This article originally appeared in the Spring 2025 Pink Issue of Showstopper Magazine.
We print one special edition issue each year, but we’re in the know every day! Showstopper Magazine Online is home to exclusive interviews with artists and dancers, celebrity news, and more! Get a sneak peek at some of our favorite articles here and keep up with us online for regular updates from your favorite teen dance magazine.
Ella Galvin…
Her new song, “Pink Shoes”
“I had just left a band I was in for a few years, and it was a hard decision. I was going to stop making music altogether, but then I met someone that really encouraged me to keep going—now he plays vibraphone in my band! It’s really about working through hard times and believing in yourself and the success you want to experience and just going for that.”
The Inspo Behind “Pink Shoes”
“I bought an incredible pair of pink boots a week before everything shut down in 2020. I never even got to wear them until April 2021! It felt so refreshing to finally wear them after so long, and it made me feel alive again, which inspired the lyrics: ‘put on my pink shoes, and I’m feeling brand new.'”
Mistine on Her New Album, Lonely
“This EP takes the listener through my exploration and confusion into life and love. It captures moments in time from growing in love, heartbreak, and friendship, confusion, longing, loneliness. My songs are made to listen to while you’re driving in your car, right before sunset, when the sky is just turning orange, windows down, hair flowing in the breeze, timeless nostalgia. I thrive on the connection between others and myself. Why are we the way we are? Why do we do what we do?”
Noa Diberto on How Her Latest Film Backspot Challenges Cheer Stereotypes
“I’m so grateful that there is now a movie that showcases the struggles and diminishes stereotypes [of cheer]. Backspot looks into mental health, highlighting the anxiety and stress that come with significant life transitions, such as advancing in one’s career or joining an elite team like the Thunderhawks. By portraying these struggles authentically, the film invites viewers to empathize with the characters’ experiences and challenges superficial perceptions of cheerleading.”
Maisy Kay on Her New EP, Wonderlust: The Dusk
“It’s a nighttime sister EP to Wonderlust: The Dawn. It delves into the deeper elements of love and romance, as well as exploring a darker, grittier sound production-wise. I wanted a continuation of all the different parts that make up a love story, as well as an opportunity to play around with different sounds and feelings.”
Piper Connolly…
On the Story Behind Her Single, “Muse”
“I wrote ‘muse’ when I was dealing with a one-sided crush. It was someone I was collaborating with creatively. We collaborated beautifully together (ugh!), so I needed to decide if I was going to suck it up to keep working with this person or get caught up in my feelings and lose them completely. I decided to suck it up! It wasn’t easy, but it was the best decision I could have made…and a great tune came out of it! BTW, I did not write ‘muse’ with this person—for anyone trying to trace the breadcrumbs!”
Advice for Getting Over an Unrequited Crush
“What worked for me was to focus on the common things that brought up together in the first place and to continue to focus on the happiness in that. I don’t expect it to work 100 percent of the time, but if you really want to hold on to the friendship, you need to maintain the common ground. I still have a good cry over some ice cream about it sometimes. That’s okay too!”
Peder Lindell…
On Preparing for His Role of Morgie in The Descendants: Rise of Red
“I rewatched all the movies and really immersed myself in the Descendants universe. I wanted to remember what it was like to watch these movies as a kid and make sure I could bring that feeling to the screen with Morgie!”
On Why He Loves Playing Morgie
“He’s in love with being wicked and in love with all things wicked, but I think at points he may come across as quite lovable because he’s a little goofy and in his own world so he can be neglected by his fellow Villain Kids, which is a fun dynamic to play with.”
Annabel Gutherz on What It Means to Her to Be a Performer
“To be a performer is to embrace the joy of entertaining and connecting with people on a deeply emotional level. For me, performing is not just about being on stage; it’s about forging meaningful connections with my audience, bringing them moments of joy, and understanding what emotionally resonates with them. It’s about feeling the pulse of the crow and responding to their energy, creating a shared experience that transcends the ordinary.
“Performing is about immersing yourself in the fabric of the human experience. It’s about expressing the myriad emotions that define our lives—joy, sorrow, love, and everything in between—and channeling those feelings into your art.”
Julia Raye on Writing Her New Song “Expectations”
“It was actually hard to find the words at first, mainly because I just didn’t know myself well enough yet. One minute I thought I was in love, the next I was crying to my friends about him. At the end of the day, though, it felt great to eventually just express this mix of feelings in the lyrics of the song. I think a lot of young women experience similar situations and emotions, and I hope this song helps other people who are stuck in the push and pull of a relationship/situationship. It was the first song I wrote that made me feel like I could be a professional songwriter.
Kate Roman on How Dance Has Helped with Her Acting Career—Most Recently As Ariana on The Next Step
“My years of dance training have conditioned me to have a high level of self-discipline, time-management skills, and the ability to thrive under pressure. These transferable skills really benefited my acting journey. Showing up for 5:30am call times day after day takes effort, even when you love the work!”
