New owner of the former Lori Ann Dance Reflections of Keyser, Amanda Hott is wrapping up her first year as lead instructor over 183 students and is looking forward to a very successful recital slated for Saturday, May 31 at 5 p.m. at Potomac State College’s Church McKee Arts Center.
When the nineteen-year-old took over Dance Reflections last July, a studio formally owned by Lori Ann Cannon, Hott knew she wanted to continue offering top quality dance instruction, as well as adding her own personal expertise and style to the art of dance.
“The dancers themselves are what I look forward to the most,” said Hott, at her studio Wednesday with her dance assistants and sisters, Megan Hott, 17 and Erica Hott, 14. “I look forward to seeing them and being a part of their lives. I love taking them to competition and seeing what they have learned throughout the year.”
Erica, her “right-hand woman,” describes Hott as someone who “actually cares about the kids and not just the dances.”
“Every little kid has a story to tell everyday and Manda listens to them and gets really into it,” said Megan. “When something goes wrong, she goes with it.”
Operating a studio with practices that run throughout the school year is not an easy task.
Not only do Hott and her other two assistants - Cheyenne Harris and Abby McCloud have to select a show, they must find music that the students can dance to that have never been performed before as well as   choreograph all the dances prior to the next season beginning in September.
“So we really don’t get a summer off,” said Hott, about the months of June, July and August between dance seasons. “That’s sometimes busier than our regular dance year.”
This year’s show – “Hairspray” features four songs from the Broadway classic – “Lady’s Choice,” Welcome to the 60s,” New Girl in Town,” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat.”
Hott says she hopes the recital “goes smoothly and the girls have fun.”
As for the style of the show, it’s a mix, she said. “The songs are a variety – slow, fast, upbeat, Christian and hip hop,” said Hott.
Just two weeks ago, she took her students to a local competition held at the Allegany County Fairgrounds where all of them placed either first or second in such categories as dance, choreography, difficulty, timing, and expression.
Hott, a 2007 graduate of Keyser High School, is an avid dancer of nine years, and was Cannon’s assistant dance instructor for six.
Since she assisted Cannon for so long, she decided to maintain the operations of the studio when she became owner.
“She taught me everything, so I decided to keep it the same,” said Hott.
This fall, Hott plans to attend Potomac State College where she will major in psychology and take dance instruction curriculum courses.
In the future she said she plans to expand and move into a larger studio.
Enrollments will begin at Amanda’s Dance Reflections for the 08-09 dance year beginning the second week of August with dates and times publicized in the local newspapers.
She will except students as young as two and as old as 19, however, the two-year-olds must be potty-trained and turn three by the time the spring recital takes place in late May.
Amanda’s Dance Reflections offers dance instruction in ballet, jazz, modern and Pointe and is located at 60 Center Street in downtown Keyser.