The 25-year-old Montreal dancer has been all-over-the-place busy at work; choreographing, dancing with music legend Janet Jackson in L.A. and travelling around the country promoting his electro-trash pop group Pinup Saints. Nonetheless, he made sure to take the time last night to help spread the word about something very close to his heart – a T-shirt line promoting a bullying prevention campaign.

It’s hard to imagine that someone like Nico, who everyone was desperately clamouring to get a picture with last night (I should know – I was one of them), ever having been the ‘uncool’ kid; the one who got bullied and cast aside, but that’s exactly what seems to have taken place when the young dancer was a teenager.

“This is a cause that’s very close to my heart because I personally experienced bullying,” Nico explained. “As a teenage boy who danced, I dealt with my share of taunting and harassment… people who called me names or threw homophobic slurs my way. It definitely wasn’t an easy time in my life. Bullying can destroy the life of a child and ultimately the adult they will become.”

Nico managed to get through it thanks to a very strong support system around him, but worries that other kids might not be as lucky or as strong.

“This campaign is aimed at teenagers and all victims of bullying,” he explained. “I want them to know they’re not alone and that there are resources for them, but it’s also aimed at adults – their parents, their teachers, people who are in a real position to help them and to influence change. If we’re all more aware of the fact that it happens, if we all “Stand Up” and do something about it, there’s less of a chance that these kids will fall through the cracks.”

Apparel retailer TXT Carbon teamed up with Nico to design a limited edition “Stand Up and Rise Above” t-shirt as part of Family Channel’s Bullying Awareness Week campaign. A portion of the proceeds collected from the very trendy and eye-catching T-shirt will be donated by TXT Carbon to PREVNet, a national network of researchers and organizations working together to prevent bullying and promote healthy relationships.

“By designing a shirt with a message, we wanted to reach a younger audience and inject some ‘cool’ in the campaign,” he told me. The shirts are currently available exclusively online at www.txtcarbon.com and at select retailers nationally.

Last night, TXT Carbon officially launched the limited edition T-shirt and the bullying prevention campaign at a private media event held at Atelier Jean Brillant in Saint-Henri.

Amidst the fans, the flashes from the cameras and the TV camera crews trying to get some media time with Nico, I managed to snag a few private minutes with the ever gracious, extremely polite (and did I mention über-sexy, ladies?) SYTYCD season 1 winner to discuss his future career plans.

After interrupting our interview for a quick second to kiss his young niece good night (a star who prioritizes family over popularity? More brownie points for the sexy dancer), Nico gave me a brief rundown on what his work life has been looking like these days.

Having just returned from performing with Janet Jackson, Nico quickly cleared up misconceptions that he somehow got the gig because of his win last year on the CTV show.

“There’s no question that a number of doors opened for me when I won last year’s dance competition,” Nico told me, “but my opportunity with Janet had absolutely nothing to do with SYTYCD. I had already met one of the choreographers working with Jackson before I won the show and had committed to working with her.”

While promoting the Pinup Saints (his fiancée and co-choreographer Wynn Holmes is the singer for the energetic and photogenic band, which performed last night for a very appreciative crowd) is on the top of his to-do list these days, Nico also has a full agenda as a dancer and choreographer. He’ll continue to work with Janet (also appearing in her latest music video), and is currently collaborating on creating the choreography for a musical based on Quebec rock group Beau Dommage, entitled Le Blues d’la Métropole appearing at Théâtre St. Denis from March 31 to April 11, 2010.

Nico also plans on continuing to choreograph the occasional steamy number for SYTYCD Canada, after his last number, co-choreographed with partner Wynn Holmes and set to David Guetta’s “Sexy B*tch”, received such amazing feedback from TV audiences.

When I reminded him that auditions were taking place this coming Saturday for Season 3 of SYTYCD Canada, he had this to offer as advice for dancers lining up outside the Palais du Congrés for their chance at their dream.

“Stay yourself. Remember why you love to dance and why you’re there. Sure, the pressure is immense, but try not to feel it. Just do your thing.”

Doing ‘his thing’ seems to have worked out ok for Nico…

You can help support the Bullying Prevention Campaign by purchasing the T-shirt at participating retailers or www.txtcarbon.com. For further information on the campaign and associated weblinks:

PREVNet: www.prevnet.ca

The Family Channel : www.family.ca

Nico Archambault: www.nicodance.com