In honor of the fifth annual Showstopper Day celebration, April 21, 2025, we decided to open up Showstopper Magazine Online to the dancers who read our articles daily. We dedicate our time to writing to you, and we wanted to give you an opportunity to write to us. With our first-ever Showstopper Day Essay contest, we asked dancers ages 10-18 to share their stories and perspectives, giving you a chance at publication as well as some other great prizes.
After reviewing many, many fabulous essays, we are excited to share the winners of the contest: six incredible essays that made us think, tear up, and shout “Yes!” You can find the winners below and click the titles of each of their essays to share in our excitement and celebrate Showstopper Day with through their eyes.
Showstopper Day Essay Contest Winners
We would like to congratulate these five writers on sharing compelling essays that thoughtfully responded to their selected prompt and asked us to consider their perspective with personality and detail.
“I Started at 17”
Kamori Dillard, Age 17
Teresa’s School of Dance
Prompt: “How has dance shaped your confidence or sense of self?”
“Crystal Dreams, Bruised Feet”
Bryana Maximo, Age 14
Cary Dance Productions
Prompt: “What is one aspect of being a dancer that most people don’t understand?”
“Most People Grow Up Going to School, Coming Home, Doing Homework, and Sleeping for the Rest of Their Day.”
Anthony Shafir, Age 14
Brooklynite Elite Dance Complex
Prompt: “What is one aspect of being a dancer that most people don’t understand?”
“Shadows and Spotlights”
Xiangting Ren, Age 17
Bay Dance Collective
Prompt: “How has dance shaped your confidence or sense of self?”
“Most People Think that Being a Dancer is About What Happens on Stage, the Costumes, the Stage Lights, and the Applause.”
Ella Hootman, Age 17
Encore Dance Academy
Prompt: “What is one aspect of being a dancer that most people don’t understand?”
Showstopper Day Crystal Essay Award Winner
We would like to congratulate one writer for capturing the spirit of Showstopper Day by exploring a personal relationship with dance and extending that enthusiasm to others with care and emotion.
“Do You Love to Dance?”
Kori Paugh, Age 15
Statesville Dance and Performing Arts
Prompt: “How has dance impacted your relationship with your community?”
Honorable Mentions
With so many submissions, selecting these essays was a difficult task. Each essay had something unique to offer, from descriptions of triumphant moments to heart-wrenching struggles. The following dancers shared stories that pushed them into our “finalists” category before final selections were made.
Showstopper Day Essay Contest Honorable Mentions
Reese Fisher
Logan Nicholls
Hayden Patenaude
Elizabeth Decker
Ella Beharry
Brynn Wislocki
Elizabeth Wallace
Makaila Moline
Kristin Ozuna
Kaleigh Konopka
Juliet Burka
River Carter
Amelia Greene
Emerson Taylor
Elina Tsai
Keita Forrester
Gilana Knight
Showstopper Day Crystal Essay Award Honorable Mention
Delilah Claire Hadyk
