Hamptons Dancers Dazzle At 'Most Successful Competition Yet'

EAST HAMPTON, NY — A popular local dance company dazzled at their first competition of the 2019 season last weekend.

According to Kelly Hren, owner and director of dancehampton, located on Lumber Lane in East Hampton, the dancers range in age from 9 to 18. At the Kids Artistic Revue — or KAR — regional competition, which took place in West Islip at St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School, the troupe performed tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop and musical theater routines choreographed by Krystal Lamiroult, Anita Boyer and Kasia Klimiuk, Hren said.

"Months of preparation goes into creating choreography, teaching and learning choreography and rehearsing and preparing for competition," she said.

But all the hard work paid off, Hren said. "It was our most successful competition yet," she said.

In total, the dancers received 10 Elite Top First scores, 23 Top 1st scores, 3 First Scores, five 1st Place Overall honors, one 2nd Place Overall mention, one 3rd Place Overall nod, four 4th Place Overall awards, and two Judges Awards, Hren said.

"And, most exciting — the Studio of Excellence Award in the secondary level," Hren said. In order to be eligible for that competitive award, the group had to have registered dances in the secondary level in all categories, including solo, duet/trio, small group, large group and line, Hren explained.

"We won the award, in the words of the KAR director, ‘because we dominated the group overalls,'" she said.

The girls, Hren said, began practicing some routines as early as last summer. Hren has taught most of the dancers, along with the instructors; dancehampton is now in its 12th season of dance, and sixth, of competition.

The bonds formed are lifelong, she said. Some of the company dancers have been with the group since the beginning in 2008, while others have been competing since 2014.

The life lessons imbued, Hren said, go far beyond the stage. "I’ve watched them grow into confident, beautiful dancers with polished technique and performance qualities," she said. "For many of these dancers, it isn’t only about dancing — we’ve created a family that the girls can count on, and feel loved and supported."

For example, Hren said, each one of the dancers has a "sister" in the company, revealed at dancehampton's holiday party in December.

"They make or buy a small gift to give before competitions, cheer for them backstage and help them with their hair, makeup and whatever else they might need," Hren said. "I am confident when I say that dancehampton has given them friendships and memories that will last a lifetime."

Next up, the dancers have two competitions in March. "We will bring our award winning routines to the Guild Hall stage in May," Hren said.

The most recent competition was particularly thrilling, she said. "Winning the studio of excellence award was one of the most memorable things from this weekend. Mostly because it recognizes a variety of high scoring routines, all different genres and dancers," Hren said.

But even more rewarding is the sisterhood the dancers share, Hren said. "My very favorite part is watching the dancers support each other. After each performance, all dancers and our amazing dance moms and dads jump up our of their seats to congratulate whomever has just come off the stage," she said. "Sometimes with tears of joy and pride, but always with support and love."

Patch photos courtesy Kelly Hren.