Metro-Detroit man wins $10K in fun-drenched dance contest
Planet Fitness and Audacy Detroit crowned Metro Detroit resident Mehdi Arshed the winner of its high-energy “Dance Your Way to $10K” contest, awarding him the $10,000 grand prize after his electrifying final performance.
This March, Planet Fitness invited Michigan residents age 18 and older to submit 60 second videos showcasing their best dance moves for a chance to compete. Eleven finalists were selected to perform live at the Planet Fitness location in Troy on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
The live dance competition featured three fast-paced rounds, with each finalist given 60 seconds to impress the judges and the audience. Hosted by Audacy Detroit on-air personalities Jon Jansen (97.1 The Ticket) and Jason Raithel (104.3 WOMC), the event delivered high energy and crowd-pleasing performances.
Judges award Arshed’s skills
“Planet Fitness is all about creating a welcoming, judgment-free space where people can express themselves and have fun. This competition brought that to life in an incredible way,” state Mary Scott, VP of Marketing at EPIC Fitness Group, a Planet Fitness franchise group.
“We’re thrilled to celebrate Mehdi’s talent and reward his hard work.”
Arshed, a graduate of Stevenson High School and Wayne State University, has been dancing for the last 16 years. His skills stood out throughout the competition, impressing a panel of Audacy Detroit judges, including, Stoney (97.1 The Ticket), Joanne Purtan (104.3 WOMC), Rob Stone (99.5 WYCD), Amanda (98.7 Alt) and Josh Holleman (99.5 WYCD), where he was able to secure the top prize for his standout performances.
Enthusiastic crowd
This event was free and open to the public, drawing an enthusiastic crowd that came out to cheer on the finalists.
There were special appearances by the Detroit Pistons Dancers, team mascot Hooper, and PAWS from the Detroit Tigers adding to the energy of the day.
Attendees also had the opportunity to enter-to-win one of ten $50 gas gift cards simply for being a part of the excitement. In addition to the $10,000 grand prize awarded to Arshed, all finalists received a Planet Fitness prize package including branded merchandise and a complimentary one-year Planet Fitness Black Card membership.
With contests like Dance Your Way to $10K, Planet Fitness looks forward to continuing to deliver unique opportunities that energize members and celebrate movement, confidence, and self-expression across its communities.
