Southern Strutt Offers Dance Boot Camp with the Stars

Some of the country's best choreographers lend their talents to inspire the next generation of professional dancers.

More than 200 dancers from across the country and locally have been taking classes this week with famous choreographers during a weeklong dance boot camp at The Southern Strutt Dance Studio in Irmo.

These professional choreographers come from various backgrounds. Some have been part of one of the most popular dance shows on television, "So You Think You Can Dance," and others have danced along side some of music's biggest stars such as Whitney Houston, Beyonce, Janet Jackson, Lady Gaga and Carrie Underwood.

The dance intensive featured classes in contemporary, hip-hop, jazz, lyrical and ballet. Campers were also given the chance to participate in mock auditions with Jen Hamilton-Goldsmith, a choreographer who has worked on "Spiderman 3" and the remake of "FAME." 

Dancers as young as five years old participated in the camp.

This is the fifth year Tre Holloway, a choreographer from Los Angeles, Calif., has shared his hip-hop dancing techniques at The Southern Strutt.

Holloway said the dance camp is an intense but fun way for dancers to be introduced to a variety of styles of dance.

"Nancy [Giles, owner/director of the studio,] has about 20 choreographers on staff," Holloway said. "Everyone is so different."

"It’s important for the kids to get a variety of choreographers from different backgrounds and from different parts of the country."

Holloway — who has worked on projects with Chris Brown, Whitney Houston, Nicki Minaj and the Black Eyed Peas — said he tries to give those participating in the classes small doses what he has learned since he started dancing at age 13.

Chandler Brown, a student at White Knoll Middle School, said Holloway was one of four of his favorite choreographers. Others included Ivan Koumaeu, Martha Nichols and Marinda Davis. 

Brown, whose favorite style of dance is hip-hop, said he would recommend the sessions for anyone looking to learn a variety of styles and techniques from some of the best in the industry.

"Even when it’s the same style, it’s different moves, techniques and feelings," Brown said. "It’s just fun and a good learning experience."

Brown also said dance is great for those in sports.

Brown has played football since he was 8 years old. He said dance has helped him a lot on the field.

"I don’t think I would even make the football team if it wasn’t for dance. It helps me with footwork and strength."

Marcia Brown, Chandler's mother, agrees that dance is a great way for athletes to condition their bodies.

"For athletes you can’t buy that kind of conditioning and the footwork that you have to have to dance is just like icing on a cake for an athlete."

Dutch Fork High School student Rebekah Smith also enjoyed her time at the boot camp.

Many dancers have traveled out of state to participate in master classes instructed by well-known performers but Smith said it was "really cool" to have choreographers come to them.

Smith, who has been dancing since the age of 6, said the classes help prepare those dancers looking to become professionals. 

The Southern Strutt Dance Studio was established in 1982 and has produced many talented dancers — some of which have gone on to open their own stuios or have worked in television, films and on national stages. 

Southern Strutt has been voted the No. 3 most competitive studio in North America and the No. 1 studio in South Carolina by Dance Spirit Magazine.

For more information on the classes offered, visit The Southern Strutt Dance Studio website.