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020_F2F_DT1102.prep.qxd 12/23/10 9:46 AM Page 20 DT notes FACE TO FACE Chelsie Hightower From small-screen stardom to even bigger dreams BY COURTNEY RAE ALLEN t just 21 years old, Chelsie My coaches kept reminding me about my Hightower has become one of talent and told me I was going to be a A America’s favorite primetime star. They genuinely cared and didn’t dancers. She first captivated audiences want to see me fail. The biggest thing is with her bubbly personality, fierce foot- learning that people will want to work DPMC work, sassy moves and partnering with you if you’re a good person, show QC prowess on Season Four of Fox’s “So up on time and have a good attitude. You Think You Can Dance.” She’s now appearing on her fourth season of DT: What is it like to now work with ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.” those famous dancers like Karina Hightower won her first national Smirnoff, who coached you? ballroom title at age 11, only two years CH: I can’t even tell you how intim- Chelsie after she began dancing in an after- idated I was my first season. I grew Hightower school program to help her overcome up idolizing Karina’s dancing. on “Dancing with the shyness. Since discovering her natural Then I came on the show at 19 Stars” talent, the fresh-faced, blue-eyed blonde years old and I expected in a trained at Center Stage Performing Arts way to know everything the Studio in her native Orem, Utah, and has major professionals know been performing and teaching nonstop and to be just as good as across the country and abroad. She’s them. I’m still a little intimidated, to be myself off, and some moves are about achieved the kind of success that would honest. I know I’ll never be Karina with playing to my partner, getting close and be enough for many, but Hightower is my dancing, and I’m OK with that. It’s showing that relationship. If you are just getting started. She has ambitions not always about the dancing, but about 100 percent into the feeling, the chem- for, among other things, opening her bringing the best out of the celebrity. I’m istry will come naturally. 100 own studio, recording an album and per- confident knowing that I can do my job, 96 forming on Broadway. and I focus on that every week. DT: Tell us more about your own This month, Hightower is teaching at dance studio. When will it open? 75 The Ballroom Dance Channel’s first-ever DT: Partnering is challenging for CH: Hopefully in the next year or two. 50 Superstars of Ballroom Dance Camp in some, but you’ve got it down to an art. There’s so much untapped talent in Utah, 25 Burbank, California. What is your method? but I don’t want to compete with the sur- 15 CH: It’s all about the story, the feeling rounding studios. It’s going to be an hour Dance Teacher: You’ve been very behind the dancing. You can think north of Orem. It’s going to be an all- 5 successful at such a young age. Did about technique all you want, but the style studio—competitive jazz, hip hop, your dance studio training prepare you minute you get on the floor, it’s about ballroom. I want it to be fierce; I want us for a professional career? the performance. I’m always aware of to win. But I don’t want it to be the kind Chelsie Hightower: Absolutely. my partner. It’s so easy to get side- of studio where students are out to beat Everything I learned in the studio is what tracked and worry about your own each other. I loved my studio because I I’m teaching and applying today. There dancing. I sit down and think about the learned how to have an amazing work were times in my competition days when intention behind each move and what I ethic and to be competitive without being I wanted to quit. I didn’t like the cut- want people to see when I dance that catty. I want that same good vibe and throat competitiveness or the traveling. move. It’s sometimes about showing good dancing. DT ABC of courtesy D’Amico, Bob by Photo 20 www.dance-teacher.com • February 2011 *As Seen In Dance Teacher Magazine. Unauthorized Duplication is Prohibited.* This proof has been quality checked Please Initial One: by DPMC. DPMC will not accept OK CHANGES DTM1102_020r1 liability for any proof approved by client. AS IS NEEDED.

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