Dance competitions can be a dime a dozen, but everyone knows that KAR (Kids Artistic Revue) is at the top of the heap. Around for 30 years, the organization has been helping young dance career hopefuls put their best foot forward, literally, with a touring competition that holds its nationals in Las Vegas. And recently, KAR’s unique evolution from contest to elaborate awards show to charity event has caused it to gain considerable attention. Now in its second year, the July 3 event doubles as a benefit for multiple foundations, and will be hosted by triple-threat dancer, actor and singer Roshon Fegan, of Disney Channel’s Shake it Up.
“[This competition] focuses on more of the professionalism behind dance,” Roshon says, remembering how he himself ‘came up’ in the dance world (he’s only 21, but many kids start their dance ‘careers’ at age 2). “I started from the freestyle world. My ‘competition’ was going to a party and freestyle battling in a circle. And when I won, I was the man of the night!” At the Vegas event this week, there will be many young dancers hoping to be the best of the night as well. With over 10 categories, dance studios from across the country competing and thousands expected to attend, the show promises to be big, but also fun. Redfoo of LMFAO and the La Freak Crew and the boy band IM5 are slated to perform. “[The KARtv Awards] shows how many people really love to dance and compete and will never lose their passion for it,” Roshon buzzes. “It’s new – it’s never been done…It’s kinda like the MTV Awards for dancers!”
And KARtv is that and so much more, publicly setting out to raise, through the event itself, $100,000 for nonprofit charities Music Saves Lives (www.musicsaveslives.org) and Keep A Breast Foundation (www.keep-a-breast.org). “When you have something so big and important, you have to figure out a way to help others,” Roshon affirms. It’s a great thing to be able to hold the nationals and make it into a benefit, while at the same time giving the kids and competitors even more to look forward to. “When you have so many people a part of something, everyone can give back. It’s really cool!”
The 2013 KARtv Dance Awards will take place at 7pm on July 3rd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The show will stream live on Kartvdanceawards.com.
–DH