AHA! (Amber Hemmer’s Academy of) Dance proudly celebrated its 20th Anniversary Show Saturday June 21st, 2025, entitled "I'm Still Standing". Located conveniently at 466 Pompton Avenue Unit 8 in Cedar Grove, the studio prides itself in being a "boutique" dance studio offering Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Tumbling, and Hip Hop to students ages 2 through adult in a non-competitive, recreational, personal setting.
"Miss Amber" grew up in Bloomfield and has had strong ties to many programs throughout Essex County as well as surrounding areas. Amber has or has had longstanding working relationships with many community centers and YMCA programs in the area. She has been employed by Bloomfield Recreation Department since the 1990s offering affordable afterschool dance programming as well as Special Needs Dance Classes through the township's C.A.R.E. programming. Amber taught for Montclair Recreation Department, The Cedar Grove Recreation Department and The Caldwell Community Center running dance sessions as well as camp dance opportunities. She was a Site Supervisor for The Greater Morristown YMCA aftercare program and currently teaches enrichment, art, music and movement as well as Senior Fitness at The Meadowlands YMCA and Mara Center. Over the years, Amber has been part of many private and public school after school and girl scout group dance programs including schools such as: The Montclair Kimberley Academy, Lacordaire Elementary School, FN Brown Elementary, Bradford School, Carteret School, as well as her elementary alma mater Oak View School and more. Amber teaches over 200 students weekly ages infant through adult.
Some highlights over the past twenty years include owner, Amber Hemmer, being featured in 2005 in Dance Studio Life Magazine's article entitled “Young Entrepreneurs” the article highlighted the challenges and triumphs of dance studio owners under age 30. In 2019, Miss Amber appeared on the Live with Kelly and Ryan show alongside more than 300 ballerinas to break a Guinness World Record for most ballerinas en pointe simultaneously (a record still held). Amber launched a doll line Boogie Buds (TM) to be used as teaching tools in 2020 available for purchase through www.boogiebudbunch.com. "Miss Amber" was most recently featured in Costume Gallery Costume's blog "You can finally breathe now!" in 2022, discussing the challenges of navigating a dance studio business during the covid pandemic. Through the years AHA! Dance and dancers have had multiple recital performances at Verona High School and The Ridgewood Avenue school, participated in Six Flags Great Adventure DanceFest, Senior Living performances, and workshops with Associated Dance Teachers of New Jersey. Many AHA! Dancers can be seen in local community performances and have graduated to become successful performers in New York City and surrounding areas.
A graduate of DeSales University, owner Amber Hemmer holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies with a dual emphasis in Dance and Psychology. Amber is Certified through Dance Educators of America and is a member of Associated Dance Teachers of New Jersey. Amber offers her students a very personalized dance experience with small, progressive dance classes that emphasize technique and fundamentals in a fun environment. Summer Dance Day Sign Ups are available with full schedule resuming in the Fall. Contact the studio today for more information and to pre-register for classes. Call us at 201-207-9965, check out our website at www.ahadance.com, or visit us in person at the studio.
Amber would like to extend a thank you to all students and families, past and present, who have enabled her to pursue her dancing dreams and allow her to do what she loves day to day, week to week, year after year. Thank you for your business and continued support! She would also like to thank all of the surrounding businesses who have been a support since her beginnings! Additionally, many thanks to the Township of Cedar Grove for providing a great place to operate business, the Township of Bloomfield for more than 30 years of employment and over 40 years of a great place to live, the Township of Verona for our performance space, and all the surrounding towns who have welcomed AHA! Dance and our programs throughout the years. I am very grateful to still be standing but never standing still! Looking forward to what the future holds!
