By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
HOULTON — For 25 years, Sandy Hartley of the Houlton School of Dance has taught hundreds, if not thousands, of youths the proper form and techniques to the fine art of dance.
Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
GETTING READY — The Houlton School of Dance is putting the finishing touches on this year’s spring performance. The dance studio is celebrating its 25th anniversary in the Shiretown and has a number of special guests lined up for this year’s shows, April 10-12 at the Houlton Community Arts Center. Getting ready are, front from left, Reagan Wright, Isabella White, Morgan Harris, Addyson Lynds and Karyssa Kinney; middle, Isabella Ardell, Elena Ardell, Kaitlyn Kinney, Allyson Bolstridge, Faith Howland, Alaina Campbell, Kathryn Fitzpatrick and Rachel Hatfield; and back, Grace Malone, Madison Dunn, Quinn White, Olivia White, Shanna Porter, Jill Howland, Sara Howland, Ellen Hatfield, Emmalyne Drake and Emma Ardell.
This year’s annual dance recital will be held Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 10-12 at the Houlton Community Arts Center. Shows will be at 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, while Saturday’s showing is at 1 p.m. Since it is an anniversary year, Hartley has invited a number of former students to come back and perform with the group.
Hartley was dancing with the Robinson Ballet Company in Bangor in 1988 and also teaching dance from her Studio One location in Millinocket when she was asked if she was interested in teaching dance in the Shiretown.
For a dance company that doesn’t have a permanent home in the Shiretown, the Houlton School of Dance has done remarkably well over the years. In fact, the studio has so many children wanting to learn dance that a sign-up session must take place and a lengthy waiting list is collected for those looking to join.
The group works with about 100 kids each year, starting at age 4 up to 18.
“Turning kids away is the hardest thing we have to do, but there is only so many we can take,” Hartley said.
Hartley said the studio was located on Main Street over Kendall’s Jewelry for a number of years before that building was sold. After that, the studio moved across the street to a spot located above the former Epsteins store.
For the past seven years, the studio has held its classes on the second floor of the Houlton Lodge of Elks
“We would love to find a permanent home, but in the meantime, the Elks have been awesome,” she said. Hartley makes the trip from Millinocket once a week for classes. On other days, her more advanced students lead the classes so that the tiny dancers can continue to hone their skills.
This year’s recital is scheduled about a month earlier than usual, so Hartley can devote her time to her son’s final baseball season and graduation festivities in May. The theme for this year’s ballet is Disney’s “Lion King,” while the other dance portions will feature highlights from the more popular dances of the past 25 years.
Due to increased attendance for the shows, a third performance has been added this year.
“We added a show to make it easier for the community to come and see what we are all about,” Hartley said. “In years past, with only two shows, it was difficult for the general community to get tickets.”
The group starts class in September, spending the first part of the year working on technique before shifting into performance mode.
“I have made some incredible friends here over the years and had some awesome dancers,” Hartley said. “They start out as cute, shy little tiny tots and they blossom into these incredible adults.”
