We are so excited to announce the second annual Showstopper Day Essay Contest by Showstopper Magazine!
In honor of the sixth annual Showstopper Day celebration, April 21, 2026, we want to share dancers’ stories and perspectives by giving you a chance at publication, as well as some other great prizes.
What is Showstopper Day?
Showstopper Day is, first and foremost, a dance holiday. It is a day to get up and move, play your favorite songs, and show off your skills. Beyond that, Showstopper Day is a celebration of our mission: to encourage dancers to be part of their communities, spreading their love of dance and the infectious joy that comes with being involved. Each year, Showstopper Day is a reminder that the dance community cherishes connection and creativity!
How to celebrate:
✨ Throw on your go-to Showstopper fit or a pink sparkly top
💌 Hype up your dance fam with some extra love
🎊 Hit your favorite move and make it rain confetti
📸 Post one of your all-time fave pics from a Showstopper comp or convention
📖 Dive into Showstopper Magazine online articles or grab the latest print issue
🔥 Stay tuned for our Showstopper Day giveaways — coming soon!
🌟 Get ready… a special 2027 release is on the way 👀
Essay Contest
We want to share your story!
What We’re Looking For
For Showstopper Magazine’s first Showstopper Day essay contest, we are looking for original personal essays from dancers who thoughtfully answer one of the prompt questions below.
- What was your biggest dance moment of the last year? Why?
- What dance skill has challenged you the most? What lesson did it teach you?
- What was your favorite Showstopper dance performance and why?
- Who do you most cherish in your dance community? Why?
Rules and Deadlines
- The contest is open to writers/dancers ages 10-18. The essay must be written by the qualifying writer/dancer. No more than one essay submission will be accepted for each essay writer. (Dancers will not be judged based on their age or writing expertise but on the emotional impact of their essay and ability to follow the prompt.)
- Essays must be 500-1,000 words in length. Submissions that do not meet or exceed this requirement will be disqualified.
- Essays should be proofread before submitting.
- All essays must be the original work of the student whose name is listed on the submission form. Plagiarism, including the use of generative AI, will result in immediate disqualification.
- By submitting, writers agree to Showstopper and Showstopper Magazine’s right to use, reproduce, transmit, post, distribute, adapt, edit, and/or display their essay on social media, goshowstopper.com, goshowstopper.com/magazine, and in print materials.
- Dancers under 13 will need a parent/guardian’s consent, and the contact email/phone must be that of the parent or guardian.
- Please read all Official Contest Rules before submitting
Essays must be submitted no later than 11:59pm Eastern Time, April 16, 2026.
Prizes
Winning essays are chosen as exemplary responses to one of the four prompts, and selections are based on the writers’ ability to capture their readers’ attention and build a clear sense of their understanding of and personal relationship with dance, NOT necessarily the writer’s composition skill. Winners will be announced on Showstopper Day, April 21, 2026, on the @goshowstopper and @goshowstoppermagazine Instagram accounts, and their essays will be published on Showstopper Magazine Online. Each essay winner will also receive Showstopper merchandise and a gift certificate to be used on Showstopper Competition or Convention fees, valued at $200.
One additional essay will be selected to win the Crystal Essay Award for best capturing the spirit of Showstopper Day. Crystal Award essays thoughtfully explore personal relationships with dance and demonstrate a clear desire to share and spread dance with others. This outward perspective sets Crystal Award Essays apart from winners of the other prizes. The winner of this prize will be announced on Showstopper Day, April 21, 2026, on the @goshowstopper and @goshowstoppermagazine Instagram accounts, and their essays will be published on Showstopper Magazine Online. They will also receive a Crystal Star Trophy and Showstopper merchandise.
Submit!
To submit your essay, please complete the form below. We look forward to reading your submission!
