In 1989, CEO Shari Tomasiello and her mom created Headliners with a easy mission: that it will be an educationally primarily based and goal-oriented competitors, offering a enjoyable and inspiring surroundings that’s inclusive of dancers of all sizes, ranges, and talents. As Headliners continues to increase—the 2025 tour boasts 33 regional competitions, two nationwide competitions, and 5 conventions this fall—Tomasiello stays dedicated to that basis, and to preserving the dancers on the heart of all of it. “Now we have at all times been in regards to the children,” she says. “This isn’t only a job for us. It’s actually and actually a ardour.”
Headliners’ strategy speaks for itself: Over the previous 12 months, the competitors has obtained a report variety of constructive critiques, commending Tomasiello and her staff on their professionalism, heat, and enthusiasm for younger dancers, and noting the equity of the judging. “We’re at all times rooting for the dancers,” says Tomasiello of Headliners’ values. “We hope they focus not on the award earned, however on the expertise, the chance to proceed to be taught and develop, and to make new friendships and connections.”
Maintaining Competing Reasonably priced
Coming from a dance studio background, Tomasiello and her two daughters, with whom she now runs the corporate, know what it feels wish to attend a contest as a dancer, dad or mum, and trainer. Maintaining the bills that come with competing in thoughts, Headliners goals to take care of cheap entry charges. Headliners was additionally the primary competitors or conference to supply photographs and video freed from cost—a practice Tomasiello is proud to uphold.
Accommodating College students’ Schedules
To streamline the registration course of, studios are prompted to point scheduling conflicts that they want the competitors to accommodate. Figuring out this info prematurely permits Headliners to create particular schedules for every occasion, that are shared with the collaborating studios weeks prematurely. Tomasiello can also be aware of scholars’ faculty schedules in relation to weekend begin and finish occasions. “By limiting entries, we make sure that occasions start after faculty hours,” she says, including that Headliners additionally goals to finish at an honest hour on Sundays.
Specializing in Development
Headliners is deeply dedicated to following its personal guidelines. As an illustration, the competitors presents three ranges, but when the judging panel notices a routine registered in a stage that appears too low for the dancers’ talent stage, they’ll regulate that routine to the suitable stage. “Studios ought to wish to give their dancers the chance to be one of the best variations of themselves,” says Tomasiello. “And our ranges are such that every gives extra alternatives, with the very best stage providing money and different scholarships. We consider passionately that competitions can, and may, be used to boost the schooling of dancers.”
Supporting Dancers’ Futures
Headliners helps dancers’ progress past the competitors stage by partnering with a rising variety of organizations—together with AMDA, The Norwalk Conservatory of the Arts, and Peridance Heart—which give scholarships to rivals. By way of Headliners’ Trophy or Charity program, studios and dancers can choose and donate the worth of their awards to numerous charities, together with the Headliners Basis, which gives school scholarships for dancers who attend Nationals and are eager about pursuing a level or profession in dance.
Tomasiello believes that the life abilities that dancers be taught from coaching and competitions are very important whether or not or not they’re eager about pursuing an expert efficiency profession. “Dance actually does present a lot extra past the approach,” she says. “It’s the camaraderie, the teamwork, the energy, the way in which you carry your self. Every thing can be utilized transferring ahead in your life.”
Increasing Headliners’ Attain
As Headliners heads into its 2025 tour, it continues to develop, including further stops on each the East and West Coasts which can result in Nationwide Championships, in Atlantic Metropolis, New Jersey, and Northern California.
Headliners is including extra conference stops than ever earlier than, which can embrace lessons like floorwork, jazz funk, and Bollywood. Exposing dancers to kinds they won’t get of their house studios harkens again to Headliners’ dedication to schooling. “It’s about making the dancers that attend our occasions be ok with their accomplishments,” says Tomasiello. “Whatever the rating or award.”
Pre-registration to carry your spot for Headliners 2024 Conventions and 2025 Competitions is now obtainable. On-line registration formally opens July fifteenth. For extra info on attending a Headliners occasion subsequent 12 months, click on right here, or e mail [email protected].
