Showstopper
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Just returned from Indy, we have been going to this competition for quite a few years. And we have had it with their judges not watching the full routines.
Which we have felt this way since the beginning, but we liked their backdrop screens, and it used to feel like something special. But it has lost its appeal.
The competition wants the judges to not only give verbal critiques, but they have them write dancers little notes too.
Which the 1st season we thought was cute. But now it's just annoying! I would rather the judges WATCH the dancers than write cute little notes to them. The one judge, who is the worst at this, also kept just looking over at the camera man in room 2 as dancers were performing...
We have been so disappointed in their judging that we will not be returning.
How can you accurately score a routine when you do not watch the full routine? Um, you can't.
I have watched the judges miss full chunks of dance routines and so have my dance parents.
For $200 per Solo, (you can almost pay for two solos at PAC for this price) you need to judge better than what you have been doing. The PAC Collective is WAY better with fair judging, who appreciate artistry in dancers. (At least in Indy anyways)
I don't get on if you have a competitive dancer who has impeccable stage presence not score a full 7 points on their stage presence? Seems a little fishy to me. I get that the score can vary on technique, but stage presence. If you have great stage presence you should get the full 7 points.
Hate that they do a preliminary top ten when they have a lot of soloists.
Why...? What's the point?
I had a dancer whose 1st solo has won 1st and 2nd place all session and out of 17 some routines didn't place that routine in the top ten...? which was crazy, but then she's expected to perform her second solo after the 1st preliminary awards defeated her.... It would be better to not know where you are placing so far in the competition. It's so stupid!
Just do one top ten at the end of their session.
Other complaints: There is no backstage help. So, there is nothing that makes this competition feel personable at all.
And that's what makes a competition is the staff and fair judging.
People that interact with the dancers and owners/instructors. Not just a telephone backstage... You just feel like a number at Showstopper or should I say a dollar sign.
Didn't like that there were no printed programs this year either. And we couldn't print at home because they didn't release the full schedule until they started on Saturday.
The venue got so dirty and disgusting, the bathroom was gross to even walk in.
I don't know what kind of food they were cooking up at the food area, but it smelled like fish and just stunk the whole place up.
This competition has gone downhill for sure but are charging more and more every season. And nobody liked what they did with the lower-level soloist. That just made no sense either.
It was a very disappointing weekend all around.
Whereas our time at LUXXE, PAC & CRU have been amazing this season!
2025-2026 Events/Venues
