At the roots of Showstopper is pure passion for dance, and paired with more years of experience than any other competition, we continue to lead the nation in dance events. Each event is equipped with the industry‘s best stages, screens, lighting, and cameras. Our staff is thoroughly trained in their field to provide every customer with an un-matched experience.
Join us and see why nothing beats the Showstopper Experience!
Founded in 1978, Showstopper is America‘s first, longest-running, and most prestigious dance competition. Our founder developed Showstopper from a love for dance and passion for providing dancers with the same opportunities as any other athlete. An equation that has been perfected for nearly 47 years.
We go to extraordinary lengths to provide the industry’s highest quality dance competitions with judges who provide feedback from their years of in-depth industry experience. Our team is dedicated to guaranteeing each attendee has a competition experience unlike one they can find anywhere else.
We believe in the power of diverse dance education. Our dance conventions provide the invaluable opportunity to learn new skills, make connections, and meet new friends in a positive and encouraging environment aside from the competition world. Everyone can be themselves and grow together.
Debbie got the idea to host the nation’s first dance competition from watching her son play competitive sports for years. Seeing the excitement he got for a big game inspired her to create the same for dancers. Debbie took her savings and booked four competitions for Showstopper’s first year. She wrote letters and knocked on the doors of local dance studios. Despite many doors slammed in her face, Debbie did not give up. Instead, she drove around the state with her big sales pitch. Eventually, she recruited about 400 people to attend her first show. By the fourth show of that year, people were asking her how they could participate in Showstopper’s competitions.
In no time, local televisions and newspapers were filled with pictures of children leaping across the Showstopper stage. The excitement and curiosity grew from dancers across the country, and with the help of her husband, they continued expanding their competitions from state to state.
Beyond the stage, Debbie taught dance for over 26 years and owned and operated her own dance studio for 20 years. Through the years, her impact on the dance community continued. In 1984, Debbie graced the cover of Dance Teacher Magazine. In 1986, she topped Glamour Magazine‘s list of Outstanding Young Working Women. In 1992, Debbie published her first of three dance-related books. Her first book, The Super Studio: The Guide to a Successful Dance Studio, earned major credit at many colleges throughout the United States.
Debbie and Dave continue to grow Showstopper each year, now with competitions and conventions in over 50 locations nationwide. They are just as invested in their company today as they have always been, traveling every weekend to one of their competitions to make sure each is the best it can be.
FROM OUR BEGINNING TO TODAY
In Battle Creek, Michigan, Debbie Roberts begins teaching dance and hosts the first annual end-of-summer talent competition – giving tons of dancers the opportunity to show off their dance skills in front of an audience and a panel of judges!
Debbie opens the doors to her first dance studio in High Point, North Carolina: The Dance Shop. Hundreds of eager dancers of all ages start learning to strut their stuff!
Debbie hosts a “Day of Dance” at The Dance Shop and over 100 driven and young dancers are able to attend her first fabulous dance convention!
Debbie realizes that dancers, just as other athletes, need a place to compete on a large scale un front of a crowd ofspectators and supporters. So she knocks on every studio´s door in Charlotte, North Carolina, sharing her idea for a challenging, yet celebratory competition for local dancers.
Start spreading the news! Showstopper’s first national finals are held in New York City.
Showstopper is coast to coast! Showstopper hosts its first show at Disneyland in Anaheim, California which marks the beginning of a 40-year partnership with Disney.
Showstopper is trademarked! Look at us!
Welcome Dave Roberts!
Dave Roberts can’t resist the high energy environment of Showstopper, so he sells his successful furniture manufacturing company and becomes an official member of the Showstopper family! If you ask us, we think he made a great decision!
Showstopper makes it to the big screen!
Showstopper produces the first, nationally aired dance competition television show, The American Dance Championship. This one-hour dance special aired on TVs across America from Thanksgiving to New Year for 20 years!
Debbie Roberts continues to inspire us all!
Showstopper and Founder, Debbie Roberts, is featured in Entrepreneur Magazine.
Showstopper sees it’s first future superstar on stage!
If you already think Showstopper is bae, you might be surprised to learn that Showstopper is also Bey. Yes, Queen Bey herself takes the Showstopper stage in 1991.
The beginning of Showstopper Dance Conventions!
Showstopper adds dance conventions to its national tour of competitions.
Debbie becomes a published author
Debbie Roberts publishes her first of three dance-related books. “The Super Studio: The Guide to a Successful Dance Studio” goes on to earn major credit at many colleges across the U.S.
Showstopper gets its first Emmy Nomination!
Showstopper’s TV show “The American Dance Championship” gets its first of five Emmy nominations.
Showstopper’s first semi!
Showstopper adds the first of its13 semi-truck fleet to ship all of our equipment and trophies to and from each show.
Showstopper goes online!
Showstopper emerges from its pink Y2K bunker and launches its first website: showstopperonline.com
Celebrating 25 years!
Showstopper celebrates its 25th birthday in 16-year-old style — with a brand new car! One lucky teacher walks (well, drove) away with fresh new wheels!
Showstopper’s first HQ!
We celebrate 30 years of Showstopper in a big way: with a new 35,000-square-foot Showstopper stage-design facility and dance museum right in the heart of Myrtle Beach.
Major stage upgrade!
We upgrade our production value with new stages and full LED background screen panels.
Showstopper’s biggest show yet!
Showstopper hits its first 3,000-act show in Anaheim, CA at the Disneyland Hotel. Our biggest show yet!
Showstopper triples in size!
Dave and Debbie develop a complete corporate headquarters with an in-house marketing, creative, production, and accounting team.
The first Showstopper Magazine!
Showstopper publishes the first issue of Showstopper Magazine, America’s #1 Teen Dance Magazine, with JoJo Siwa appearing on the cover. Along with the release of our first publication, we launched Showstopper Magazine Online!
Celebrating 40 years!
We celebrated our monumental 40th anniversary with another car giveaway and a special celebration tour.
Expansion of Showstopper HQ!
We quickly outgrew our custom-built office so we expand our Showstopper headquarters with an additional warehouse next door!
Showstopper’s first virtual tour!
We made the most of a tricky year by adding a Virtual Tour to our lineup that was produced at our Showstopper headquarters.
45th Anniversary hits the record books as our biggest year yet!
2023 is on track to be our largest season yet with a record number of new cities added to the and sold out shows.
Lauren | Studio Owner/Director
Denise | Parent
From Showstoppers to superstars!
Apply for a Studio ID and join our Studio Center. Your studio will be able to sign up for events or reserve your spot in competitions, manage your entries, see your schedule and so much more.
