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Home > Archive > Mar 6, 2008

Dancing With Passion
By Ellie Lambert
Students of OnStage Dance Studio traveled to Las Vegas recently to take lessons from “So You Think You Can Dance” instructors Mia Michaels and Wade Robson, nationally known dance professionals, and Brian Friedman, who choreographed numbers in films “Stomp the Yard” and “You Got Served.”
OnStage owner and director Heather Sprouse is no stranger to these acclaimed dance professionals.
“I've worked with Mia Michaels and Wade Robson for several years,” she said, “and it is incredible that they keep evolving and stretching the boundaries of dance. It was a lot of fun to have the students participate in that kind of training.”
Sprouse has been trained in tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, hip-hop, ballroom, and gymnastics for more than 29 years and has been developing young dancers for more than 15 years.
She had been operating OnStage Dance in Cedar City for 13 years before adding another studio in St. George in October 2006.
"This was such a good opportunity for us to open here,” she said. “We've had a great response from the community, making it a worthwhile endeavor."
Sprouse maintains her own training by continually attending professional dance conventions and classes in New York and Las Vegas. 
"Keeping up with everything that is current in the world of dance is extremely important to me," Sprouse said. "I can't keep teaching my students the same thing over and over when there are so many new moves, new beats, innovative styles, and just overall forward thinking within the world of dance. I keep taking classes because the more I learn, the better I can teach."
The closeness of Las Vegas allows the opportunity for her students to take advantage of some prestigious classes, such as The Pulse, which holds workshops around the United States.
"It’s great that my students and I can go an hour and a half away, and learn the most innovative styles and moves available to dancers right now. I don't have to travel to New York as often now that Las Vegas is such a great venue for dance."
Sprouse is currently revisiting her ballroom dance skills by participating in an upcoming ProAm event in California, with Mark Baker as her partner.
"Mark is a classified as a 'pro', whereas I am the 'am’ – for amateur," Sprouse said. "He teaches ballroom dancing at SUU and also does a lot of private instruction. So far, it’s been a great experience and a lot of fun!"
Sprouse's achievements are many.
She has been a judge for many competitions, including the nationally televised ESPN UDA National Dance Team Championships. She was a member of the world's largest dance camp company, Universal Dance Association, where she was a choreographer and head instructor for over seven years.
In addition to her skills as a dancer and instructor, she choreographs for many of the Utah drill teams, and her choreography has won 1, 2, 3 and 4A region and state awards, as well as a USA Dance National Award and Judges Choice Award.
"Somehow," Sprouse said, "in between all of that, I managed to get a bachelor's degree in accounting at SUU, and later a master's in business administration from Utah State University. And starting this semester at Dixie State College, I'm adjunct faculty, teaching in their dance department and doing choreography for the DSC Dance Company."
Sprouse's dancers are continually chosen as Dance Sterling Scholars for the local high schools. In 2004, four of her students were chosen, with two of those becoming regional runners-up.
"We've also been High Point champions three times at Dance America Competitions," Sprouse said, "where we received the highest score out of over 100 competing routines."
OnStage was the 2005 recipient of the Grand Champion High Point at the Champion Productions competition held in St. George, where they competed against teams from all over the state.
"I know it sounds like we're in it to compete, but actually," Sprouse said, "I'm in it for the love and the passion of dancing. So are my students. Each and every one of my students loves getting out on that floor and dancing with their heart and soul. You can see it in the way they perform."
Scott Watts is also part of OnStage, choreographing and teaching hip-hop at 2-One Productionz, the affiliated studio of OnStage.
"Scott is an amazing dancer," Sprouse said, "I also do hip-hop, but not like Scott. He teaches at several of the gyms around town, and his students are just in awe. He has such a gift with getting the kids into the dance, and they love it."
Upcoming events for OnStage include the Jetette Review at Dixie High School on Feb. 29; Champions at Dixie High School, April 5; and the Dixie Jam, one of the largest competitions in the state, at Dixe State College in late March and early April.
The main focus of OnStage, according to Sprouse, is to give each student the best dance education possible.
"I really strive to ensure that my students learn responsibility, respect for others, and approach each event with a degree of professionalism. I start them as young as 3 years old because it’s never too early, and its certainly never too late."
OnStage Dance Studio is located at 25 E 100 North (lower level) in St. George. Heather Sprouse and Scott Watts can be reached at (435) 986-4151, or visit their Web site at www.onstagedancestudio.com

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