“It’s a privilege to provide platforms for youth to build courage, camaraderie, and creativity,” Bailey said. “Despite challenges, we remain committed to creating an outsized impact with our small but passionate team.”
In 2022, the competition evolved into an arts-based nonprofit, which has allowed them to diversify funding streams, including three grants and an increase in small donor support. The overall annual budget has grown from $6,000 to $48,000, “with steady surpluses ensuring sustainability.”
Credit: Brett Turner
Credit: Brett Turner
The cultural event, which is held during Black History Month, transitioned in 2024 from Springfield’s Kuss Auditorium to the Dayton Masonic Temple. It encompasses a full weekend, with a “schools showcase” Feb. 14, a “hip-hop workshop and freestyle battle” Feb. 15, and the 3-hour competition featuring various dance genres at the Dayton Masonic Center Feb. 16.
“Although we faced challenges with decreased Springfield attendance, we connected through initiatives like running charter buses and building partnerships with Dayton civic leaders,” Bailey said. “The move to Dayton has fostered new opportunities and partnerships.”
Despite the challenges, Bailey said the show had 1,148 attendees in 2024 compared to 1,241 in 2023, “setting the stage for growth in Dayton with projections to sell out the 1,500-seat venue this year.” He said that despite also losing five sponsors, the event grew to 21 sponsors and a $26,000 budget compared to $19,000 in 2023 and $14,000 in 2022.
“This growth reflects our strategic outreach and Dayton’s embrace of our mission,” he said.
Bailey said the show initially focused on hip-hop and Black Greek step teams, but has expanded to include three levels of hip-hop dance (Novice, Intermediate, Advanced) and introduced college and high school divisions, and majorette-style Stand Battles are also now a centerpiece.
Once Dance Stomp Shake became a nonprofit, it started hosting and creating more events other than the dance show. This year’s events include:
Youth Connect: This event brings together 100 students from grades 8-10 to empower them to address critical social issues and foster civic engagement. The 2025 event, coming on a date to be announced this spring, will focus on youth violence, bullying, mental health and suicidal ideation.
Bailey said this event, which was rebranded from the “Youth Summit,” has seen the most “significant evolution” as they have shifted from a 7-8 grade focus to a high school-only model for 2025.
Art That Bonds: This program, Feb. 11 at the Springfield Museum of Art, allows middle and STEM school students to create art centered on mental health and self-love, and provides them with a professional platform to display their work, inspire creativity and self-expression and highlight the importance of mental health awareness.
Dance workshop and one-on-one dance battle (2024): This competition Feb. 15 allows dancers to showcase their skills, creativity and athleticism by blending artistry, technical precision and community engagement to empower youth and self-expression through dance.
Dance show: This dance showcase and competition Feb. 16 highlights creativity, teamwork and passion of young dancers while also fostering a sense of community and celebration.
Simply Serving: This annual celebration (held in December 2024) with dinner and awards honors people and organizations who make contributions to youth and their communities, bringing together educators, first responders and youth-focused agencies to recognize their efforts.
To celebrate its fifth year, officials have partnered with White Allen Chevy for a milestone fundraiser to raffle a two-year lease on a 2024 Chevy Equinox EV or a $3,500 cash prize. Additional runner-up prizes include a new large screen TV, a $500 cash prize and several $100 gift certificates from area dining.
The teams competing in this year’s competition include returning champions Ohio State University, new competitors Case Western, high school teams Trotwood and Dunbar in Dayton, Independence High School in Columbus, SWEATSHOP from Racine, WI, and Levitated from Cleveland.
“The dance show has grown in prestige, attracting high-level talent, larger audiences, and increased payouts. Teams now recognize our event as a premier competition, bringing their best performances,” Bailey said.
For more information, visit www.dancestompshake.org or on Facebook, or email Bailey at dancestompshake@gmail.com.
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