Lakeville Dancer Creates Next Generation of Performers One Step at a Time

Holly Hewitt of Holly’s Centre Stage Dance has been teaching dance in Lakeville for more than 10 years. We stopped by her studios on Holyoke Avenue to talk about her passion for dance why she thinks the art form is so important.

Lakeville Patch: "What is your background as a dancer and how did you get into teaching?"

Holly Hewitt: "I started dancing at about age three when my family lived in Kansas. We moved to Minnesota when I was six and I took classes at Monique's School of Dance in Apple Valley. I eventually started teaching there, and we often traveled around in the summer to different states and even other countries to take classes and perform as a company. I later got a degree in kinesiology from the University of Minnesota and went on to be a fitness director at the YMCA. While I was at the 'Y' I started a dance program there, and really started to realize that dance was my true passion—both teaching it and dancing myself. After that I decided to transition from sports and fitness to focus on doing dance full time."

Lakeville Patch: "What classes do you offer at Holly’s Centre Stage Dance and which are the most popular?"

Hewitt: "We offer ballet, tap and jazz, which are the majority of what we teach on a weekly basis. We also offer lyrical, which is really popular. Lyrical has always been around but is often referred to as contemporary or modern dance. They’re all very similar. We also offer high kick, which helps girls prepare to audition for dance team in high school. In Lakeville dance teams are very, very popular. We also teach all ages, starting from age three through adult. Probably 95 percent of our students are age three through 18."

Lakeville Patch: "Sounds like you're staying pretty busy."

Hewitt: "Yes. I teach about 25 classes per week myself, but I’ve just hired four new teachers and they’re all fabulous. I hired a break dancer, a phenomenal ballet teacher and two more modern and contemporary teachers. I’m also in the process of hiring Zumba instructors. Zumba is a fitness dance style that incorporates various Latin influences. We’ll be offering those new classes starting soon."

Lakeville Patch: "Do you hold recitals on a regular basis?"

Hewitt: "Yes, we actually have several performances every year. We perform at the Holiday on Main celebration in downtown Lakeville annually and at other special events around the area. We also have a big spring recital every year in early June."

Lakeville Patch: "What do you hope your students take away from the experience of dance training and performance?"

Hewitt: "That’s a great question. Dance in itself is so good for you for so many reasons. It’s a really good self esteem builder. You get out there and you do well and people applaud for you at a performance--for little kids there’s nothing better than that. I’m also glad that dance has become so popular because from a fitness perspective, you gain flexibility, cardiovascular health, coordination skills and memory benefits. Dancing can also help you excel in just about every other sport for those same reasons. It builds endurance and strength too, and that can help in a number of areas in everyday life."

Lakeville Patch: "So why Lakeville?"

Hewitt: "You know, I’ve always loved Lakeville. I grew up in Burnsville and went to Burnsville Senior High School, and I’ve always had friends here in Lakeville and have spent a lot of time here. I’ve just always liked the small town feel, and the people too. People are really the main reason I’m here. We’re a close knit community. It’s small, yet it’s big, you know? I love that."

For more information on Holly’s Centre Stage Dance or to register for classes, visit www.hollysdance.com or call 952-469-1013. Her studios are located at 20721 Holyoke Ave. in Lakeville.