In 1989, CEO Shari Tomasiello and her mother founded Headliners with: simple mission:: that it will be an educationally based and purposeful competition, providing a fun and encouraging environment involving dancers of all sizes, levels and abilities. As the Headliners continue to expand: Tour in 2025 boasts 33 regional competitions, two national competitions and five conventions this fall – Tomasiello remains committed to that foundation and to keeping the dancers at the center of it all. “We’ve always been about the kids,” she says. “This is not just a job for us. It’s really and truly a passion.”
The approach of the headliners speaks for itself. Last year, the competition received a record number of positive reviews, praising Tomasiello and her team for their professionalism, warmth and enthusiasm for the young dancers and noting the fairness of the judging. “We always support the dancers,” says Tomasiello of Headliners’ values. “We hope they focus not on the prize they won, but on the experience, the opportunity to continue learning and growing and making new friendships and connections.”
Keeping the competition affordable
Coming from a dance studio background, Tomasiello and her two daughters, with whom she now runs the company, know what it’s like to attend a competition as a dancer, parent and teacher. Considering the costs associated with the competition, Headliners strives to keep entry fees reasonable. Headliners was also the first competition or convention to offer photography and video for free—a tradition Tomasiello is proud of.
Accommodating student schedules
To streamline the registration process, studios are encouraged to indicate scheduling conflicts they would like the competition to accommodate. Knowing this information in advance allows Headliners to create specific schedules for each event that are shared with participating studios weeks in advance. Tomasiello also accommodates students’ school schedules when it comes to weekend start and end times. “By limiting walk-ins, we ensure that events start after school hours,” she says, adding that Headliners also aim to finish at a decent hour on Sundays.
Focusing on growth
Headliners is deeply committed to following its own rules. For example, the competition offers three levels, but if the judges notice a routine registered at a level that seems too low for the dancers’ skill level, they will adjust that routine to the appropriate level. “Studios should want to give their dancers the opportunity to be the best versions of themselves,” Tomasiello says. “And our tiers are such that each one provides more opportunities, with the highest tier offering cash and other scholarships. We believe passionately that competitions can and should be used to enhance the education of dancers.”
Support for the future of dancers
Headliners supports the growth of dancers beyond the competition stage by partnering with a growing number of organizations – including AMDA, The Norwalk Conservatory of the Arts and Peridance Center – that provide scholarships to competitors. Via Headliners’ Trophy or Charity: program, studios and dancers can choose and donate the value of their prizes to various charities, including the Headliners Foundation, which provides college scholarships to dancers who attend Nationals and are interested in pursuing a degree or career in dance.
Tomasiello believes that the life skills that dancers learn from training and competing are vital whether they are interested in a professional career or not. “Dance really provides so much more than technique,” she says. “It’s the camaraderie, the teamwork, the strength, the way you carry yourself. Everything can be used later in your life.”
Expanding the reach of headliners
As the Headliners head into their 2025 tour, it continues to grow, adding additional stops on both the East and West Coasts, leading to National Championships in Atlantic City, New Jersey and Northern California.
Headliners is adding more convention stops than ever, which will include classes like floor work, jazz funk and Bollywood. Exposing dancers to styles they might not get in their home studios goes back to Headliners’ commitment to education. “It’s about making the dancers who attend our events feel good about their accomplishments,” Tomasiello says. “Regardless of the outcome or reward.”
Pre-registration is now available to hold your spot for the 2024 Headliners conventions and 2025 races. Online registration officially opens on July 15th. For more information on attending a Headliners event next year, click: here:or email: [email protected].