Hartley’s dance school a family effort since 1988
By Traci Storti Wilde
Special to the Pioneer Times
Health and friendship: these are two of the benefits Sandy Hartley receives year after year as she works diligently to run two dance schools in northern Maine.
Contributed photo/Traci Storti Wilde
YOUNG STUDENT — Spinning around and around, Elena Ardell is caught mid-turn as she works on a difficult move.
Despite having to leave her two sons and missing many of their activities, Houlton School of Dance proprietor and teacher Hartley is once again dancing her way into the hearts of local young people.
Hartley offers classes each week at the Houlton Lodge of Elks in tap, ballet, jazz and pointe largely due to the help of other local teachers she has contracted or taught. This year's staff includes Sue Waite-York, a Boston native who has also danced in New York and California, former student Brandi Hill, and current student and Houlton High School senior Ashley Cleary.
Cleary, like many other students of Hartley, has attended classes in both Boston and New York. "For the past few years Sandy has given me the chance to teach the younger children," said Cleary. "Every time I walk into the room Sandy has always come up with something new and fun to do." Having danced for 14 years, Cleary takes the lessons she learns with Sandy and on these trips and applies them in her teaching. 
STRIKE A POSE — Young dancers Natalie DeLucca, left, and Samantha Johnson look the part as they practice their ballerina poses.
Hartley's two dance studios, Studio One in Millinocket and the Houlton School of Dance, opened in 1987 and 1988, respectively. Hartley claims that the entire venture has been a family effort.
"When I first started teaching in Houlton, my mother-in-law was my secretary," recalls Hartley. "When I had my first son, my in-laws and my Mom wanted to babysit so I could travel."
Today's most visible family link is Hartley's father, whose welcoming smile greets students each week during her classes. "My husband and parents worried about me on the road, so my father, the social butterfly, asked if he could come with me," explains Hartley. "He is not much help keeping me awake anymore on the way home. At 79 years old he sleeps all the way to and from Houlton. He runs errands for me and Michelle and helps me set up every Monday. He is great company."
Another great source of support is Michelle McClure, the faithful secretary who has been working for the Houlton School of Dance for 12 years. "At the time I was out of work and Sandy needed a secretary. I was happy to help out," recalled McClure.
The relationship, however, has become one more like that of family than friends. McClure has sent all three of her daughters to the school and also reflects on the benefits of a dance education. "Katelynn and Kaycee have been dancing going on 10 years. Ashlee danced for 14 years," explained McClure. "There are many benefits: self esteem, confidence, poise, exercise, meeting new people and making new friendships, learning an art."
All of these benefits align with Hartley's goal: to continue to inspire students as her dance instructor inspired her. "I was very blessed with the teacher I grew up with, Lorraine Shippee," reminisced Hartley. It was this teacher who helped Hartley grow as a dancer, businesswoman, and person.
It seems that Hartley is making the desired impact. Many of her students take the opportunity to dance in college, and some have gone on to minor in it. Many have become dance teachers themselves, and one has even opened her own studio.
Contributed photo/Traci Storti Wilde
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT — Beginning dance students Isabella Ardell and Ellie Grant practice their moves during dance class.
Brandi Hill, who taught dance in Florida last year and is currently assisting with choreography for Houlton High School's fall production of “Footloose”, explained the most recent part of her dance journey. "I wound up moving down to Sarasota, Florida for a year and after a month found myself getting bored. I ended up sighting an ad on a dance
studio looking for an extra teacher for the year and rekindled my passion with Jump Dance Company. There was no way I could come back and not teach here with Sandy."
For Hill, the key to dance is discipline. "Your body is not capable of doing the steps, combinations, and stretches by itself. You learn to discipline yourself and practice it and master it. Self accomplishment does more for each one of us than we will ever be able to comprehend," she said. She also cites responsibility, determination, accomplishment, teamwork and obedience as other important benefits.
Dance registration took place this year on September 29th. The flood of enrollments indicate that parents also understand the importance of a dance education. While Hartley was originally hoping to allow students to register late pending openings, she was forced to wait list several children.
While she is saddened by having to turn students away, Hartley cites the need to put family first. Hartley hopes to meet all of these prospective students in the future. She claims that the best part of running the two schools is "all of the wonderful, young, talented children in northern Maine that I have been blessed to teach."
Anyone who has attended the annual recital would agree that the students are wonderful and talented. And, many would argue, so is their teacher. Hill summarized Hartley's impact best, stating, "Sandy has touched, changed and positively influenced more lives than I think she will ever know."
