, “Swallow,” so we had to know what her favorite song has been so far. Like every great creative feels quite often, Tate couldn’t quite choose her favorite song. “This question is personally very hard for me to answer as I am usually never satisfied with my work,” Tate explained.

“I'm always trying to push and outdo myself each time I create. It’s hard to pick a favorite, as my tastes and styles are always changing. My songs are constantly evolving in completely different directions, so it’s been quite the learning process so far. I hope that one day, though, I’ll be able to look back at everything I’ve created and be genuinely proud!” Well, until that day, Tate, the rest of the world is looking at you and feeling extremely proud.

Her New Single, “Drown”

"One Day," "Hung Up On You," and "Teenage Mind," are some of Tate’s most popular songs right now, and we can see why. They’re raw and soulful. Tate puts as much emotion into her songs as she does her dancing, which makes her music relatable to anyone who has ever faced challenges, teen or adult.

We wanted to find out the inspiration behind her new song, "Drown," which is about a teen who knew she shouldn’t dive into a relationship, but after deciding to, fell too deep into a relationship that didn’t work. While most artists put their own emotions into a song, Tate pulled inspiration from elsewhere. “This song had actually nothing to do with my own life,” Tate explained. “I’m fifteen. I’ve never fallen in love. I’ve never gone through a break up, so I clearly had no personal experiences to base a love song off of.”

So where did she get the inspiration to write such a heartfelt love song? “It was actually inspired by a friend of mine that was going through a toxic relationship,” Tate told us. “They had filled me in on every single detail, so after seeing what my friend was going through, I was really inspired to write something about it that day.” Talk about a supportive BFF! Nothing Comes Easy

Creativity is a challenging thing to maintain. Dance, choreography, singing, and songwriting is sure to come with its creative blocks. So we had to know how Tate kept the creativity flowing.

“I started to share my dancing and singing on my YouTube Channel, so that every week I could challenge myself creatively by constantly putting out new content,” Tate shared with us.

Still, we wondered whether it was hard to transition from being a dancer to breaking into the music industry. Tate assured us it wasn’t as challenging as we think. “Since the performing arts industry is small and so similar,” Tate explained, “it hasn’t been that different branching out. It really just feels like I’m getting to experience everything from a whole new perspective which is crazy cool."

With all of that going on, we wondered how she could stay so motivated. Her answer? She just really loves what she’s doing. “I have always danced, choreographed, sang, and written songs simply because I love it,” Tate told us. “It’s my passion and my way of expressing myself. I do have high expectations, though, and of course want to do everything to the best of my ability. Facing myself is sometimes the most challenging part.”

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO!

GET TO KNOW TATE MCRAE IN THIS SHOWSTOPPER 60 VIDEO! DOWNLOAD THE SHOWSTOPPER APP & HEAD TO "MAGAZINE EXTRAS"

@GOSHOWSTOPPER

B 15

highlight reel from the weekend in our Showstopper Glitter Drop series. Each week we recap our events and talk about what's trending in teen dance news!

Shop the Most Fab Dance Wear

Once competition season ends, it can seem like forever until you get to compete again. Don’t let the down time between competition seasons drag on.

Dance conventions are an easy and fun way to learn new skills, meet inspiring choreographers, and stay involved in dance all year long. Showstopper Dance Conventions offer dancers an experience they can't get anywhere else. Here's why you can't miss our convention season!

Writing: Nikki Cole • Design: Holly Ann Seweryn • Dancer: Fik-Shun

Dance & Vacation with Friends

Showstopper Dance Conventions are the perfect opportunity for you to have fun with your dance friends.

You will feel motivated and inspired to take on the next competition season as an even stronger team.

The fun doesn’t stop when you’re not dancing, though. Our conventions are always at family-friendly, fun locations! Whether it’s a water park, a beach, or Universal Studios, it’s always a great time.

Learn From the Industry's Best

Showstopper instructors can be seen on the sets of SYTYCD, America’s Got Talent, Dancing with the Stars, and NBC's World of Dance. You can see their amazing performances on award shows, in today’s top music

videos, movies, Broadway shows, and more! By working in different dance professions, each instructor offers a unique perspective. You'll learn valuable skills to use on and off the dance floor. The instructors will work closely with you to answer questions, help you improve on technique, and give you ways to perform your best.

Selfies & Autographs, Anyone?!

Every dancer gets a free Showstopper Convention poster of the instructors.

After each class, dancers are given time to take pictures with their favorite instructors and new friends. They can also get their posters autographed!

Free Bonus Classes

We know you are all well-rounded and that your talents probably aren’t limited to dance. Showstopper offers bonus classes at no extra charge! They are the perfect way for you to develop your skills in other genres. From pom pon and belly dancing to voice and audition classes, Showstopper has something for everyone.

Ready for Your Close Up?

Enjoy life on the big screen! Everyone has the opportunity to be in the

Don’t forget to leave room in your suitcase! We have the latest in fashion, dance wear, and accessories for prices as fabulous as the clothes are! Most merchandise falls between $5 and $20. It’s the perfect time to stock up on dance merchandise for the next season!

Dance on Extra Large, Professional Dance Floors

We have professional dance floors at our Showstopper Dance Conventions to ensure everyone can dance safely.

Don’t worry about feeling squished; with plenty of flooring in each room, there is space for everyone to bust a move. There are also large monitors on the side of each stage that display the instructors, so you won’t miss a beat!

Front Row Seats for the Showcase

Get an up-close view of the top dancers in the industry showcasing their talents! The Faculty Showcase is the highlight of the weekend because faculty perform just for you. Once convention classes are over, take a seat on the dance floor and watch your favorite Showstopper instructors work it!

E

GET READY FOR YOUR BEST WEEKEND EVER! REGISTER NOW AT GOSHOWSTOPPER.COM

DE

D

E DANCER, ACTRESS, & POM TEAM CAPTAIN

Photography: Lee Gumbs • Writing: Veronica Good • Design: Holly Ann Seweryn • Dancer: Sarah Reasons • Wardrobe Stylist: Angel Roberts • Makeup Artist: Laura Schaffer • Hair Stylist: Rachel Ross

F

ormer Dance Moms star Sarah Reasons is a face many of us can recognize for the talent she showcased on Lifetime, but since then, she has branched out as a dancer and an actress. Well beyond reality TV, she is one of today’s up-and-coming teen icons. Sarah talked to us about how she found her passion for dance and her new role in the Brat YouTube web series, Boss Cheer.

Dance: How it All Started

Sarah found her passion for dance at a very young age. When we asked Sarah about the early days of her dance career, she told us about traveling the country to learn from top choreographers and teachers at dance conventions. “My mom felt it was important to broaden my dance education,” she said about these experiences. One of the most memorable learning moments from her early education was at a dance convention where, under the direction of renowned choreographer Mia Michaels, young Sarah learned about the rigors of the dance industry and learned from incredible dance icons.

“I learned so much!” Sarah said. “I have gained such an incredible amount of respect for those who have made what I do and love possible. I don’t think I would have the passion I have or be the dancer I am today without their advice.”

Life on the Pom Team

Now, her success as a dancer has brought Sarah to cheer. She's captain of her pom team at her high school and loving every minute of it. It does differ from dance, though, Sarah told us. “With dance you can add your own style, but with pom, you are a team

and the movements all need to be sharp and synchronized.”

Brat TV's Boss Cheer

Sarah recently took her cheer skills to Brat TV’s Boss Cheer.

It's a teen drama featuring some of our favorites like Sofie Dossi, Nicole Laeno, Tessa Brooks, and, of course, Sarah Reasons. The show follows the drama behind a group of teens trying to revive the reputation of the cheer squad after a competition scandal. Sarah’s character Charlotte is the head cheerleader of this struggling competitive cheer team.

“Charlotte is the person everyone loves to hate!” Sarah said about her character. “She expects perfection at all costs and bullies people a little bit to get her way.” If you’ve met Sarah or seen her out of character, then you know she's nothing like this, but that doesn’t stop her from connecting with Charlotte to bring her to life on screen.

“I can connect with Charlotte because we have some things in common,” she told us. “I'm a perfectionist and very dedicated to my team.” Of course, Sarah also sees the ways in which she is different from her Boss Cheer alter ego. “I'm way nicer than her!”

With so many teen dramas out there, finding one that stands apart can be difficult, but Sarah and her costars on Boss Cheer are working to provide entertainment that their fans can connect to on a deeper level. “Teens can really relate to the characters,” Sarah said when asked about Boss Cheer’s unique spot in the large family of today’s teen dramas.

Striving to Inspire

Outside of Boss Cheer, Sarah strives to inspire young dancers. “I want them to know that dance isn’t just about a trophy, scholarship, or any award,” she explained. “If dance is truly your passion, it should consume all of your heart and soul.” Dance has led Sarah on many incredible journeys, and, without it, she might be a completely different person! Sarah also shared with us that she has some exciting projects coming up in the future, so we’ll definitely be catching up with her later. Until then, she’s focusing on her incredible role in Boss Cheer (and so are we!).

EXCLUSIVE D VIDEO! E E E GET TO KNOW SARAH REASONS IN THIS SHOWSTOPPER 60 VIDEO! DOWNLOAD THE SHOWSTOPPER APP & HEAD TO "MAGAZINE EXTRAS"

D

@GOSHOWSTOPPER

B 19

E SHOWSTOPPER EXCLUSIVE !

HOW THE LAB TRAINED, ATE, & BONDED THEIR WAY TO A WIN ON NBC'S WORLD OF DANCE

20 B

WWW.GOSHOWSTOPPER.COM

F

rom the first moment The Lab made an appearance on our TV screens, they earned a place in our hearts. Their talent wasn't the only thing that drew us to this dynamic group, though. It was their spirit, their energy, and their undeniable bond.

Photos World of Dance Photos: Provided By NBC, Group Shot on Stairs: Little Shao • Writing/Design: Holly Ann Seweryn

We met up with The Lab at their studio in West Covina, CA and got all the details behind their big World of Dance win. From their strict athletes' diet, to their rigorous training, to the bond they grew each day, read all about the ingredients it takes to concoct a team as awe-inspiring as The Lab.

You only have to look as far as their Instagram handle (@inthelab247) to see how hard this studio trains. It's not every day that they train this hard, but when a group performs or competes for something big (like a National TV Show!), they definitely put the work in. “They trained anywhere from 8-15 hours per day,” owner of The Lab, renowned choreographer, and creative director, Valerie Ramirez, told us. Dance groups at The Lab practice at different levels (and even this group practices less when they aren't preparing for a performance). When you watch them perform, though, their rigorous training schedule for World of Dance makes a lot of sense. This type of dedication is one of the ingredients that set this team apart. That, and details. “Overlooking details isn't an option — it's in our studio's core values,” Ramirez explained. “Paying attention to the small things is how everything else comes together. It's hard work but you leave better than you entered.”

Distractions were eliminated as much as possible, too. Dancers had to turn in their phones at the beginning of class every day. They weren't allowed to check their phones on breaks, either. “It threw them off,” Ramirez told us.

“They'd be focused on what they just saw or read rather than putting in the effort they needed to support their team and do their best. Now they know how to focus and get the results they want. You get what you put in.”

They weren't just training to perform, though, and that is something that must be pointed out. They were competing against some of the world's top dancers. “It was a lot of competition,” dancer Hiro Nomura said. Tough competition, indeed, but The Lab was certainly up for the challenge. “It really hit me, all of the amazing dancers there,” dancer Isaac Mejia told us. “It was so crazy that we were there too!” Since it was World of Dance, there were competitors from all over the world. “It was really cool,” dancer Jaime Mora said. “There were people all the way from Japan and Canada!”

@GOSHOWSTOPPER

B 21

“The athletes' diet was really a struggle, as kids can be picky,” Ramirez told us. With the rigorous training that went into preparing for each World of Dance performance, a strict diet was required to maintain the energy that they needed to train and perform. “They're here for 8-10 hours some days. They can't survive on a salad,” Ramirez explained. So, the dancers began a high-protein and low-sugar diet while they trained and performed. It wasn't easy, but it's one of the ingredients that set The Lab apart from the other contestants and likely contributed to the strength they needed to win.

The dancers' parents helped in the process by meal prepping for them, especially for when they were in the studio. Their diet had to be extremely high in protein for them to get the energy they needed, so peanut butter and protein shakes were a go-to during training time. Junk food and treats were banned, and sugar wasn't allowed.

Instead, they got their sugar from fruits. “They were miserable,” Ramirez laughed.

“They more than likely cheated on their diets quite a few times. Then they'd show up the next day and realize that their performance was affected. This not only affected them, it affected their team — a team they love and respect. So, instead of loving the short-term pleasures of cheating on their strict diet, they began to see food as fuel, rather than something tasty. For three months, the dancers who were competing on the show stayed on a strict diet and trained every day.”

22 B

WWW.GOSHOWSTOPPER.COM

Although this was their second year competing on the show, they remained humbled and shocked by the experience.

“When I first walked into The Lab, I never thought I’d get here,” dancer Giselle Silva said. “I never thought that I’d make it this far and be on TV.” Her teammate, Ciara Allado, expressed a similar feeling, “I never thought I would be on stage or on TV, especially with people that I love and trust this much!”

Dancer Destinee Mayares talked about a feeling dancers know too well — the moment before the music begins. “I heard the crowd and I heard our name,” Mayares said. “We started running up and adrenaline was just going through my body along with nerves (but it was good nerves!).” One of the youngest dancers on the team, Ayden Nguyen, kept his comments about his experience short and sweet — “It was so fun. I love dancing on that stage!” Tre De Rego, on the other hand, couldn't quite explain just how incredible the experience was. “I don’t even know the right words to express. It was such an amazing opportunity; I'll never forget the journey that we’ve been on.”

On top of the lifestyle changes and rigorous training hours that the dancers of The Lab put in, they also found time to create an immense bond. “I come to The Lab to be myself,” dancer Ava Chavarria explained. “Everybody supports each other’s feelings and what we do.” So how do they do it? “Bonding happens in the studio,” Valerie Ramirez explained. “It's a big part of what makes rehearsals manageable. We like each other so much that it almost feels like we’d do it anyways.

It's a lifestyle.”

The Lab has created a studio that focuses on the details and techniques of dance as well as a culture that supports the struggles teen dancers face in their everyday life. “You don't just come to The Lab to learn dance,” dancer Victoria Hernandez (also known as 'Sweets') told us, “you also come to learn life lessons.” The bond of the studio, the hard work they put in, and a loving, supportive environment allows dancers to come into the studio every day and know they have a family. “The Lab is a family and a home,” dancer Leilani Zepeda explained. “It doesn’t matter if you’ve been dancing at The Lab for five years or five days.” We love to hear about studios that are so supportive to newcomers, long-time dancers, and everyone in between.

“The reason that these dancers are so successful is that they have purpose in their training,” Ramirez said. “They love each other and want to do their best for their team. The training and performance preparation may seem tough, but at the end of the day, they always have the choice of whether to continue or not, and they always choose to do it. They've set goals and they recognize that in order to achieve those goals, they have to put the work in.”

Download the Official Showstopper App to watch an exclusive video from our visit to The Lab! Available on Apple & Android @GOSHOWSTOPPER

B 23

24 B

WWW.GOSHOWSTOPPER.COM

Photography: Lee Gumbs • Writing/Design: Holly Ann Seweryn • Dancer: Caitlin Carmichael • Wardrobe Stylist: Angel Roberts • Makeup Artist: Laura Schaffer • Hair Stylist: Rachel Ross

DANCER, ACTRESS, & PHILANTHROPIST

We linked up with beauty and brains, Caitlin Carmichael, to talk about confidence, adventure, and giving back.

She also gave us the inside scoop on her character, Gretta, in the upcoming series, Dwight in Shining Armor.

On Dance

Dance gave Caitlin confidence at an early age. At just two years old, Caitlin started dance class with ballet and tap.

“I really gravitated towards tap,” Caitlin told us. “It made so much noise — which I loved! It really gave me confidence.”

Even then, it was easy to tell that Caitlin would be the talented force she is today. Not long after discovering her love of tap (and making noise), Caitlin’s mom started her in hip hop classes at the renowned Millennium Dance Complex. “That was really just my mom’s form of entertainment,” Caitlin laughed. “Sending 3-year-old me to break dancing class to try to learn all those moves.” Despite her early attempts at break dancing, it wasn’t until she was eight years old that she really discovered which genres were her favorite. “I really fell in love with contemporary,” Caitlin said. “I also loved to experience new genres like jazz, funk, ballet, and lyrical.”

Caitlin loved the variety of classes she got to take, but has a little regret when it comes to competing. “I honestly would have liked to compete,” Caitlin said, “but I never had enough time permitting with my schedule to commit to something as major as that. If I could not give it my full 100% then I felt it would be unfair to the rest of the team to be invested at all.” While she didn’t

compete with her dance, her wide range of talent still makes her a show stopper.

On Acting

Like with dance, Caitlin also began acting at an early age. She started acting at just three and a half years old! “I feel very fortunate to have found my 'calling' so early in life,” Caitlin explained. “I was able to take the ten years that I’ve been in the industry and really develop my craft as an actress.” Her secret to staying motivated to keep acting and developing her craft? Having fun.

“There hasn’t been a single moment where I wasn’t enjoying what I was doing,” Caitlin said. “It’s a great string of memories to look back upon.”

Performance, in any facet — whether it’s dancing, singing, or any other art — takes guts! Luckily for Caitlin, she saw each moment, the ones that would typically be nerve-racking, as fun opportunities. “I've never found myself getting nervous upon meeting new people,” Caitlin explained. “I saw those moments as opportunities to make new friends, whether it was with casting directors or castmates on set.”

While she has natural confidence when it comes to acting, she definitely still faces challenges when portraying a new character. “As I’ve gotten the opportunity to portray more complex roles, or when I’m depicting an experience I haven’t personally dealt with, that can be a challenge,” Caitlin told us. “It takes a lot of background research to uncover and really understand their

Her favorite drugstore beauty product:

Burt's Bees Pomegranate Lip Balm

Her favorite makeup splurge:

Glossier Face Mask Duo

The product she just can't live without:

Mascara! My eyelashes are blonde, so you can't even see them without mascara! LOL

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO!

GET TO KNOW CAITLIN CARMICHAEL IN THIS SHOWSTOPPER 60 VIDEO! DOWNLOAD THE SHOWSTOPPER APP & HEAD TO "MAGAZINE EXTRAS"

@GOSHOWSTOPPER

B 25

E

on ADVENTURE

...

On Gretta's Girl Power

perspective. It helps me translate the character and bring it to life.” This type of reflection on a character has taught her to evaluate herself in the same way. “In the process of developing a character, acting has really taught me the importance of mindset and how your perception influences the choices you make,” Caitlin explained.

“It’s taught me to really change my perspective and stop comparing myself to other people. It’s all in the mindset.”

Dwight in Shining Armor is a twist on the classic Sleeping Beauty story, but Gretta’s character doesn’t rely on her “prince” to save her. Instead, she takes the world into her own hands, and teaches Dwight a thing or two along the way. “Gretta's the first character that has given me the true capacity to be a strong female role model,” Caitlin explained. “To play a character that is so fierce has been very empowering for me.” Excited to play more empowering roles, Caitlin hopes to one day play a character from the DC Universe. “We need more girl power and female superheroes!”

On Philanthropy

On Travels & Adventure On Princess Gretta

Caitlin’s filming has taken her to some pretty amazing locations.

Her favorite? "It’s a tie!" she said. "I filmed an American Girl movie in Budapest, Hungary, and I filmed a video game commercial in Seoul, South Korea. They were extremely different but both phenomenal opportunities!”

When she went to Seoul, she really tried to immerse herself in the culture. “I tried learning as much of the Korean language as I could,” Caitlin told us. “Plus the entire city was so high fashion that I was in awe every single place I went!” Speaking of fashion, during her trip to Budapest, her mom and her got to spend a weekend in fashion’s favorite city: Paris. #Jealous.

26 B

Caitlin’s newest role has her playing Princess Gretta in the BYUtv series, Dwight in Shining Armor. Princess Gretta, a medieval warrior princess, is woken up by 21st-century teen, Dwight, after being put to sleep for a thousand years.

Her dance training has given her an edge and she uses the grace and balance she learned in dance to quickly pick up Gretta's choreography. It has also helped her master her stunts. “For the show, we hang over dragon pits often,” Caitlin told us. “Our fly harnesses were custom made by the Cirque du Soleil team!”

WWW.GOSHOWSTOPPER.COM

Dancing and acting aren’t Caitlin’s only passions. She also loves to help people. Her current philanthropic work includes partnering with the Starbucks Foundation to help feed the homeless worldwide. She’s also the West Coast Teen Ambassador for the American Cancer Society. On top of all of that she sponsors a little girl in Nibia, Africa through Community Hope School. They are pen pals and Caitlin pays for her school clothing, books, and meals at lunch. “We try to support her in all that she does,” Caitlin said.

In the coming year, Caitlin hopes to continue developing her acting skills and do more philanthropic work. She also hopes to try boxing (with her new baby pink Adidas gloves) and explore Greece! Wherever Caitlin’s journey takes her, we can’t wait to see where she goes next!

E DANCER, ACTRESS, & ASPIRING ASTRONAUT

Photography: Lee Gumbs • Writing/Design: Holly Ann Seweryn Dancer: Kyla Drew • Wardrobe Stylist: Angel Roberts Makeup Artist: Laura Schaffer • Hair Stylist: Rachel Ross

K

yla Drew has known she was going to be in the entertainment industry since she was four years old. Becoming a successful dancer and actress isn’t easy, but Kyla sat down with us to give us a behind the scenes look on what it takes to get there.

Knowing at an Early Age

By the age of four, Kyla knew exactly what she wanted to do. “I absolutely loved entertaining people,” Kyla told us. “I went to my mom when I was four years old and said, ‘When are you going to stop focusing on your career and start focusing on mine?’”

Since then, she’s lost a lot of the sass, but none of the motivation. Soon after asking her mother to get her career started, Kyla booked her first job on a Nick Jr. Busy Body commercial.

“It was my first ‘oh my gosh’ moment,” Kyla gushed. By age eight she was on the show Prisoners and trying to juggle dance at the same time. “I remember when we were filming, it was also competition time,” Kyla told us. “My dance teacher sent the choreography footage for the dance routines so that I could practice them while filming. It was so difficult… but we won!”

Getting Into Character

Getting into character is a tough task for any actress, but especially for someone as young as Kyla. Her secret? Music. It really helps her to feel the emotions she’s meant to in the audition. “Let’s say I have to have a mental breakdown inside the audition room,” Kyla told us, "I will listen to alternative music like Lana Del Ray or Billie Eilish. If I have to be upbeat… I am definitely playing Cardi B!” It’s not just music that helps her portray her role, it’s also hard work.

Kyla explained it like this, “You have to do the work if you want to accomplish your goals.” When asked about her favorite role, Kyla couldn’t choose. “I think after I play a role, I love it, but as the next one comes along, that becomes my favorite,” Kyla explained. “At the end of the day I love them all because they’re all so unique and complex! I act because I like bringing characters to life. I find beauty in the writing and how they make the characters. You get to portray that and see something come to life.”

Smart Girls Rock & Rule

If trying to juggle dance and acting wasn’t hard enough, 14-year-old Kyla has worked so hard in high school that she’s already a senior! “I always want to exceed all expectations,” Kyla said. “I made up my mind that I wanted to be done with college by the time I am eighteen."

Her future goals? To attend Stanford University and double major in computer science and aero physics.

“For a really long time I wanted to be a computer hacker,” Kyla told us, “…until I realized it was illegal. So, now, I want to be the president of NASA. Being an astronaut doesn’t seem all that bad either. You get to go to space or to Mars.

I could make a movie in space!” With

dreams as big as Kyla's, outer space doesn’t seem that far out of reach.

Apparently graduating next year (three years early) while juggling acting and dance wasn’t a big enough challenge for Kyla. She is also bilingual in English and Spanish, and studying to learn American Sign Language (ASL). Her reasoning? “I feel like the world is such a big place and I want to travel around the world one day,” Kyla said. “I want to be able to communicate with people in their own language. Plus, I love learning; you should feed your mind like you do your body.”

We're feeling incredibly inspired after our interview with Kyla, and we’ve never felt more confident in the saying, “shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” Besides, you might see Kyla the astronaut there!

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO!

FIND OUT WHAT'S IN KYLA DREW'S DANCE BAG! DOWNLOAD THE SHOWSTOPPER APP & HEAD TO "MAGAZINE EXTRAS"

@GOSHOWSTOPPER

B 29

@GOSHOWSTOPPER

B 31

Photography: Shannen Fife • Writing: Lacey Schwimmer • Design: Holly Ann Seweryn

32 B

WWW.GOSHOWSTOPPER.COM

W

e sat down with Sheaden Gabriel to talk dance, going on tour, and his character Rufio, from Bangarang.

Can you tell us about how you first

Photography: Lee Gumbs • Writing/Design: Holly Ann Seweryn • Dancer: Sheaden Gabriel • Wardrobe Stylist: Angel Roberts • Hair Stylist: Rachel Ross

became interested in dance?

I actually started dancing because of basketball. I used to be in love with basketball and wanted to play. I started dancing so that I could learn to move my feet faster and have better stamina.

I watched a lot of dance videos and became really inspired by D-Trix. He is still one of my biggest inspirations. His movements are so intense! I began to love dance more than basketball, but I had to choose one, and I decided on dance.

Why do you dance?

I feel like dance is an outlet to let go of any problems. You can dance with your friends or by yourself in your room.

It provides you with a free space to express yourself in any way you want.

Dance has brought me out of my shell; I was really shy before starting dance.

Plus, I love hip hop! Hip hop, to me, is so much more than just dance.

HIP HOP DANCER & BANGARANG ACTOR

HIP HOP, TO ME, IS SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST DANCE. As a dancer, how does performing in front of a live audience differ from dancing in front of a camera for a music video production?

In a video production, the camera is directly on you which enables you to show a little bit more of yourself.

On stage, people are further away so the viewers don’t get to see you up close. You have to perform with your whole body: your arms, legs, and feet. Everything has to be way more exaggerated on stage than on camera.

E

character that I played was young Rufio. The experience was so life changing because Hook was such an inspiration to so many people.

How did you put your own spin on the character Rufio without losing the integrity of what was already established with Hook?

Watching the original movie Hook multiple times helped me to integrate the old movie with my new character.

I also got critiques from Dante Bosco. That helped me a lot with my character because he actually was the first to play the character. It was good that he was there to mentor me!

How are you similar to your character?

His attitude towards achieving things is similar to mine. He is always striving for things and trying to do everything to the best of his abilities and so am I. This is our adventure edition; is there anything you’ve been

You’ve danced for so many artists.

wanting to try but have been

Who has been your favorite artist

scared to do?

Do you prefer to dance solo or in

to dance for?

a group?

It definitely depends on what I am trying to accomplish. When I am just relaxing, I like to dance by myself to evaluate where I am at and see how I can improve. But to really improve myself it has to be with a team to make sure my lines are equal. It helps to see how we do things together.

Chris Brown! His energy is amazing and I admire his work ethic. He loves to get work done and it was great to see how he does his music videos. I was so grateful to have that experience. I learned a lot about teamwork. His team is really good and they moved fast. He knows how to get work done because he's been in the game for so long.

I have always wanted to sing so taking some lessons would be really awesome. I can’t sing AT ALL but since I already dance and act, learning to sing would be icing on the triple-threat cake for me.

What’s one experience you think

Can you tell us about your acting

every dancer should have?

experience in the film Bangarang?

The experience to perform in a music video! A lot of artists today are looking for young dancers to spotlight.

The experience of dancing in front of a professional camera is incredible.

Bangarang is a prequel to the movie Hook. Dante Bosco helped to make the short film Bangarang and he actually was the actor who played Rufio in Hook. The

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO! E

D

E E FIND OUT WHAT'S IN SHEADEN GABRIEL'S DANCE BAG! DOWNLOAD THE SHOWSTOPPER APP & HEAD TO "MAGAZINE EXTRAS"

D

@GOSHOWSTOPPER

B 33

34 B

WWW.GOSHOWSTOPPER.COM

V

SHOWSTOPPER EXCLUSIVE !

egas: The City of Lights (and shopping, concerts, food, and FUN!). Las Vegas might seem like it’s just a getaway for adults, but there is SO much to do for teens and their families.

So hop in our pink Cadillac and let's start our adventure!

Shop 'Til You Drop Day 1: SHOPPING! From outlet stores to premium shops inside the hotels, there’s a store for every style and budget. Our favorite is the Fashion Show Mall, located right on the strip. With over 250 shops, 8 department stores, and 25 eateries, you could seriously spend a whole weekend here.

You shouldn’t, though; there’s so much more to see! Caesar’s Palace has their Forum Shops with upscale designer apparel. The Palazzo and the Venetian have their “Shoppes,” too. Looking for a little something off-the-beaten-path?

Head to the Downtown Container Park on Fremont Street; it's an open air shopping experience with a wide variety of dining, too!

Photography/Writing/Design: Holly Ann Seweryn • Locations: Seven Magic Mountains, Las Vegas Sign • Dancer: DeVynn Simone

Ice Cream & You Scream In the mood for something sweet after a morning of shopping? Run, don’t walk to Lappert’s Ice Cream. Located inside the California Hotel, Lappert’s imports flavors from all over the world. From Manila Mango to Mexican Chocolate Cinnamon Swirl, one scoop will have you feeling like you’re on a tropical vacation!

Finish up that ice cream and it’s time for you to scream on the world’s tallest Ferris wheel, the High Roller.

Okay, it’s still a Ferris wheel, so it won’t necessarily have you screaming, but the views from the top are seriously Instagram-worthy so it’s worth the trip!

Rocks & Roll When your dessert fun is done, the desert fun begins. Next stop: The Seven Magic Mountains. Located halfway between the "natural" (the mountains) and the "artificial" (Las Vegas’ Strip), the Seven Magic Mountains are an art exhibition featuring seven 30-35 foot brightly colored, locally-sourced boulder totems. Translation? Your best Insta-photo yet.

As the sun goes down and the desert gets cold, warm up with some dinner from one of the incredible restaurants on the Strip. Whatever food you’re craving, you can find it in Vegas. From Thai, to Italian, to a donut bar, treat yourself and fuel up for your next excursion — a live concert! Your biggest decision will be who to see!

From Lady Gaga to Britney Spears, you’ll need your best "Poker Face" to tell us you don’t want to see them "One More Time."

E

Your Travel Checklist ALL OF THE LIGHTS

GO SEE THE LAS VEGAS SIGN

Start Day 2 in Vegas at the Neon Museum, where Vegas’ most iconic marquee and neon signs are preserved. Looking to up your Insta-game? The Neon Museum has multiple “photo walks” per month where you can take photos with the exhibits. Get inspiration with the photo shoot we had at the Neon Museum on page 8!

GO TO A CIRQUE DU SOLEIL SHOW

If your friends need a sign you’re in Vegas, this is it. Keep your shine going and head to the city’s most famous lighted sign of all — The Las Vegas sign. Don’t be surprised if you see a line when you get there (as well as Elvis). Showstopping Tip: You can choose to either wait to get a straight on picture, or take one from the side.

SEE THE SEVEN MAGIC MOUNTAINS

DANCE YOUR HEART OUT Grab your besties, your siblings, or just a pair of dance shoes, and head to a local dance studio to take a class. It’s always an amazing experience to take a walk-in dance class in a city you’ve never been to. You'll get to experience the different techniques and styles that you might not get to see at your own studio, and you'll get to meet new dance friends, too! Win, win, if you ask us!

TAKE A DANCE CLASS AT A VEGAS STUDIO

GO TO THE NEON MUSEUM

THE SHOW MUST GO ON Take off your dancing shoes and kick back to watch some of the best acrobatics in the world. There are many Cirque du Soleil shows to see, and, depending on what you like, you can pick your favorite. We do have a little bit of a bias for the Beatles’ Cirque show, though. We just absolutely LOVE it. Not feeling like a Cirque show?

No worries. Vegas has every possible entertainment show you can think of — from magic shows to comedy shows, there’s something for every family.

RIDE THE HIGH ROLLER

SEE A CONCERT

VEGAS-INSPIRED ADVENTURE CHALLENGE: Can't make it to Vegas? Bring the fun to you! From concerts, to performances, to dance-centric shows, Vegas is never short on entertainment. Plan a sleepover with your friends where you watch 3-4 movies in a row from different genres — from live concerts to The Greatest Showman, you'll feel like you're in Vegas in no time!

36 B

WWW.GOSHOWSTOPPER.COM

SHOP AT FASHION SHOW MALL

@GOSHOWSTOPPER

B 37

E DANCER & ACTRESS FROM SOUTH AFRICA

38 B

WWW.GOSHOWSTOPPER.COM

Photography: Sharon Coker • Design/Writing: Holly Ann Seweryn • Dancer: Nandi Hildebrand • Wardrobe Stylist: Amy Davis • Makeup Artist: Natalie Dixon • Hair Stylist: Nea Mueller

I

orn in Maryland, Nandi Hildebrand moved to South Africa with her grandparents when she was just two months old. Since then, she’s spent most of her life traveling, doing ballet, and making the world a better place.

Nandi the Ballerina

Nandi’s love for the creative was born in South Africa. “I actually fell in love with music, dance, and theater during my time growing up in South Africa,” Nandi told us. “When I was about six years old, my grandmother took me to see The Nutcracker. We sat in the last row but I remember everything about the experience. From that moment on I knew I had to be part of 'this adventure' someway, somehow."

At eleven years old, Nandi began seriously training in ballet at Dmitri Kulev Classical Ballet Academy. A late bloomer in the ballet world, Nandi had to catch up to the other dancers who started much younger. “My teachers Jennifer and Dmitri nurtured me,” Nandi explained. “They built my confidence and pushed me hard. I was dancing all the time and taking 15-20 classes per week!” When performing, Nandi says she gets a little nervous because she expects so much from herself. “To me,” Nandi said, “strength comes when we can embrace fearful situations, and not let them control us.

It is accepting what is and forging ahead as best as we can with what we’ve got.”

Nandi the Philanthropist

Inspired by her father, who worked at the United Nations, Nandi has become quite the humanitarian. From her many travels, as well as living in Africa and Asia, Nandi realized she could make a difference — no matter how big or small.

After moving back to the U.S. from South Africa, Nandi faced a challenge with her peers. “My accent, puffy hair, and lack of knowledge about popular culture resulted in me being identified as ‘different’ by my peers,” Nandi told us. “The good thing was that these experiences motivated me to unite with as many kids as I could so that together we could protect others. I’ve learned to be resilient by turning my experiences into creative fuel.” Inspired to start a movement where kids can empower each other and develop leadership skills, Nandi created “Nandi Youth Club” and “Nandi’s Anti-Bullying Pledge Club,” all dedicated to stop bullying and to unite people.

Nandi the Adventurer

Taking time away from her rigorous ballet schedule and inspiring philanthropy work, Nandi also loves to travel! Her three favorite passport stamps? “Tanzania, when my mom and I climbed all 19,341 feet of Mt Kilimanjaro, my Cambodian Visa with the Angkor Wat, and Nepal (it has Mt. Everest on the stamp!).” Traveling and moving isn’t always easy, though, and when you move around as much as Nandi, it can get tiring. “Once you begin to adapt to these differences and new places,” Nandi told us, “you begin to feel like a completely different person. After the initial excitement, it is possible to experience fatigue and confuse it with a feeling of nostalgia for past places.” She leaves us with some advice for other young dancers who might be in a new environment: “Allow yourself to be changed. Observe and learn from the people you’re surrounded by, and be willing to think outside the box.”

Photography: Victor Beloded • Writing: Arielle Elonys • Design: Holly Ann Seweryn • Location: TIGERS Myrtle Beach Safari • Dancers: Dabria Aguilar & Anna McNulty • Elephant: Bubbles • Wardrobe Stylist: Angel Roberts

G

etting out of your comfort zone can be a scary thing, but it is where we find knowledge, growth, and strength.

There are so many ways to get out of your comfort zone and venture into new territory, but these 10 ways will help you turn your desire to learn and grow in your dance career into actionable items you can start today.

training you receive from your dance class. Dance is a reflection of life. The more genuine and honest you can be, and the more you intertwine dance with real-life, the better. This can be scary at first, but life begins at the end of your comfort zone. This is where you grow. Dance isn’t just about being the best, sometimes it’s about being the most honest, real version of you.

1. We All Start Somewhere

3. Train in All Settings 5. Push Yourself!

(So Stop Judging Yourself!)

You get to see the incredible world of dance around you every day on social media. It’s so easy to see the fabulous end result of years of training from your dance heroes, but what did they look like when they were first starting out? Most likely… pretty awkward. No matter how talented and accomplished they are now, there was a time when they knew nothing about dance. So to get there, they had to step out of their comfort zone. They had to learn, grow, fail, and succeed. Wherever you are in your dance journey, be sure to continue learning every single day.

2. Seek Out Inspiration from Unexpected Sources

You'd be surprised. Sometimes your biggest inspiration can come in an unlikely way. Take a moment to look around you for inspiration. Watch a non-dance movie and think about the main characters. Look at their body language (it's so powerful in dance!), the way they interact with their costars, etc.

Use the inspiration you see in your everyday life and combine it with the

to apply because you’ve been doing it the same way your whole life). The most amazing dancers, though, have learned this skill: listen to a correction and apply it immediately. Whatever it is, focus on that until you master it. It will challenge you and change you. But this change is good! The smart dancer listens, applies, and remembers.

Muscles need to be trained — and they need to be trained in all ways that they’ll be used. Marathon runners, Olympic athletes, and sports stars all have to train at the highest possible level when the pressure is off in order to perform as they do while the pressure is on.

This is important in dance as well!

When the pressure is on, your body reacts differently than it does when you are in class. How hard or smart you train in class has a direct correlation to how you perform in competition. So even when the pressure is off, push yourself to train in different settings. Wake up extra early and practice your combo (it throws off how you might normally practice it). Practice in a different setting, like in front of your family or friends. It will challenge you and give you the opportunity to train in a new way.

If you push yourself every day in class you can actually increase what you are capable of. Try working on your stamina by increasing how many times you run your class combo back to back. Work to use your muscles and your core for stability when you are focusing on control. Show up to class early to stretch before, then also stretch after class. The harder and smarter you work, the better you will be. It might take you out of your comfort zone at first, but pushing yourself in all areas will help you grow.

4. Listen, Apply, & Remember

You have probably gotten used to the way you are doing things, and corrections can feel like just another thing to listen to (but not necessarily something you need @GOSHOWSTOPPER

B 41

6. Stay Positive

It can be hard to always be positive, especially with so many talented people around you who are also pushing themselves to be their best. Keep in mind, though, that while you’re expanding your skills, your goal isn’t to compare yourself to your classmates in a negative way. You have to remember that you were all made to be unique and different. Encourage your peers to grow and push each other in a positive, loving way. Make sure you are focused on being positive, gossip-free, and focused on the betterment of yourself and your team! It will feel challenging at first, but it’s one of the most important lessons you can learn.

7. Dream at Different Levels

As young dancers, it can seem overwhelming to achieve our dance dreams in a digital age. So often we look at the end result and quickly become flustered. We watch video after video of our favorite dancers, teachers, or artists performing and we start to feel inadequate. This is totally understandable, and is the reason why so many people give up on their dreams.

Instead of looking at the seemingly unachievable end goal, though, break up your dreams into levels. Decide what the first level will be and make moves (literally) to get there. Then go to the next level, and the next. Each step should take you out of your comfort zone because you’re learning and growing. Embrace the uncomfortable feeling you’re bound to have when achieving each step of your goal. This is your growth! Before you know it, you’ll achieve that dream that once seemed so far out of reach.

8. Patience & Perspective

Think back to when you struggled to master a move. You may have wanted to quit or

42 B

WWW.GOSHOWSTOPPER.COM

give up countless times. Did you quit? Or did you change your perspective and try again? The mind is such a powerful thing.

When it comes to growth and progress, sometimes it is simply a matter of changing your perspective or process. Have patience with yourself and recognize your areas of strength. Don’t forget to challenge yourself in the areas you’re not the best in. Our best tip? When you struggle, try stepping out of what you know and working on it from a different perspective.

9. Take Risks

Getting out of your comfort zone means taking risks. Next time you’re at a convention or competition and there’s an opportunity for you to take a risk in dance (like volunteering to demonstrate the combination or joining in on a freestyle competition), take it! You might be surprised how amazing you are.

On the other hand, you might not be the best (you’re taking a risk after all!). Taking risks does not mean success, it means learning. These risks in dance, the ones that take you out of your comfort zone and what you’re used to, will help you grow as a dancer and find the path that you’re meant to be on.

10. Learn From Everything

The most important thing is to learn from everything you do. Every risk you take, every time you fail, and every time you succeed, are opportunities to learn and grow. It’s important that after every class, performance, competition, or audition, you take time to reflect on what you have learned. What did you do well? Where do you think that you could improve? What could you challenge yourself with for next time to push yourself to that next level?

There are so many benefits of getting out of your comfort zone, but you have to learn from every opportunity to get the full growth potential that these challenges give you! So go, get out there, and grow!

Photography: Lee Gumbs • Writing/Design: Holly Ann Seweryn • Dancer: Coco Quinn • Wardrobe Stylist: Angel Roberts • Makeup Artist: Laura Schaffer • Hair Stylist: Rachel Ross

W

DANCER & ACTRESS ON BRAT TV'S MANI

e sat down with 10-year-old fashionista Coco Quinn at our last photo shoot (when we were finally able to get her to leave wardrobe!). From dance, to music, to surfing, she gave us the inside scoop on all things Coco.

be released, yet, but we had to know where we could soon find them! When they’re complete, Coco says she plans to put the covers on her YouTube channel and on Spotify. “We also plan to add music videos,” Coco said.

Dancing Diva

Brat Life

Coco started dance at the age of four, but not by choice at first. Being extremely energetic at a young age, Coco’s mom put her into gymnastics.

Unfortunately, as Coco got a little older, she started having seizures, and had to choose something that involved less acrobatic movements. And thus, the dancing diva we know today was born! Even if it wasn’t her first choice, she ended up really liking dance when she first started. “I loved it,” Coco told us. “I am a really sassy person and dance is a way I can get my sass out!”

Most recently, Coco has been on the Brat TV series, Mani. The show is a spinoff of hit series, Chicken Girls, and centers around a girl named Skye, played by Piper Rockelle, and her best friend Harmony, played by Hayley Leblanc. The title, Mani, refers to Skye's new male nanny. Coco plays Katie, one of Skye's BFFs. “She is kind of like one of the characters on Mean Girls,” Coco explained, “I love that I really get to use my sassy side!”

She’s performed dozens of routines since she started but still has a favorite: “Broadway Baby,” a dance she performed when she was just five years old. Now, she mainly focuses on hip hop, but she’s still learning a lot from dance. “I’ve learned that you really have to draw the audience to you,” Coco said. “You need to use facial expressions and your personality to get the message across to the audience.”

Coco is looking to expand her horizons well beyond dancing, singing, and acting. How far, you ask? “I would love to try surfing,” Coco told us. “I’m really scared of sharks, though. I have a boogie board and love to ride the waves. I saw a big shark when I was in the water once, though, and I haven’t gone back since!” Eep! We don’t know if we’d go back either.

Music Queen

On top of taking hip hop classes, Coco has also broken into the music industry.

Currently, she’s working on a couple of covers and filming music videos, but she wants to eventually write her own music. “We have a studio set up in our office now,” Coco told us, “so I’m hoping to do more singing this year!” Her songs aren’t quite ready to

Onto New Things

Coco is also a total animal lover (besides, you know, sharks), and hopes to be a veterinarian one day. She spends most of her days running around with her dog and playing with her new baby kitten!

As young as she is, Coco has already developed so many skills. From dancing, to acting, to singing, Coco's well on her way to being a triple threat. Whatever she decides to do next, though, we have a feeling there'll be sass involved!

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO! E

D

E

GET TO KNOW COCO QUINN IN THIS SHOWSTOPPER 60 VIDEO! DOWNLOAD THE SHOWSTOPPER APP & HEAD TO "MAGAZINE EXTRAS"

D

@GOSHOWSTOPPER

B 45

E

E DANCER, ACTRESS & SHOWSTOPPER

46 B

WWW.GOSHOWSTOPPER.COM

Photography: Sharon Coker • Design/Writing: Holly Ann Seweryn • Dancer: Ava Cantrell • Creative Direction: Amy Davis • Makeup Artist: Selina Bautista • Hair Stylist: Tracy Branch • Wardrobe Stylist: Janina Cantrell

W

e sat down with Ava Cantrell, AKA Penelope Pritchard from Nickelodeon’s Haunted Hathaways, Molly from Young Sheldon, and young Diana from Lights Out, to talk dance, acting, and inspiration.

Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall…

Ava wasn’t always the outgoing, bubbly actress she is today. In fact, when she first started dancing she didn’t do much but stand there! “I would just watch myself a lot in the mirror and not actually dance,” Ava laughed. “My mom would ask how I liked dancing and I would say I loved it, even though it was just a lot of me watching myself in the mirror. My mom talked to the studio owner who said, ‘Ava is dancing in her head, and sometimes those kids turn out to be the best of dancers. Once she gets it, she will really get it.’” And get it, Ava did. By five years old she was dancing on the Showstopper stage to “Ain’t I Sweet.” “It was so magical,” Ava told us, “I will never forget coming to Showstopper for the first time.”

Lessons Learned

Ava’s dance lessons didn’t just teach her technique, she learned a lot of skills that have helped her in other areas of her life. "Dance has taught me so much,” Ava said. “I have very thick skin due to dance training which really comes in handy with being an actress. Dance also taught me how to manage my time. When I was a competitive dancer, I danced 20 hours a week and also went to school while starting my acting career. When I have a spare hour or two off now, I really have learned to relax and enjoy it.

When I work, though, I work hard.”

Embrace Your Talents

Ava is the first to admit that she wasn’t the best technical dancer, “but I am a performer to my core,” she said. “I always went for it and wanted to tell a story when I was dancing. All of that made me a successful dancer, but an even better actress. I am glad I didn't focus so hard on making everything perfect. In acting, it's about being real and laying it all out there. We can always work on our weak areas but as a dancer you also need to have confidence in what you do best. That confidence is what will make you shine!”

One Versatile Actress

Ava has acted in nearly every genre (and she’s only 17!). From comedy, to drama, to thrillers, Ava has learned a lot from when she first started acting. “I used to be excited to get auditions for girls I could relate to,” Ava told us. “Now I know the roles that I thrive in are the roles I have nothing in common with. I get to develop a whole character!”

Getting Wildly Inspired

With such a wide array of roles, it only makes sense that Ava gets inspiration from wild places. “I love photography and science facts and I also get inspiration from reading National Geographic,” Ava said. Her main inspiration, though? Her mom. “She is very strong, passionate, forgiving, and fabulous,” Ava explained. "She has taught me to speak up, work hard for the things I want the most in life, forgive but don't forget, and to always dress up rather than down."

"One of my favorite Showstopper memories was winning 1st Overall Recreational Dancer when I was six years old out of hundreds of numbers. It was truly so exciting!

I also loved running around with my friends, watching other numbers, and cheering my peers on.

Plus I loved staying at the Disneyland Hotel and joining in on the fun events!

I loved the amazing crowd, the excitement, and the really cool backdrops. I always felt like a star on the Showstopper Stage!

Ava, Age 6, performing her solo on the Showstopper Stage

As for Ava’s next moves, you can catch her in the new feature film The Fostered, on Young Sheldon, and she’s also currently directing a short film! @GOSHOWSTOPPER

B 47

CADEN CONRIQUE IS A 17-YEAR-OLD DANCER & ACTOR WHO HAS BECOME WELL KNOWN AS TIM ON CHICKEN GIRLS.

DREAM VACAY: NEW YORK CITY FAV STYLE OF DANCE: HIP HOP FAV NETFLIX BINGE: STRANGER THINGS DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 5 WORDS: FUNNY, REAL, LOYAL, SARCASTIC, FRIENDLY HAPPY PLACE? ON MY QUAD IN THE HILLS

48 B

WWW.GOSHOWSTOPPER.COM

DREAM VACAY: HAWAII FAV STYLE OF DANCE: HIP HOP

DYLAN CONRIQUE IS A 14-YEAR-OLD DANCER, SINGER, & ACTRESS WHO HAS BECOME WELL KNOWN AS KAYLA ON CHICKEN GIRLS.

FAV NETFLIX BINGE: RIVERDALE

Photography/Writing/Design: Holly Ann Seweryn • Dancers: Caden & Dylan Conrique

DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 5 WORDS: FUNNY, OUTGOING, SASSY, COMPASSIONATE, REAL HAPPY PLACE? NEW YORK

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL SHOWSTOPPER APP TO WATCH THE EXCLUSIVE BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEO FROM OUR PHOTO SHOOT WITH THE CONRIQUES!

DANCER, ACTRESS, & PHOTOGRAPHER

Photography: Lee Gumbs • Writing/Design: Holly Ann Seweryn • Dancer: Nicole Laeno • Wardrobe Stylist: Angel Roberts • Makeup Artist: Laura Schaffer • Hair Stylist: Rachel Ross

A

fter she freestyled on our photo backdrop, we sat down with Nicole Laeno at our Showstopper Magazine photo shoot to talk about hip hop, modeling, photography, and her iconic characters: Bree on Brat TV’s Boss Cheer and Harlie on Hyperlinked.

Nicole has also started dabbling in choreography. It can be a real challenge to choreograph dances, but Nicole has some advice. “Take tons of classes to make sure you know a lot of moves,” Nicole advised. “You need all the ingredients to make a recipe.”

Connecting & Learning

Not Love At First Sight

If you’ve seen Nicole Laeno dance, it might be hard for you to believe that it wasn’t always a passion of hers. In fact, during her first few weeks of dance, she wanted to quit immediately!

“When I first started dance, I really didn’t want to do it. I felt like it was too outgoing for me,” Nicole said. "I was very shy when I was younger. I wanted to quit, and 2 weeks in I just cried the whole time. My mom asked me to finish out the month because she had paid for it already. I soon discovered that there was a different side of me and dance helped me to come out of my comfort zone!”

Love of Hip Hop

Though Nicole has trained in ballet, lyrical, and contemporary, one genre holds a special place in her heart. “Hip hop is definitely my favorite,” Nicole explained. “It’s the most fun for me because I can express my face and movements more.”

Best known as Harlie on YouTube Red’s Hyperlinked and Bree on Brat TV’s Boss Cheer, Nicole connects with both characters in a different way. She finds herself similar to Harlie because they are both shy but supportive friends.

“She just loves being around nice things and people,” Nicole said. She connects with her character Bree because of her confidence. “I have confidence, but she has a seriously sassy side that I don’t have,” Nicole told us.

She hasn’t left dance behind, though, and it even helps with her acting. For Boss Cheer, Nicole had to learn cheer moves and stunts for the role. “I feel like being a dancer helped me learn,” Nicole told us.

“I was more aware of my core and how to hold myself and how to hold my body.”

Nicole plans to take her acting a step further and is attending Nickelodeon acting school for two weeks. “I want to improve my acting and get inspired by other actors there,” Nicole explained.

“I just want to learn more!”

E

She isn’t just fabulous in front of the camera though, she’s taking a step behind the camera and getting into photography. As for her favorite subjects? “I mostly take pictures of nature but I also take a lot of pictures of my dog lying down in cute positions,” Nicole laughed.

Beauty Queen

As if dancing, acting, modeling, and photography weren’t enough to keep Nicole busy (and talented!), Nicole also has a fifth passion — hair and makeup! “I love exploring with hair and makeup,” Nicole said.

“I love finding different looks and techniques that I can do!”

With such a variety of creative passions, we're so excited to see Nicole's next project!

#CameraLife

EXCLUSIVE D VIDEO! E

E

GET TO KNOW NICOLE LAENO IN THIS SHOWSTOPPER 60 VIDEO!

On top of dancing and acting, Nicole also models. “I do mostly dance modeling,” Nicole said. “It involves moves like tilts and splits. Modeling is really fun because whether I am modeling clothes or just my face I have different facial expressions and poses.

It allows me to experience moving my body in different ways.”

DOWNLOAD THE SHOWSTOPPER APP & HEAD TO "MAGAZINE EXTRAS"

D

@GOSHOWSTOPPER

B 51

52 B

WWW.GOSHOWSTOPPER.COM

Photography: Collette Mruk • Design/Writing: Holly Ann Seweryn

TAKE THE QUIZ BELOW TO FIND YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE Which dance genre is your fav?

A. Contemporary B. Ballet C. Irish dancing or clogging

Favorite color?

A. Red B. Pink C. Green

Which beverage sounds best?

A. Warm cup of tea B. Hazelnut coffee C. Mint chocolate chip hot cocoa

What's your favorite season?

A. Fall B. Spring C. Summer

Choose a pattern!

A. No patterns, just neutrals B. Stripes C. Plaid

Choose an activity!

A. Sightseeing B. Shopping C. Hiking

Go-to music?

A. A little rock 'n roll B. Trendy pop music C. Fun & folky

Fav iconic makeup look?

A. Red lip B. Cat eye C. Smokey eye

One of your best qualities is...

A. You're very cultured and aware of the world around you B. You're super trendy and always stylish C. You're adventurous and always up for something spontaneous

Dream summer internship?

A. A debate team internship with a local government B. Interning with a local clothing or shoe store C. A camp counselor at a beautiful national park

Choose your manicure!

A. Shiny red B. French manicure C. Matte blue Add up your A's, B's, and C's to find out where you should travel to next!

@GOSHOWSTOPPER

B 55

Photography: Lee Gumbs • Writing: Jen Garaffa • Design: Holly Ann Seweryn • Dancer: Kyla Drew Wardrobe Stylist: Angel Roberts • Makeup Artist: Laura Schaffer • Hair Stylist: Rachel Ross

56 B

WWW.GOSHOWSTOPPER.COM

W

e caught up with Austyn Johnson, who played the daughter of P.T. Barnum (played by Hugh Jackman) in The Greatest Showman. She gave us a sneak peek behind the big top on what it was like to score the role of a lifetime and what future acts we can expect from this show stopper.

Photography: Nina Duncan • Writing/Design: Holly Ann Seweryn • Dancer: Austyn Johnson

Juggling Her Many Talents

With a passion for almost every creative realm she dabbles in, Austyn has become quite the talent at her young age. “I was always passionate about dance and music,” she said.

“I love anything art, really. My new obsession is makeup, I LOVE IT!” It’s her experience in all of these areas, especially dance, that’s given her the competitive edge it takes to earn roles. “The most important thing dance has taught me is to never give up,” Austyn told us. “I’ll dance for hours on end and sometimes it hurts, but I keep going because I want to be my best!” It’s also helped her with acting. “I can learn entire scripts in just a few hours, and I know that’s because of having to learn dance choreography so quickly in the past.”

Her Greatest Roles

Austyn began her journey where most people hope theirs end up — on Broadway. She went to NYC for her very first audition, where she sang “Mean” by Taylor Swift. “It was acting, singing, and dancing,” Austyn began, “my dream role! I was sooo nervous!

I was shaking for hours before I even went in. I wanted the part so so bad!”

A few weeks later, she got the call — she had booked the role of Amanda Thripp in Matilda. “The whole vibe of being on Broadway was surreal,” Austyn said.

“When I would walk out of the theater and be in the NYC streets, it was awesome. It’s just something I never thought would really happen!”

Her next role is considered by many to be her “greatest” yet. She played Caroline Barnum, A.K.A. P.T. Barnum’s daughter in The Greatest Showman. “I learned a ton from filming The Greatest Showman,” Austyn told us. “I had never been on a movie set before!” It was a lot of hard work for her, especially the scene where Austyn, who played Caroline, had to yell at her dad (played by Hugh Jackman). “It was different for me and a little hard at first,” she said. “But when I did it, I was so proud.”

It wasn’t all work, though, it sounds like there was a lot of fun to be had on set. It was the circus, after all! “We all made up handshakes,” she told us, “and some were like fully choreographed dances. Hugh, Michelle, Cameron, and myself had maybe the longest handshake ever!

Hugh even joked we would need to rent out a space just to rehearse it!”

A Hard Act to Follow

Being in The Greatest Showman was just one of the many great acting experiences that Austyn has had.

She was also in The Post, on Blacklist, and even on Kevin Can Wait. As for her goals for the future? She’s hoping to score her dream role: a lead on a comedy series. “My dream role would be a role like Phoebe from Friends or Penny from Big Bang Theory,” Austyn said. “It would be so much fun to be on those sets!”

We'd love to see Austyn on a comedy show! Whatever role Austyn scores next, though, we just know it will be GREAT.

During my first audition, I went in and sang “Mean”

by Taylor Swift and read lines with the casting director.

I was sooo nervous!

I was shaking for hours before I even went in.

My best advice to others is don’t get stressed like I did!

Most times, you’ll hear a million no’s before you hear one yes.

You just have to be patient and keep going.

Photography: Aaron Williams, Lee Gumbs • Design: Holly Ann Seweryn • Dancers: Madeline Underwood, Emery Franz, Aidan Prince

60 B

WWW.GOSHOWSTOPPER.COM

M

errick Hanna told us he wasn’t actually a robot, and to be honest, to us, that just does not compute. How can a dancer so young have such believable robotic moves?

We sat down with this robot human, and talked inspiration, animation, and determination.

Photography: Lee Gumbs • Writing/Design: Holly Ann Seweryn • Dancer: Merrick Hanna Wardrobe Stylist: Angel Roberts • Hair Stylist: Rachel Ross

Booting Up

At a young age, Merrick was incredibly shy. He actually didn't talk until he was three years old.

Then, suddenly, he got a new robot toy, and his gears started shifting. He was soon talking and making friends at school. It wasn’t until he saw the Jabbawockeez, though, that he realized he wanted to dance just like his toy robot.

AGT helped him grow as a person and as a dancer. One thing that it helped this robot realize? The importance of connections. “When I first got onto AGT, I didn’t want to meet people,” Merrick explained. “I wanted to just do my own thing. As time went on, I realized that the more people I met, the better. Everyone there was so nice and had insane talents.

It was awesome to meet them!”

Bionic & Iconic

Merrick has danced with so many iconic animators: Poppin John, Marquese Scott, Jabbawockeez, Matt Steffanina, Kid Boogie, Madd Chadd, Jaja, and so many more. With a list like that, we don’t blame him that he can’t choose a favorite. “I can’t really compare them,” he said.

“Whenever I do a collab with someone I try to make it unique.” Sounds like he's nuts and bolts about all of his collabs!

This Robot’s Got Talent

After practice helped him program his skills, Merrick began gaining notoriety on social media. He even chose to audition for America’s Got Talent.

“I auditioned three times because the first time it was super fun and I wanted to do it again and again,” Merrick told us. “I had no expectations that I would actually make it on the show but then I made it on the show and I didn’t know what to do because I didn’t expect to make it on the show! It was so surreal, I still can’t wrap my head around how big it was!”

While he’s danced with tons of the world’s best dancers, he’d love to collab with even more. His top choice? None other than Fik-Shun (who teaches at Showstopper Conventions). “Fik-Shun was one of the first dancers I ever watched,” he told us. “I have performed for him a few times (on SYTYCD) but it would be so cool to collab with him!”

dance came naturally, I'm not sure if my talent did. I had to practice all the time.”

The best part is that dance has helped Merrick come out of his shell. “It’s helped me to not be as anti-social,” he said.

This is the Future

Merrick’s next moves are taking him abroad to audition for an International “Got Talent” show. It’s a challenge, though, as the song he’s dancing to is in a different language. “Dance is all about lyrics,” Merrick explained. “I am trying to use a translator to figure out the lyrics so that I can shape my movements around them." With his heavy focus on lyrics, it makes sense, then, that during his AGT audition, Simon Cowell told him, “You'd be who I would put in a pop video in a heart beat to actually tell the story of a song."

This year, Merrick will also be hosting a new Fox series, Dance Squad, where he’ll teach other kids dance moves inspired by Fox movie characters.

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO! E

D

E

Overcoming Technical Trouble

Learning dance wasn’t always easy for Merrick. “I was dancing several hours per day, whenever I had free time,” he said. “While I think that my LOVE for

E FIND OUT WHAT'S IN MERRICK HANNA'S DANCE BAG! DOWNLOAD THE SHOWSTOPPER APP & HEAD TO "MAGAZINE EXTRAS"

D

E WORLD-RENOWNED CONTORTIONIST

62 B

WWW.GOSHOWSTOPPER.COM

Photography: Lee Gumbs • Writing/Design: Holly Ann Seweryn • Dancer: Sofie Dossi • Wardrobe Stylist: Angel Roberts • Makeup Artist: Laura Schaffer • Hair Stylist: Rachel Ross

W

e met up with contortionist, hand balancer, and aerialist, Sofie Dossi, to talk about her journey so far. Since her incredible experience on the show America’s Got Talent, Sofie’s been up to some pretty major things. From acting on Boss Cheer (and learning cheer in the process!), to releasing her very own apparel line, Sofie hasn’t stopped impressing us since her AGT debut.

Getting Her Start

Sofie knew what she wanted to do from a young age. “It all began when I watched a YouTube video of a female contortionist from Cirque du Soleil,” Sofie explained to us. “I fell in love with it!” Once she found her passion, Sofie began working hard towards her goals. “I decided it was what I wanted to do and began teaching myself at home. I loved every minute of training,” she explained.

Yes, it may be hard to believe, but Sofie Dossi is self-taught. Her natural, above-average flexibility wasn’t the only thing that contributed to her success today. It was that and a lot of hard work. “[Teaching myself] has made me more strong-minded because I had to find ways of doing things that I had never done before,” Sofie said. “It was a process of trial and error and lots of self-discovery.”

Sky’s the Limit

Even as dancers, most of us know our limit, especially when it comes to flexibility. We push it just slightly, and that’s how we become more flexible. For Sofie, though, she doesn’t believe there is a limit. “I try to come up with ideas that are seemingly impossible, or things you’d only dream of,” Sofie explained.

“Then, I take a step back and change

things to make it possible. Sometimes I just attempt the impossible!”

America’s Got Talent

So where does a dancer like Sofie get her out-of-this-world inspiration from?

From the sky, of course. "Normally I will watch the sky and put on some dramatic music (like the music I use in my contortion routines),” she said.

"I will close my eyes, think, and the moves just come to me!” It also helps that she has a background in dance and gymnastics from when she was younger. “I know that the strength, grace, and creativity [from dance and gymnastics] have all contributed to the way I perform now,” Sofie told us.

Two words: Golden. Buzzer. When Sofie Dossi got the Golden Buzzer on America’s Got Talent, we knew it was going to be an epic season. “America’s Got Talent pushed me beyond the boundaries of what I ever thought I could do,” Sofie told us. “It helped me to become less shy. Before the show, I was not very outgoing and it helped me to become more loose. On top of that, getting the Golden Buzzer was the most euphoric moment ever. It doesn’t get much better than glittering gold raining down on you and a huge audience (plus celebrity judges!) giving you a standing ovation!” Her favorite routine from her experience on AGT was hard for her to choose, but she settled on her performance in the Semi-Finals. “I just loved all of the disco balls,” she laughed.

SOMETIMES I JUST ATTEMPT THE IMPOSSIBLE When interviewing Sofie, we of course had to address the classic conspiracy — does Sofie Dossi have a spine? Well, of course she does, but we had to get her take on the question fans have been asking for years. “The ‘conspiracy’ originated because my brother and I were joking around on a YouTube video and he was like, ‘You don’t have a spine,’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, you’re right, I don’t,’” Sofie laughed. “That started this whole thing on the Internet where people were asking, ‘Does Sofie have a spine or doesn’t she?’ It was hilarious.”

(& So Does Sofie!)

Life as Dani on Brat TV’s Boss Cheer

When she’s not folding herself into jawdropping positions, you can also catch Sofie as Dani on Brat TV’s Boss Cheer. “I love Dani,” Sofie said of her character.

“She’s kind of shy and has a little secret that she doesn’t want anyone to know.

She’s mysterious and the new girl on the squad!” Despite her break into acting,

ADVENTURE CHALLENGE I CHALLENGE YOU TO: TRY A NEW STRETCH EVERY DAY FOR A WEEK! -SOFIE DOSSI GO TO PAGE 96 FOR THE FULL CHECKLIST OF CHALLENGES!

@GOSHOWSTOPPER

B 63

she hasn’t left her other passions behind.

“You know what’s funny?” Sofie began. “Dance, gymnastics, and contortion all combine together to make cheer!

Dress the Part

Sofie has also recently started her own self-titled clothing line, “Sofie Dossi.” Featuring both adult and youth clothing, her online boutique has great finds on sweatshirts, athletic bags, tees, and more. Each piece has an eyecatching design featuring Sofie’s logo, a heart made out of her initials — S.D.

As for which she prefers — live performances or YouTube — she couldn’t choose, saying, “I think it’s very different when I am filming my YouTube videos, because I am filming my personal life, but when I am performing in front of a huge audience, it is this surreal feeling that I just can’t explain. I love both!”

Bend But Don’t Break

Taking Her Talents to YouTube

Sofie also has her own YouTube channel with over 3 million subscribers. “I realized I had a large fan base of people who were inspired by what I did and how I did it,” she explained. “So I had the idea to use YouTube to stay connected. It was a way for me to continue to inspire and entertain.” Her channel features music video covers, vlogs, collabs, and more.

My character even starts doing more contortion later in the show and it really helps the squad out.”

It looks like the cast has a lot of fun and the natural chemistry is what makes the show so relatable.

Sofie shared a behind-the-scenes scoop with us about one of her funniest moments. “Tristan stole my phone and he spammed it with like a million photos of himself.

I literally had to delete like 3,000 photos,” Sofie laughed.

It hasn’t all been aerial silks and Golden Buzzers, though. It’s been challenging for Sofie along the way.

“Coordinating my schedule to make time for performances, events, and school has been the hardest part,” she said. Lucky for her, she’s learned to overcome one of the biggest obstacles

performers face: stage fright. “I don’t actually get nervous,” she says. “I get a lot of energy instead. It adds to my excitement and helps me to focus.” So how does she channel that energy to be positive, focusing energy rather than a distraction? With a pre-performance ritual. “A few minutes before I perform on stage, I get quiet, focus on my breath, and try to calm my heart beat,” she explained. “I know I’ve done the work and it’s the moment I get to share it!”

Sofie’s Future Goals

Sofie is working on some new projects (they’re a secret for now so you’ll have to head to our online magazine for updates!). For now she's spending time with family and friends. “I'm lucky to have a supportive family around me who keeps my life feeling ‘normal’ even when I seem to be doing ‘not normal things,’” she said. Speaking of things that are considered “not normal,” one of Sofie’s biggest dreams is to swim with sharks. Yes, sharks. “I absolutely love the ocean and I love sharks,”

Sofie told us. “I’d love to get in a cage out in the ocean with great white sharks. That is on my bucket list!” For someone who can shoot a flaming bow and arrow while upside down with just her toes, I guess swimming with sharks is pretty “normal.” “I do know that I define ‘normal’ differently than others,” Sofie laughed. Fun fact: A shark actually makes a surprise appearance at the seven second mark on Sofie’s music video of Anne-Marie’s song, "2002", so she’s closer to her dreams than she thinks!

While Sofie has big dreams (and big talents), she’s not tied down to any specific future goals. She is mainly focused on working hard right now.

“The future is created by what I do in the present,” Sofie explained. “I know that if I have good intentions and good habits today, then great things will happen in the future.” We can’t wait to see what great things those are!

America’s Got Talent pushed me beyond the boundaries of what I ever thought I could do.

EXCLUSIVE D VIDEO! E

E

GET TO KNOW SOFIE DOSSI IN THIS SHOWSTOPPER 60 VIDEO! DOWNLOAD THE SHOWSTOPPER APP & HEAD TO "MAGAZINE EXTRAS"

D

@GOSHOWSTOPPER

B 67

Design/Photography: Holly Ann Seweryn • Dancer: Christy Lyn Huebner, Julianna Hess, Kylie Doyle, Kionna Perkins, Noah Quigley, Kylee Craig, RJ Higton

A

riana Grande: A woman who needs no introduction (especially after this year — I mean, hello, Billboard’s Woman of the Year with another record breaking album this year. Need we say more?).

Ari's Early-Life

Photos: Getty Images • Writing/Design: Holly Ann Seweryn

The fabulous pop singer we know today was born on June 26th, 1993, as Ariana Grande-Butera in Boca Raton, Florida. The inspiration behind her name came from the film Felix the Cat: The Movie, more specifically, the character Princess Oriana. From an early age, Ariana's skills have been en Pointe, both literally and figuratively. I mean, did you see that Ari arabesque in the music video for her song "Don't Be Gone Too Long?"

Panthers game, her first of many television appearances.

Pressing Play

By thirteen years old, Ari was still loving theater, but she began pursuing her other passions with more motivation. She headed to Los Angeles, where all aspiring creatives head to at one point in their careers, and met with her managers about her desire to have a music career.

Right away Ariana told her managers, “I want to make an R&B album.” Her managers were still skeptical of producing an R&B album for a 14-yearold. So, Ariana kept pursuing theater roles, being cast as the supporting role of cheerleader Charlotte in the musical 13, this time, on Broadway.

A Class Act

Her Big Break & Her Big Breakage

With natural-born talent, it wasn’t long before Ari started her journey in the entertainment industry. She often performed with the Fort Lauderdale Children’s Theater, her first role being the lead of Annie. Are we shocked that Ari was the lead right away? Not even a little bit.

In 2009, one year after her Broadway debut, Ari was cast as Cat Valentine in the now-iconic Nickelodeon show, Victorious. While her signature hairstyle these days is a high, incredibly long ponytail, when she starred on this show, she was famous for another look: bright red hair.

Taking her talent and mixing it with hard work, Ariana soon scored even more roles in the musicals The Wizard of Oz and Beauty and the Beast.

The all-red look took a lot of maintenance, though, and she often cites this as the reason she wears her signature pony today. “I had to bleach my hair and dye it red every other week for the first four years of playing Cat,” Ariana explained.

“As one could assume, it completely destroyed my hair.” After four years, she began wearing wigs for her redheaded role as Cat. It took a toll on her personally, though, as well, and she even dabbled in wigs in her everyday life to try to get her hair back to being healthy. When she found her

Slowly but surely, role after role, though, Ariana realized she had a real passion for music (and not just singing in musicals). She began performing on cruise ships and with various orchestras like the South Florida’s Philharmonic, Florida Sunshine Pops, and Symphonic Orchestras. She even sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” for a Florida

signature look, the high pony, Ariana said, “I’m comfortable for the first time in years.” So, there you have it; your favorite celebrity has bad hair days, too.

Once a Songstress, Always a Songstress

When she was one season into Victorious, Ariana knew she wanted to expand her singing career. “Acting is fun,” Ari said, “but music has always been first and foremost with me.” She wanted to work on strengthening her (already impressive) vocal range and after working with a vocal coach, she began recording songs, starting with making an appearance on the song “Give It Up,” on the Victorious soundtrack. During this time, she

@GOSHOWSTOPPER

B 69

was recording covers of popular artists (like Adele, and her two favorites: Whitney and Mariah), and uploading them to YouTube. The CEO of Republic Records discovered one of her videos, and, impressed by her range, signed her to a recording contract. Soon, Ari had recorded her first song, “Put Your Hearts Up.”

first female artist since Kesha to have her first album debut atop the charts. Collaborating with artists like Mac Miller, Big Sean, and The Wanted, Ariana soon found herself in the midst of music’s most popular artists. She joined Justin Bieber for his "Believe Tour" and even kicked off her own mini-tour, "The Listening Sessions." This was just the beginning for Ariana, and by January 2014, she had begun recording her second studio album. The album, titled My Everything, debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 on August 24th, 2014, making it her second consecutive number one album in the United States. Featuring songs like “Problem,” “One Last Time,” and “Break Free,” this was considered by some to be a huge turning point in Ariana’s career; she went from Nickelodeon star to music superstar.

For the next few years, Ariana worked on improving her already incredible vocal skills, filming for her role of Cat on Victorious, and recording collaborations for the show's soundtracks. When Victorious was canceled after three seasons, Nickelodeon decided to blend two popular shows — iCarly and Victorious — into a spinoff titled Sam & Cat. Despite its popularity, the series was canceled after 36 episodes. A blessing in disguise, this gave Ariana the opportunity to really focus on her music career.

The Grande Tour

During her time on Sam & Cat, Ariana released her first studio album, Yours Truly, which debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 albums chart. Ariana was the

In the beginning of 2015, Ariana took her talents to the road. She took off on "The Honeymoon Tour" and performed in North America, Asia, Europe, and South America. After

70 B

WWW.GOSHOWSTOPPER.COM

nearly 90 tour dates, she had sold over 800,000 tickets. Soon after, Ariana began recording songs for her third studio album. Though the album was originally entitled Moonlight, it soon became the album we know today as Dangerous Woman. Last year, Ari released Sweetener which featured hits like “Breathin’” and “No Tears Left to Cry.” This year, Ariana is set to release highly-anticipated album, Thank U, Next.

Finding Inspiration

Growing up, Ariana mainly listened to urban pop and '90s music, and she got a lot of her inspiration from there. She has also cited two specific people as her major vocal influences.

“I love Mariah Carey,” Ari said.

“She is literally my favorite human being on the planet. And of course Whitney [Houston] as well. As far as vocal influences go, Whitney and Mariah pretty much cover it.”

She’s talked about other sources of inspiration, though, too. Gloria Estefan complimented one of

Grande’s performances on a cruise ship and Ariana was immediately inspired to pursue a career in the music industry. Ariana also says she gets inspiration from Fergie, Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé, India.Arie, and Brandy. She isn’t just inspired by artists from the '90s, though. She was always influenced as a child by Judy Garland, best known for being Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz and for playing Vicki Lester in the original A Star is Born (the story of which was recently made popular again by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper).

While she’s often compared to Mariah Carey because of her wide vocal range (Ariana has an impressive four octave soprano vocal range), Ari wants people to recognize their differences as artists. “It’s a huge compliment,” Ari says, referring to people’s comparisons, “but when you hear my music, you’ll see that Mariah’s sound is much different than mine.”

Ari the Girl Boss

Ariana’s vocals have been praised by dozens of artists (Kelly Clarkson and Lady Gaga being just a couple of them).

Katy Perry even praised Ariana's singing by saying that she delivers “the best female vocal in pop music today. She has literally... the best voice live.” We love the immense amount of female support she’s garnered throughout her career, and Ari herself isn’t short of female empowerment, either. In 2015, journalists and celebrities, like Taylor Swift, Rita Ora, and Selena Gomez, praised Ariana's empowering essay which pointed out the many double standards that female musicians face when it comes to dating and discussing relationships in Hollywood.

Giving Back in a Grande Way

Ariana has loved helping others from a young age. At just ten years old, Ariana co-founded the South Florida youth singing group, “Kids Who Care.” In 2007, the group raised over $500,000 for charities in just one year.

Two years later, Ariana traveled to Gugulethu with her brother, Frankie, to teach music and dance to children in South Africa. Since then, she’s participated in tribute concerts, TV programs, and even joined Madonna to raise funds for orphaned children in Malawi.

One of her favorite things to do to help? Adopting animals! She has nine rescue dogs. Nine! Can we paws to appreciate how amazing that is? So how did it all start? “I got involved with dog rescues by simply loving animals,” Ari said. “Dogs are the most harmless, sweetest babes in the world. They show nothing but unconditional love, so they deserve that in return. I want to help spread the word as much as I can, and I’ve been able to work with amazing organizations, including BarkBox, which partners with shelters, and The Humane Society. My mission is to help as many homeless dogs as I can find loving families who will cherish them.”

It’s been a seemingly long journey for Ariana since she was first introduced to our TV screens a decade ago. In just ten years she’s showed us that talent, hard work, recognizing your passions, and taking your dreams into your own hands can open up a world of opportunities.

Ariana was a Broadway baby Ariana started her music and acting career on Broadway in a musical called 13.

Cat Loves Katy

Ariana didn't go to her first concert until she was 18 (and her music career was well underway). Her first concert was Katy Perry.

Her Fam's Got Skills

Ari's brother, Frankie, is both an actor and a producer. He started his career in 2007 after graduating from Muhlenberg College with a triple major in biology, theatre, and (our fav!) dance.

She's a Gryffindor

She's obsessed with Harry Potter & even has a custom Dumbledore jacket in her wardrobe!

She's Vegan

& has been since 2013 because of the film Blackfish!

@GOSHOWSTOPPER

B 73

Photography: Aaron Williams • Design: Holly Ann Seweryn • Stylist: Angel Roberts

FIND OUT WHERE TO PURCHASE THESE LOOKS BY CHECKING OUT OUR ONLINE MAGAZINE! WWW.GOSHOWSTOPPER.COM/MAGAZINE

A

WHAT’S THE FIRST THING YOU DO WHEN

few months ago, we got to go backstage on the set of Entertainment Tonight in Studio City, CA where we got to interview the incredibly talented Keltie Knight.

Keltie is an ET Correspondent, world famous interviewer, and a former Showstopper dancer!

YOU GET UP? Photography/Writing/Design: Holly Ann Seweryn • On location: CBS Studio Center w/ Keltie Knight & Entertainment Tonight

Take my vitamins MUST-HAVE BEAUTY PRODUCT?

Weledea Skin Food lotion WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO OUTFIT?

Jeans, white sneakers, a white t-shirt and a fancy purse SIGNATURE STARBUCKS ORDER?

Venti iced vanilla latte with coconut milk FAV WAY TO GET YOUR CARDIO IN?

Wearing a weighted vest and working out on my lunch break GO-TO SPOTIFY PLAYLIST?

My personal “songs for airplanes” list

Early Days

Growing up in Alberta, Canada, Keltie had a passion for performing for as long as she could remember. “I spent most of my childhood either in a dance class or in my parents’ basement choreographing dances, fashion shows (alone!), or dreaming about the stage,” she said. Keltie had found her passion, but it didn’t come easy. “To be frank, I was a pretty terrible dancer,” she laughed. “I had all of the passion, but almost none of the raw natural talent. I did have an insane work ethic, though.

I was always in the back, but I LOVED to perform.”

One showstopping moment she’ll never forget is her jazz solo at Showstopper when she was in the fifth grade. “I wore a one arm/one leg black unitard with green stretch sequins from the arm down the leg. It was TRAGIC,” Keltie laughed. As for her favorite Showstopper memories, they don’t

necessarily revolve around her. Instead, a lot of her favorite memories come from hosting Showstopper finals! “I always tend to root for the underdog,” Keltie said. #Struggling

After graduating, Keltie lived in LA and NYC and it was a struggle.

“There are so few jobs where you can spend the day in auditions and the nights in classes (and still pay rent),” Keltie explained.

She began to get gigs, though, and her first gig was with a name we all know: Kanye West. “They offered $150 cash and I had to spend the entire day inside a big black box, alone, doing a 'frug.'

Kanye never actually paid me, the video never aired, and at the time, no one even knew who Kanye was!”

While doing “free” gigs for future superstars, Keltie was also auditioning for the world-renowned Radio City Rockettes. “It took me three years of auditioning (twice a year) to get the gig,” she told us. “I worked my butt off taking a ton of ballet and tap to strengthen myself.”

From the Outside to the Inside(r)

After years of working hard towards her goals, Keltie scored her big break: a host on The Insider. “Getting that job

@GOSHOWSTOPPER

B 81

was probably the most important and transformative moment of my career,” she said. The moment that she felt her hard work had started paying off?

Interviewing Oprah at the Oscars. “That was the moment I realized I had the coolest job on the planet,” she told us.

Entertainment Tonight

Keltie is currently in her second season as a host on Entertainment Tonight! Though ET and The Insider are sister shows, Keltie explained that “everyone knows that ET is the leader in entertainment news. They are so powerful. I get to exclusively sit down with the biggest stars in the world when they won’t talk to anyone else!” The even cooler part is that they do almost every show LIVE. "From start to finish," Keltie explained.

World Traveler

2. It doesn't matter if you are popular.

Your life is what you make of it.

Keltie’s job takes her all over the world.

Though that may sound incredible (and it is!), it’s a lot of hard work to maintain a work-life balance. “I constantly feel guilty for missing out on events,” Keltie explained. “My inner circle has become a very small group of people who love me in spite of the fact that it might be weeks in between our visits.”

She uses travel-time to her advantage, since it’s the only downtime she gets.

“I try to take care of myself in the air,” Keltie said. “I do a face mask, read, and mostly sleep. I take my vitamins. But, honestly, I’m not sure I’m doing a great job. I’m currently drinking my third cup of coffee, and haven’t unpacked my bags from my last trip.” We aren’t sure if it’s the face masks, but, she sure makes it look easy!

3. Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth and don’t try to have it all figured out.

On the Key to Success “Courage. Passion. Hard Work.”

Playing Favorites

Travel Essentials: Earplugs, sheet mask, Weleda Skin Food, green tea, leggings, and a paperback.

Favorite Interview To-Date: Ed Sheeran Theme Song to Her Life: Ariana Grande’s "Breathin’" Ideal Dinner Party Guest List: Oprah, Paula Abdul, The Backstreet Boys, and like 50 dogs

Insight from Knight

On True Friends “A true friend for me is someone who never makes me feel guilty about following my dreams or being busy. They don’t mind that sometimes I need to complain, even though my life is so amazing. It's someone who is okay to just text memes back and forth for an hour.”

Fav Fashion-Forward Celebs: Sarah Jessica Parker, Gigi Hadid, and Jennifer Lopez Fav Event to Attend: The Grammy Awards! I love music so much and musicians are the most fun!

Fav Outfit She’s Ever Worn: The pink Ellie Saab gown I wore to host the 2018 Grammy's Red Carpet Event Fav Movie Ever?

Girls Just Want to Have Fun, a dance movie from the 80s Future is Bright

On Advice for Her Younger Self 1. Be nicer to your body, your hair, and your skin.

Where does Keltie see herself in 5 years?

Well, " I’d love to be retired, living on a goat farm far, far away from Hollywood."

Until then, we'll enjoy seeing her incredible talent on our TV screens.

FAV WAY TO KEEP YOUR MOMENTUM GOING DURING THE MID-DAY SLUMP?

I love to take tiny little naps!

WHAT LUNCH CAN'T YOU LIVE WITHOUT?

I’d be happy to just get time to eat lunch!

WHAT DOES A TYPICAL FRIDAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?

Wake up, head to work, work 12-16 hours, go home exhausted, go to bed early, and wake up to work all weekend YOU GET SOME FREE TIME (A RARE EVENT!).

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH IT?

I love to putz around my house, spend time with my husband, and play cards

ADVENTURE CHALLENGE I CHALLENGE YOU TO: WRITE OUT A LIST OF TEN THINGS YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH THIS YEAR & PRINT IT OUT TO KEEP ON YOUR MIRROR! -KELTIE KNIGHT GO TO PAGE 96 FOR THE FULL CHECKLIST OF CHALLENGES!

@GOSHOWSTOPPER

B 83

Photography: Aaron Williams • Writing: Hayley Mac Design: Holly Ann Seweryn • Dancer: Dabria Aguilar

Where did the idea for Born to Dance come from?

Jordan Matter: Born To Dance was inspired by my daughter.

She was six years old shoveling snow from our driveway when she hit an arabesque. She took a mundane task and filled it with beauty and humor, and I suddenly got the idea of making a book using young dancers to celebrate childhood and adolescence.

Can you tell us about your experience creating the book?

Jordan Matter: I traveled to three continents for this book. The stories in the photos were often inspired by the kids themselves. I would ask, “What would you be doing right now if we weren't at a shoot?�

They would rattle off ideas, and we would build the story together.

What has the experience taught you?

Jordan Matter: I've been photographing young dancers for five years now, and they still continue to surprise me. The dedication young dancers give to their craft is remarkable.

Not only are dancers able to achieve incredible feats with their bodies, but their humor and joy for life is truly inspiring.

What messages were you hoping Born to Dance would convey?

Jordan Matter: Childhood isn't all sleepovers and ice cream. Kids are dealing with lots of real issues, and I address those in Born To Dance. Many of the photos are paired with an inspiring quote by that kid, and some of the topics include bullying, social acceptance, loss, and divorce.

When I was on my book tour, I stopped at an elementary school and presented to 600

The sleepover photo came at the end of a long day of photographing these dancers. One of them mentioned that when the shoot was done, they were having a sleepover. So we set up that shot and then they literally passed out.

kids grades 1-5. As you can imagine, it was quite rowdy and there were lots of laughs.

But when it was time for questions, the first five kids talked about loss of loved ones.

Photography: Jordan Matter • Writing/Design: Holly Ann Seweryn • Dancer: Lilliana Ketchum

Even when they are that age, the complexities of life are dominant in their minds, and this book tries to help them navigate those realities in an inspiring and reassuring way.

You've photographed dancers for five years, but how has your career changed in the last few years?

Jordan Matter: My career took a sharp turn last year when I started posting on YouTube and created the “10 Minute Photo Challenge.” Suddenly, I went from a pretty average social media presence to almost 3 million followers on YouTube

and Instagram. Given the popularity of that series (it has been viewed over 200 million times), we added QR Codes to some photos in the book so the reader can scan the code from their phone and see the corresponding video.

Find Jordan on Instagram: @jordanmatter

88 B

WWW.GOSHOWSTOPPER.COM

@GOSHOWSTOPPER

B 89

Photos: Shutterstock • Design: Holly Ann Seweryn Models: Mackenzie Ziegler, Asher Angel, Maddie Ziegler, Skai Jackson

90 B

WWW.GOSHOWSTOPPER.COM

Photos: PB Teen • Writing/Design: Holly Ann Seweryn

FEATURING MUSIC FROM YOUR FAVORITE DANCERS

1 2 3 4 5

"DISTANT" TATE MCRAE "D.R.E.A.M." JOJO SIWA "ULTIMATUM" ASHLUND JADE "SLAY" NIA SIOUX "PICTURE THIS" ANNIE LEBLANC

6 7 8 9 10

"EMOCEANS" MACKENZIE ZIEGLER "OPEN ARMS" PRETTYMUCH "BITTERSWEET" GIGGLES & ODEE "OUT LOUD" KENDALL K "YOUNG & CRAZY" DYLAN CONRIQUE

11 12 13 14 15

LISTEN TO THE FULL PLAYLIST NOW ON THE SHOWSTOPPER SPOTIFY! @GOSHOWSTOPPER

92 B

WWW.GOSHOWSTOPPER.COM

"COME ALONG" ASIA MONET "FFL" LEXI DREW "NEW YOU" JAYDEN BARTELS "DENIM JACKET" EMILY SKINNER "PARACHUTE" TATI MCQUAY

@GOSHOWSTOPPER

B 93

Photography: Ana Ochoa, Eli Paul, Holly Ann Seweryn • Photo of Ariana Grande: Shutterstock • Design: Holly Ann Seweryn

Aquarius (1/20-2/18)

PISCES pisces (2/19-3/20)

Aries ARIES (3/21-4/19)

Your Aquarius imagination

As a dancer, you know all

In the next couple of weeks,

has had you daydreaming

about flexibility. Now it’s

you’re going to find yourself

of vacay for what seems

time to apply some of that

majorly out of your comfort

like forever. Consider this

movement to your everyday

zone. Why? Your patience is

your sign that you need to

life. You’re going to face a

going to be mega-tested. As

make it happen! Ask your

situation that is going to test

an Aries, you can be a little

parents to sit down and

you, so be sure to go into it

impatient, but if there was

figure out exactly what

open-minded and be willing

ever a time to wait it out —

you’d need to do to get

to adapt to the scenario.

this is it. Big things are coming

there. There’s no place like

Stay positive, Pisces. It won’t

soon, but you have to go with

Paris in the Summer (even

break you, you’re just going

the flow and be patient for it

if it’s two years and two

to have to bend a little bit

to arrive. We promise it’ll be

summer jobs from now).

more than usual.

worth the wait!

LEO (7/23-8/22)

VIRGO LIBRA (8/23-9/22) (9/23-10/22)

Your Leo fussiness is going

Whether you realize it or not,

You’re going to unknowingly

to get you in a pickle this

you’ve been really hard on

stumble into an issue this

month. A choice is going to

yourself lately. While always

month that will require more

come your way and you

wanting to be your best can

grace than your ballet class.

may overlook something

really challenge you in a great

The situation is going to be

awesome because you

way, it can also cloud your

delicate, so it’s best you

think you already know

thoughts with negativity. Over

channel your Libra sense

how you’ll feel about it. Try

the last little while, your Virgo

of fairness and really think

your absolute BEST to be

tendency to be critical has left

everything through before

open-minded this month and

you feeling not so great. This

you respond to the situation.

be willing to change your

month, really strive to recognize

It might involve some tip

opinion. You may discover a

your greatness and celebrate

toeing, but you’re going to

new passion!

even the smallest of victories.

get through it no problem.

94 B

WWW.GOSHOWSTOPPER.COM

*for entertainment purposes only

GEMINI Taurus TAURUS (4/20-5/20) (5/21-6/20)

CELEB SIGNS GRACE VANDERWAAL

Photo: Shutterstock • Design: Holly Ann Seweryn

1/15 - CAPRICORN

CANCER (6/21-7/22)

You’re almost there! Your

You’ve been feeling restless

You tend to feel most

Taurus determination is really

to try something new for

comfortable at home and in

going to pay off soon, even if

quite some time now. It’s not

situations you’re very used to.

it doesn’t feel like it right now.

that you’re bored, you’re

While you’re building amazing

You’ve been committed to your

just intrigued by all that’s

relationships in those areas,

goal for what feels like forever

out there! Make a list of

you might be missing out on

now, and it can be easy to lose

the things you’re looking

something big just outside your

focus, but stay strong! Your

forward to trying and start

comfort zone. Try your best

achievements may not present

checking them off. You'll be

this month to really embrace

themselves in the way you’re

surprised at how extremely

situations that you may not be

used to, but be sure to see your

fulfilling it can be to try new

used to and that challenge you a

accomplishments for what

things! Now get goin' on that

bit. When you challenge yourself,

they are!

list, Gemini!

your growth potential is limitless!

SCORPIO (10/23-11/21)

SAGITTARius SAGITTarius (11/22-12/21)

CAPRICORN (12/22-1/19)

ARIANA GRANDE

Your Scorpio fearlessness

It’s time for adventure!

“If it isn’t planned three weeks

6/26 - CANCER

doesn’t normally hold you

Music to your ears, right?

in advance, I’m not going.”

BRUNO MARS 10/8 - LIBRA

back from trying new things,

Challenge yourself on your

Sound like you? Capricorns

but there’s something in the

next adventure by bringing

are careful planners and also

back of your mind, that, for

someone who needs help

tend to get a little nervous

some reason, you haven’t

coming out of their shell. For

about situations that aren’t

pursued yet. Reflect inward

a self-dependent Sagittarius

set in stone. This month,

and try to navigate why

who loves to go solo, this

take ourself outside your

you haven’t taken the first

might be difficult. It’s going

comfort zone by agreeing

step. Find the obstacles and

to test your patience, but it’s

to something spontaneous.

overcome them — we promise

also going to take you out of

Wherever you go, you'll be

it will be worth it. You may

your comfort zone and lead to

surprised how much fun an

even find a new talent!

mega personal growth.

unplanned adventure can be!

@GOSHOWSTOPPER

B 95

Challenge yourself with this full list of adventure challenges from throughout the magazine. Make 2019 a year of new things, growth, and above all, FUN!

1

Plan a trip, even if it’s only to the next town over and really submerse yourself in the experience (try the #1 restaurant, check out the #1 “tourist” site, and even check out their local dance studio)!

Holly Ann Seweryn, Editor-in-Chief

2

Grab your BFFs and complete your own Jordan Matter inspired "10 minute photo challenge."

8

Las Vegas Inspired

9

Jordan Matter Author of Born to Dance

3

Take a class outside your comfort zone!

4

Try a new stretch every day for a week!

5

Tate McRae

Next time you’re at a convention or competition, and there’s an opportunity for you to take a risk in dance (like demonstrating the combo or joining in on a freestyle), take it!

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

10

Download the official Showstopper App to access exclusive video content from this magazine!

Available on Apple & Android

Sofie Dossi

Write out a list of ten things you want to accomplish this year, and then print it out to keep on your mirror!

Keltie Knight Entertainment Tonight

96 B

Plan a sleepover with your friends where you watch 3-4 movies in a row from different genres — from live concerts to The Greatest Showman, you'll feel like you're in Vegas in no time!

6

Try out for the school play, even if it’s just for a small role.

7

Perform in a talent show! Sing a song or dance in front of your peers.

Ava Cantrell

Austyn Johnson

WWW.GOSHOWSTOPPER.COM

BONUS!

Share pics of you completing your challenges with us on Instagram with #goshowstopper

Writing/Design: Holly Ann Seweryn • Back Cover Photo: Jordan Matter

ACROSS

DOWN

2

The name of the character Nicole Laeno plays on Boss Cheer

1

The highest award you can get at Showstopper

4

America’s First Dance Competition

3

Keltie Knight was a former Radio City ________

9

The name of Jordan Matter’s new book

5

Dylan Conrique’s dream vacation

10

These metallic beauties are handed out during awards

6

12

This YouTube star was on the back cover of our last magazine

The way Merrick Hanna dances, you might think he's actually a _____

15

Austyn Johnson sang this song during her first audition

7

Caden Conrique’s favorite Netflix binge

17

This drops at our Finals every year (and no, it’s not the beat)

8

Coco Quinn’s favorite dance routine ever

18

A lot of people think Sofie Dossi is missing this

11

Kyla Drew is learning ASL but is already fluent in English & _______

21

Ariana Grande’s Harry Potter House

13

Sheaden Gabriel played young Rufio in this movie

22

“America Loves to _____!”

14

Grace Vanderwaal’s Zodiac sign

23

If you just spent the weekend learning hip hop from Fik-Shun, you probably attended one of our Showstopper Dance ___________!

16

What every dancer gets who competes at our competition

24

The Lab’s dessert on their World of Dance diet

19

If you’re in Vegas, you have to see the colorful rock structure called the “Seven _____ _________”

25

Front and center, no matter your age, lookin’ fab for the judges on the Showstopper _____

20 Find us on social media with the handle @_____________

26

For Ariana Grande’s first concert, she saw ____ _____

22

27

Showstopper’s favorite color

28

Each week on the Showstopper _______ ____, we highlight what's trending in teen lifestyle and dance news (2 words)

29

Keltie Knight’s favorite interview to-date (2 words)

Tate McRae’s new single inspired by her friend

HINT:

Use your Showstopper knowledge & the articles in this magazine to find the answers!