Summer Camp Spotlight: Hazel Boone Dance Camp in Canton

Canton’s is holding a dance camp this week. Running from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. daily, the camp is hosted by studio owner Holly Costa, the granddaughter of founder Hazel Boone. According to Costa, the 40 campers, ages 7-12, will have plenty to keep them busy. 

“We start with circle time as a welcome for everyone,” said. “We play ice-breaker games, to get to know each other and to help the counselors learn camper’s names.” 

From the welcome, the campers move into coordination games, using props such as playground balls or hula hoops, to get their bodies moving. Following the group warm-up, campers break into groups according to age and ability. 

Campers participate in three main activities each day: a dance lesson, a team game and an arts and crafts project, plus a snack time and lunch when all campers are together again. The structure of the dance lesson allows young dancers to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time.

“The lesson starts with a warm-up for some flexibility, and then includes some strength training using body weight,” Costa said. “Then the counselors teach the dance combo for the day. We show them lots of styles – they might have jazz class one day, tap dance another and hip-hop another. We try to mix it up for them so they can try something new every day.” 

The ten teenaged counselors, all dancers themselves, exert a positive influence on the youngsters. 

“We talk about nutritious choices for lunch and snack at the beginning of the week,” she said. “The counselors show what they brought, and later on the campers say, ‘Oh, instead of a bag of chips, I could bring a bag of grapes like that teenager did.’ They just want to be like the big girls, and it works out in their favor.” 

The camp culminates in a show on Friday for campers’ families and friends. The campers perform all the dances they learned during the week, and wear a t-shirt they created in one of the arts and crafts times as a costume. It is always a good show, Costa said. 

“The show we do on Friday blows everyone’s expectations away,” she said. “Our motto at the studio is “dance for joy,” and they’re totally dancing for joy. They’re not at all nervous; they can’t wait to show off what they’ve learned. I give kudos to my counselors, who get these kids to love what they’re doing. They make it simple enough that they can do it, and be proud of themselves doing it.”