The Why Not You Foundation, in collaboration with Colossal, recently hosted the Dance Icon competition, a vibrant event that engaged over 100,000 dancers worldwide. This talent on display at this event was remarkable. Its mission is to Make a World of Difference through the transformative power of dance and has raised more than $2.5 million in support of communities in need.
The Ciara Dance Icon competition brought in finalists to compete with dance routines based off Ciara tracks. Every dancer had unbelievable range, depth, originality, and ambition. The event wasn’t just a release party, it was a full celebration of the evolution of dance — something that inspires and influences Ciara deeply as an artist. She went to the competition with her longtime choreographer, Jamaica Craft, to cheer on the contestants and raise awareness for the cause.
Lexington Suttle! On top of that, he won a $20,000 cash prize and the opportunity to be featured in one of Ciara’s future music videos. Suttle expressed deep gratitude for the recognition, stating, “Winning this competition means everything. It’s proof that you can come from anywhere to make it— as long as you have your why.”
Ciara highlighted the centrality of dance to her creative process. More than the metrics, as Misty noted, dance has a unique power to transform and in this case, it’s helping underserved lives.
“I think really amazing things happen when the world starts to dance, and this competition is a testament to the love for the power of dance but also for the power of impact,” – Ciara
She went on to showcase how vital dancers are to her performance.
“I couldn’t do my shows at the level I do without them, so I love chances like these to celebrate dance,” – Ciara
The collaboration between the Why Not You Foundation and Colossal allowed for an engaging experience that resonated with dancers globally. Ciara reflected on this partnership, stating,
“Collaborating with Colossal to support the Why Not You Foundation has been such a fun way to engage the global dance community and create meaningful impact through the power of dance. When the world dances together, amazing things happen,” – Ciara
The Dance Icon competition proved to be more than just a contest. It was a celebration of artistry and community spirit. When the last session of the event concluded, participants were buzzing with new ideas, energy and ambition. They discovered that dance goes beyond stage performance. It is a deeply meaningful and impactful artform.