It’s been a busy summer for South Lyon High School senior Cameron Janson. He chalked up two national dance competitions and became a brand ambassador for a dancewear line.

Janson is quickly becoming a role model for aspiring dancers across the country through his story of perseverance and the power of dance to transform lives.

This summer, he clinched two of the most coveted titles in the competitive dance world: Senior Dancer of the Year at the Tremaine Dance Convention & Competitions in Orlando and Senior Outstanding Dancer at the New York City Dance Alliance in Phoenix. These victories mark the pinnacle of his journey so far — a journey that began when he stepped into a dance studio for the first time at the age of 5.

“My sister was the one who was supposed to be dancing,” Janson said. “But when my mom signed her up, there was a deal that if you signed up your son, it was free. My sister ended up hating dancing, but I decided it was something I wanted to do.”

That early love for dance grew over the years as Janson dedicated himself to mastering various styles, but focusing on classical ballet. Dance became more than just a hobby. It was his escape, his way of finding joy and expressing himself in a world that could sometimes be unkind to a young male dancer.

“It takes a lot of commitment,” Janson said. “But I truly love the joy it gives me — an escape from the real world. It makes me feel better about myself, and I make so many positive connections through dance.”

His dedication to his craft has not come without challenges. As a male dancer, he has faced bullying and judgment from peers who didn’t understand his passion. Yet, he has remained steadfast, refusing to let others’ opinions define him.

“Being a male in dance, there is an element of bullying. It’s not as accepted with kids in school,” he explained. “I’ve grown to not take others’ opinions to heart. It doesn’t identify me as a person.”

Dorlisa Matkowski, Janson’s dance instructor at the Creative Conservatory of Dance and Performing Arts in Walled Lake, has witnessed his incredible journey over the past nine years.“When Cameron first came to my program, he was eager and passionate, and his family was incredibly supportive,” Matkowski said. “It takes a team to achieve what he has, and Cameron’s passion, determination, and commitment have been key to his success.”

Matkowski said Janson faced significant setbacks, including a broken ankle that sidelined him for nine months. Yet, each challenge only strengthened his resolve.

“Cameron took chances and never gave up,” Matkowski said. “To reach this level of excellence, an artist succeeds by trusting the process and Cameron did just that. He saw other guys we had trained succeed and knew we had the tools for him, too. He stayed the course even when there was interference. He became more comfortable being uncomfortable taking risks and opportunities to expand his knowledge and training.”

Beyond the accolades and awards, Janson has become a role model and mentor to younger dancers, particularly young boys who might also face the same challenges he did. Through his work with Tremaine Dance Conventions, he assists and mentors younger dancers, helping them navigate the dance world and encouraging them to pursue their dreams.

Janson’s influence also extends beyond the dance studio.

As a brand ambassador for Tiger Friday, one of the top dancewear companies in the industry, he has helped shape the future of male dancewear.

Tiger Friday CEO Bree Hafen recalls how multiple dancers recommended Janson when the company was scouting for male influencers.

“Cameron is a force of nature. His reputation as a talented dancer and a kind, positive influence brought his name to the forefront,” she said. “Having male dancers like Cameron on our team has been a game-changer for us.”

Hafen said the stigma of being a male dancer is improving, and Janson’s influence will help.

“I realize that outside the dance world, there is still progress to be made. But within our culture, male dancers are celebrated,” she said. “I have seen that mentality starting to bleed outside the dance world, though slowly. I think pop culture has been shifting in a general sense, and while traditionally, male dancers were subject to some stigma, I truly see and hope to continue to see a shift in that trend.”

As for what comes after high school, Janson remains open to the possibilities.

“I have a ton of doors open,” he said. “I’m looking into the University of Arizona, but also at different conservatories, or I might pursue dancing in New York or LA. Whatever I do, it will definitely be connected to dance.”

The next steps in Janson’s career can be followed on Instagram at @camjanson.dance.