By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — Dance students from southern Aroostook to the St. John Valley convened in Caribou for The Maine Dance Academy’s Summer Camp from July 25-29, which drew nearly 120 youths.
Contributed photo
Four guest instructors helped make The Maine Dance Acadamy Summer Camp a success; guest instructors included, front row, from left, instructor Clairann Flynn, TMDA owner Colleen DuPlissie and guest instructor Mallor Ballant Krothapalli. Second row: guest instructor Tammy Golla, owner of Main Street Dancers in Edmundston, N.B.; guest instructor Ashley Hebert, from the ABC reality show “The Bachelorette” and guest instructor Jordan Rossignol.
From classical jazz to modern dance — even krumping was on the agenda for striving northern Maine dancers as they learned from various guest instructors different ways to move to the music.
Much instruction was provided by guest teachers of the academy, which TMDA owner Colleen DuPlissie believes is imperative to the development of young dancers.
DuPlissie encouraged the guest instructors to teach whichever style they chose, which allowed youths to get a taste of all sorts of dances.
“The kids got a little bit of everything, and that’s what we wanted them to do,” she said. “Dance Camp is designed to give students different tastes of how other instructors teach and learn different styles; they were exposed to so many new things and it’s amazing how much they learned in a week.”
Students as young as 5 and as old as 19 participated in the week-long camp, culminating toward the National Dance Day celebration on July 29 in conjunction with the last day of camp. This was the second time that TMDA students participated in National Dance Day, having danced flash mob style during a New York City trip under the Billy Elliot sign, at a restaurant and at Ground Zero (before they were asked to leave).
All of the students and instructors danced in the parking lot outside the academy to commemorate the day.
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Guest instructor Jordan Rossignol teaches an enthusiastic group of dancers krumping — an aggressive type of street dancing.
“Dancing in the parking lot was a blast!” said TMDA student Sarae Sager of Caribou. “I love being outside, but to have the entire camp together, and with enough room to dance (unlike recital on the small stage) — it was so much fun.”
Sager was named Most Valuable Dancer of the camp by her instructors; according to DuPlissie, the instructors felt that Sager had an increased level of mastery in all the different forms of dance.
“I was told that Sarae is a passionate dancer; she not only dances well with her body but she exudes enthusiasm and feeling when she dances,” DuPlissie said.
Among guest instructors was Ashley Hebert, who’s taught for TMDA’s summer camp in the past. Hebert recently completed participation in ABC’s reality television show “The Bachelorette.” Because of the guest instructor’s newly obtained celebrity status, campers noticed a couple of changes.
Sager said the only two differences she noticed was the “no photography” rule while “The Bachelorette” was still running, and some slight repetition in questions from the instructor the first day because she had so much on her mind.
“[Hebert] is a kind, beautiful woman on the inside and out,” Sager said of her instructor. “She’s fun, full of energy and a dedicated and inspirational dancer.”
Contributed photo
Students of The Maine Dance Academy practiced their moves during Summer Camp on July 29. Dancers included, from left, front row: Annalise Jandreau of Caribou and Audrey Milliard of Fort Fairfield. Second row: Kallee Parent of Caribou, Reneè LaPointe, Elyssa Violette and Lainey Bell, all of Van Buren. Third row: Paige Billings of Presque Isle and Michaela Carney of Ashland. Back row: Isabella Adamo of Houlton and Jorja Bugbee of Caribou.
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Sarae Sager of Caribou, center, was named the Most Valuable Dancer of Summer Camp.
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Students worked on their expressions during Dance Camp of The Maine Dance Academy, including, front row, from left, Karlee Willett of New Sweden, Amalla Peterson of Fort Fairfield, and Rachel Milliard of Caribou.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
From left, TMDA Summer Camp students Camara Johnson of Woodland, Shaye McHatten of Mapleton, Madison Bearden of Presque Isle and Camryn Languille of Caribou watch as guest instructor Ashley Hebert, center, teaches a few new steps.
