In 1989, CEO Shari Tomasiello and her mom created Headliners with a simple mission: that it could be an educationally primarily based and goal-oriented competitors, offering a enjoyable and inspiring setting that’s inclusive of dancers of all sizes, ranges, and talents. Headliners continues to increase and can be internet hosting fall conventions and regional competitions in 19 states, culminating in a nationwide finals in July. Tomasiello stays dedicated to that basis, and to preserving the dancers on the heart of all of it. “We’ve at all times been concerning the children,” she says. “This isn’t only a job for us. It’s actually and actually a ardour.”
Headliners’ method speaks for itself: Over the previous 12 months, the competitors has obtained a report variety of optimistic evaluations, commending Tomasiello and her group 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 study and develop, and to make new friendships and connections.”
Retaining Competing Inexpensive
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, mother or father, and trainer. Retaining the bills that come with competing in thoughts, Headliners goals to take care of affordable entry charges. Headliners was additionally the primary competitors or conference to supply photographs and video freed from cost—a convention 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 data prematurely permits Headliners to create particular schedules for every occasion, that are shared with the taking part studios weeks prematurely. Tomasiello can be aware of scholars’ college schedules in the case of weekend begin and finish occasions. “By limiting entries, we make sure that occasions start after college hours,” she says, including that Headliners additionally goals to finish at a good hour on Sundays.
Specializing in Progress
Headliners is deeply dedicated to following its personal guidelines. As an example, the competitors affords three ranges, but when the judging panel notices a routine registered in a degree that appears too low for the dancers’ talent degree, they’ll modify that routine to the suitable degree. “Studios ought to wish to give their dancers the chance to be the perfect variations of themselves,” says Tomasiello. “And our ranges are such that every offers extra alternatives, with the best degree providing money and different scholarships. We consider passionately that competitions can, and will, be used to reinforce 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 opponents. Via Headliners’ Trophy or Charity program, studios and dancers can choose and donate the worth of their awards to varied charities, together with the Headliners Basis, which offers faculty scholarships for dancers who attend Nationals and are all for pursuing a level or profession in dance.
Tomasiello believes that the life expertise that dancers study from coaching and competitions are important whether or not or not they’re all for pursuing an expert efficiency profession. “Dance actually does present a lot extra past the method,” she says. “It’s the camaraderie, the teamwork, the power, the way in which you carry your self. Every thing can be utilized transferring ahead in your life.”
The Headliners Expertise
As Headliners heads into its 2025–2026 season, the competitors continues to deal with offering a optimistic and welcoming onsite expertise, together with limiting entries per occasion to maintain hours affordable and having judges with coaching and instructing expertise in all main dance kinds. Headliners prides itself on its occasions being an expertise—nationals awards virtually $500,000 in faculty scholarships, affords a trainer’s lounge with meals, has conference lessons, a dance-off, and an awards gala. “It can be crucial for us to additionally present our appreciation to the academics that select to attend our occasions,” says Tomasiello.
Pre-registration to carry your spot for Headliners 2025 Conventions and 2026 Competitions is now accessible. On-line registration formally opens August 1. For extra data on attending a Headliners occasion subsequent 12 months, click on here or e-mail [email protected].
