At the 2026 New York City Dance Alliance Nationals in Phoenix, AZ, American Ballet Theatre Studio Company artistic director Sascha Radetsky addressed a ballroom full of teenage dancers as he taught their morning ballet class. “Does anyone know which ballet this music is from?” he asked, pausing the jeté track from Nate Fifield’s The Great […]
What happens when you win Best Dancer at The Dance Awards’ Nationals in every age division? You make history. What about when two dancers do it, nearly in all the same years? Double history. That’s what happened for 18-year-old competition stars Ian Stegeman and Cameron Voorhees. Over the past decade, each dancer has taken first […]
Madisyn Rose Amos is a force to be reckoned with in the competition circuit. At just 12 years old, she clearly exemplifies what it means to be a multifaceted dancer. A quick scroll through her Instagram reveals competition and convention reels spanning a variety of styles, including jazz, ballet, contemporary, and ballroom. (In fact, after […]
At Helena Padial’s middle school production of Bye Bye Birdie, Chita Rivera—yes, that Chita Rivera—came to watch. When she met the musical theater legend backstage, Padial burst into tears of disbelief, and Rivera gave her a hug. Fast-forward to 2026 and Padial, at 21, has been named Broadway’s Next Triple Threat, a new award created […]
The Chita Rivera Awards and the New York City Dance Alliance Foundation have announced the finalists for the first-ever “Broadway’s Next Triple Threat” talent search! Launched earlier this year, the initiative honors the legacy of Broadway icon Chita Rivera. Hundreds of young performing artists ages 18–25 applied to be part of the inaugural cohort, and […]
“You belong.” That’s the motto New York City Dance Alliance faculty member Desmond Richardson, who specializes in contemporary jazz/ballet, says is always emphasized when dancers walk in the door. “What I notice here at NYCDA is that courage, that belief in oneself, that belonging is prime,” he says. “And really, for me, it’s everything.” As […]
Cameron Janson has had a heck of a year. After winning Outstanding Dancer at New York City Dance Alliance and Dancer of the Year at Tremaine Dance Convention in 2024, the 18-year-old spent his weekends from November to May touring with both competitions across the U.S. On top of that, he’s been auditioning for professional […]
Competition dance trends become popular for a reason, but even the most exciting fads eventually run their course. Four competition judges discuss the dance trends they believe it’s time to leave behind, and offer suggestions on how to refocus routines on clarity, safety, and individual artistry. Nonstop Gymnastics While a well-executed tumbling or gymnastic element […]