Welcome To CYT EXPO

CYT EXPO is an annual gathering for CYT students and leadership. This year's event will be held from July 21-24, 2024 in Dallas, TX. CYT Students (ages 12-18), CYT Leadership, and Spectators are all invited to attend!

The goal of EXPO is to equip, play, and connect with CYT Branches from across the country! Here you will find all the information you need for this year’s EXPO experience. Read it carefully as you prepare for your trip to Dallas. Please note that we will continue to add information on speakers, workshops, schedules, etc.

Do you have questions that aren't answered here? Contact EXPO@cyt.org 

Event Details

When: July 21-24, 2024
Where: Hilton Anatole; 2201 N Stemmons Fwy, Dallas, TX 75207
When you stay at the Hilton Anatole, just north of Dallas, you'll find an entertainment complex designed to relax and delight you and your family. Discover an outdoor pool complex with slides and a lazy river, an award-winning fitness club, a spa, dining options, and more.

Rooms must be booked by June 16th, 2024. Room rate is limited to availability and may sell out. Book your rooms as soon as possible to avoid this!

**EXPO Participants are required to stay at Hilton Anatole Learn More

EXPO Registration

Leadership and Students
  • Launch Rate (through April 15): $295
  • Standard Rate (begins April 16): $345
Spectator Pass**
  • Launch Rate (through April 15): $145
  • Standard Rate (begins April 16): $170
EXPO T-shirt Pre-Order (Get the Pre-Order Pricing!)
  • Flat Rate: $20 
Welcome Dinner Ticket
  • Flat Rate: $25
**There is a discounted spectator rate for guests 12 and under attending with an adult spectator. 

EXPO Shirt

Rock some fresh EXPO merch with your Branch or match with your new friends from other Branches! Shirts are available for pre-sale and can be picked up at registration upon arrival at EXPO. Remember the fun times had at EXPO 2024 all year-round with your new merch!

APEX 2024

We are excited for the return of our Advanced Performance Exhibition 2024!

Each APEX team will be given an opportunity for individual closed adjudication and feedback from a performing arts professional.  This is a time for rich encouragement and celebration of the talent and work exhibited by the teams, along with constructive and tangible feedback.  Each team will participate in a Public Showcase of their prepared program.  The teams will be judged on specific criteria during the Public Showcase, and the top 3 scoring teams will make it into the Final APEX Round.
 

APEX Solo Competition

In addition to our APEX Teams, we are excited about the expansion of our APEX Solo Competition in 2024!  This individual solo competition will be for students 12-18 registered for EXPO.  Registered students interested in creating a submission are eligible to compete in 3 different categories this year including singing, dancing, or acting.

Students do not need to be on an APEX team to compete in the Solo Comp, so get your dance routine, vocal piece, or monologue ready...and join the fun!

**Full competition details are now available.**

Leaders at EXPO

The Leadership Track is for Executive Directors, Artistic Directors, Managing Directors, Coordinators (Chapters, Shows, Classes, Camps, CYT@school, etc.), Board Members, Teaching Artists, Artistic Team Members, HYPE Advisors, APEX Coaches, and any other critical staff. Check out what you'll be doing at EXPO!

Students at EXPO

All CYT students, ages 12-18, are invited to come to EXPO. Our track is designed for students who are participating in APEX as well as those who are not. Learn more about what you'll be doing at EXPO!

Spectators at EXPO

The EXPO Spectator Pass is great for parents, chaperones, or younger siblings of EXPO Attendees. The Spectator Pass will get you access into watching your Branch's APEX team, all main sessions, and the final EXHORT Award Celebration.  Anyone age 4 and up will need a spectator pass in order to attend events. A reduced rate spectator pass is available for 12 and under. Learn more about what you'll be doing at EXPO! 

Guest Presenter

We are excited to announce our 2024 Guest Presenter, Matthew Frederick Harris!

Matthew Harris is an outstanding Broadway performer and a warrior for Christ. He is currently on Broadway in MJ The Musical as Tito Jackon/Quincy Jones. You do not even understand how incredibly blessed we are to have him with us this summer! Well, you will understand when you're at EXPO. 

Matthew will have an evening performance for our Students, Leaders, and Spectators. He will also be teaching a workshop for our students. We will have an interview opportunity to hear more about his faith journey and wonderful insights for young performers. Join us for this marvelous experience!

Click HERE to view a special video message from Matthew.

Instagram: @matthewfrederickharris

Guest Judge & Worship Leader

Isaiah Bailey has performed with the National Tour of Beautiful: The Carol King Musical and most recently as an Ensemble/ Mufasa Understudy with The North American Tour of Disney’s The Lion King. He has also performed at the Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, Music Theatre Wichita, Sight and Sound Theatres, and Hope Summer Repertory. 

At EXPO this summer, Isaiah will be an APEX Voice Adjudicator and Judge as well as leading us in worship each morning. He will also be leading a workshop for our students! The journey he has had in the industry is inspiring. He has a passion for passing the baton of knowledge he has acquired to the next generation of artists. What makes having Isaiah with us at EXPO even better is the fact that his heart for the Lord is incredibly beautiful!

EXHORT: The Ultimate Celebration Of CYT

The EXHORT is a celebratory evening that concludes EXPO. It is the CYT party of the year! This is a themed party full of desserts, music, dancing, and awards. EXHORT is where all Decathlon recipients will be recognized and when the National scholarship winners will be announced. And there's so much more to celebrate!

*EXHORT is included for all Students, Leaders, and Spectators for EXPO 2024. 

Join the EXPO Worship Team!

This year’s worship team will be selected by application and audition video. The Worship Team position is available for students and leaders already attending EXPO 2024. We are seeking vocalists and a worship band (drums, bass, acoustic, keys, etc.). Click the link below for more information and to apply!

EXPO is incredible. It makes me realize how blessed I am to be a part of this theater family and it makes me want to bring so many more people from home next year!


EXPO Attendee

Before You Come to EXPO

Book Your Rooms!
Our booking link is open and the hotel is ready for you! Click HERE to book your room.
Rooms must be booked by June 16th, 2024. Room rate is limited to availability and may sell out. Book your rooms as soon as possible to avoid this!

Pre-EXPO Group Meeting
This is not required, but we HIGHLY RECOMMEND you meet with your EXPO group prior to boarding the plane or loading the car. This way, together, you can go through all of this information, review rules, plan for certain things, and so on.

What to Pack
Be prepared for the heat! However, the hotel likes to keep the ballrooms pretty chilly, so pack a sweater. Don’t forget to cover your skin with sunscreen for that Dallas summer sun!

When You Arrive at EXPO

Hotel Location
Hilton Anatole
2201 N Stemmons Fwy
Dallas, TX 75207


Hotel Check In
Please note: Hotel check-in is different than APEX check-in or EXPO registration. Please go to the hotel front desk to check into your rooms. If you arrive before check-in time, the hotel can arrange to hold your baggage for you.

EXPO Registration
EXPO Registration will be in the atrium to the right of the main hotel check-in. Come say hello and get your lanyard and EXPO bag. Helpful CYT volunteers will be there to assist you.

Welcome Dinner

There will be an offsite Welcome Dinner on Sunday, July 21st, 2024, at Ferris Wheel Backyard & BBQ.  This is within walking distance of the hotel. A pre-purchased ticket of $25/per person is required for attendance. Tickets to this dinner are limited!

**All other dinners will be on your own.**

Food Information

What’s Provided?
With your Leadership or Student registration comes lunch on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Spectator passes do not include food.

What If I Have Dietary Needs?
The hotel can accommodate vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free dietary needs for lunches provided on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. However, YOU MUST make us aware of your restrictions in your online registration. If you are registering for someone other than yourself, please be sure to mark their food needs. Any dietary needs outside of vegetarian and gluten-free will have to be managed by the attendee (such as food allergies, etc.). For other meals that are not provided by the hotel, food selection will be up to the attendee’s discretion. If you have a SERIOUS allergy to any food of any kind, we advise you make other arrangements altogether.

Onsite Food Options
  • SER Steak & Spirits
  • Media Grill & Bar
  • Gossip Bar
  • Counter Offer featuring Starbucks Coffee
  • TopGolf
  • JADEWATERS Grill & Bar
  • Something Sweet

Ordering In
Apps like Uber Eats and Grubhub are great alternatives! Pick almost any place and have the food delivered straight to the hotel! It's good for groups or individuals.

What’s Nearby?
So many restaurants are within a short driving distance!
  • Taquería Taxco: 2909 Irving Blvd, Dallas, TX 75247
  • Jack in the Box: 190 Continental Ave, Dallas, TX 75207
  • Taco Cabana: 2635 N Stemmons Fwy, Dallas, TX 75207
  • Whataburger: 2741 N Stemmons Fwy, Dallas, TX 75207
  • Shake Shack Dallas, Uptown: 2500 N Pearl St, Dallas, TX 75201
  • Smashburger: 2222 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75201
  • McDonald's: 700 N Pearl St, Dallas, TX 75201
  • Ojeda's: 4617 Maple Ave, Dallas, TX 75219
  • Snap Kitchen: 2222 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75201
  • Potbelly: 2222 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75201
  • Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: 212 Continental Ave, Dallas, TX 75207
  • Eatzi's Market & Bakery: 3403 Oak Lawn Ave, Dallas, TX 75219

Nearest Grocery Store
  • Kroger: 4901 Maple Ave, Dallas, TX 75235

Helpful Tip
Food at the hotel is pricey. We highly recommend bringing in outside food for breakfasts and snacks. If you are flying in, we recommend having someone do a grocery store run or having groceries delivered to the hotel. 

Miscellaneous

Branch Checkpoints
Each night designated rooms will be available after the evening gathering for the Branches who would like to meet for a nightly check-in. Use this time to hear from one another, pray together, and check in before curfew.

AND MORE!
There is always more! We will be updating this information as it comes. All info should be settled by the beginning of June, so plan on having your group meeting at that time or later. If you have any specific questions, please email expo@cyt.org.

Join The CREW!

Do you love CYT, volunteering at events, are 19 or older, and are looking for an adventure? Then you might be the perfect EXPO Crew Intern! This position will be selected by application and interview and is not for the faint of heart. Lodging and food at EXPO are covered (travel is at your own expense).

These individuals will report to the National Team. This position can be filled by anyone from a recently graduated student to other leaders in local Branches.

We desire to have an array of individuals from Branches across the country. They are the hardest workers at EXPO, performing non-glamorous tasks, without the promise of fame or glory! Who’s in?

Apply today to join the Crew and have the most fun of your 2024 life. Applications must be in by April 1, 2024!

Important Dates

  • March 1st - APEX Commitment Forms Due
  • April 1st - Crew Applications Due
  • April 20th - Worship Team Applications Due
  • May 1st - APEX Performance Details Form Due

Refund Policy

Discounts/coupons must be used at the time of purchase and cannot be added to already purchased tickets. Due to the nature of the CYT EXPO event, all EXPO registrations and purchases are NON-REFUNDABLE.  We highly recommend Branches purchase travel insurance to cover circumstances outside of your control.  If you can no longer attend and wish to transfer your Registration to another attendee who has not yet registered, please email expo@cyt.org within 30 days of the event. If EXPO 2024 is canceled due to circumstances out of our control, registration fees will be refunded within 8-10 weeks of the original event dates.

Participants not staying at Hilton Anatole will be charged an extra fee of $250 per attendee to participate in EXPO events. Participants that live within 50 miles of the event hotel opt to not stay at the event hotel. All hotel bookings should be booked through our event link. Exceptions will be made if hotel block is full.