So, they can definitely dance

If they thought they could dance before the PULSE tour, there’s no question now.
    Seven dancers from Fusion Dance and Theatre Co.’s Fusion N Motion Diamond team performed and received lessons from celebrity dance instructors and choreographers this weekend.

Photo courtesy of Darrel Hudson

Fusion N Motion Diamond Dance Team members Kaely Birge, Madison Allen, Caroline Curtis, Chloee McClellan, Rylee Hoel, Natalie Curtis and Katie James perform to the tune of “Candelight” in the showcase.

Buy this photo

    Chloee McClellan, Natalie Curtis, Caroline Curtis, Kaley Birge, Madison Allen, Katie James and Rylee Hoel were all picked to attend the yearly touring event where renowned choreographers travel the country and host classes and performance showcase opportunities for local dancers and studios.
    According to Natalee McClellan, pre-school director and dance instructor at Fusion,  “It was really amazing and awesome and cool for our kiddos.”
    While only seven of the company’s dancers performed at PULSE on Tour, the rest of Fusion’s dancers, instructors and parents came out to show their support.
    “It was so exciting for them to be on this grand stage in front of people they admire. It was a lifetime experience,” she said.
    According to McClellan, the performance was accompanied with professional lighting, which dancers don’t receive in competitions.
    Of course, the experience was only amplified because of who was in the audience.
    The PULSE on Tour’s faculty is on reality television shows, such as Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance,” directing music videos and tours for leading recording artists, and producing and choreographing movies, commercials, Broadway productions and dance companies.
    This year’s faculty hosted the weekend event at the Denver Hyatt Regency.
    Wade Robson, Cris Judd, Dave Scott, Tyce Diorio and Gil Duldulao took on the faculty roles at this year’s tour.
    Robson choreographed for “So You Think You Can Dance,” and directed music videos and world tours for recording artists such as Britney Spears, *NSYNC, Usher, Mya and Pink.
    Besides being known as Jennifer Lopez’s back up dancer and ex-husband, Judd has worked with celebrities such as Cher, Celine Dion, *NSYNC, Paulina Rubio and Brian McKnight. He’s danced off-Broadway shows including “Dracula,” “Walt Disney World” and Disney’s Pleasure Island, and performed on Michael Jackson’s Dangerous and History world tours.
    Scott has filmed projects for both film and television including, “So You Think You Can Dance,” Bravo’s “Step It Up & Dance” and “Step Up 3D.”
    Diorio danced on the “American Music Awards,” “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” “Saturday Night Live,” and with Janet Jackson on her Velvet Rope world tour and her If, Together Again and You videos. He also danced for Paula Abdul, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin and Samantha Mumba.
    Duldulao has been featured in Christina Aguilera’s Dirrty, Genie in a Bottle, Janet Jackson’s Together Again, Got ‘Till It’s Gone, Tina Turner’s When The Heartache Is Over, Britney Spears’ I Was Born To Make You Happy and Jennifer Lopez’ Waiting For Tonight and Feelin’ So Good videos.    
    The agenda allowed for students take dance classes with the celebrity faculty, which gave them a lot of one-on-one time with the stars, said McClellan. Then, Saturday, the group performed a pre-rehearsed dance for the celebrity faculty and an audience.
The seven dancers from Fusion’s team, ranging in age from 10 to 16 years old, performed with 13 other teams from across the state.
    According to McClellan, they spent four months preparing for this weekend.
    Theresa Hudson, director of Fusion Dance and Theatre Co., choreographed the routine, which they danced to the tune of “Candlelight.”
    McClellan noted that the director of PULSE on Tour repeatedly asked Hudson to participate in the event for several years.
    This year the company was given a free ride to the event, which normally costs dancers and studios a good chunk of change. So, Hudson took the plunge.
    The girls performed their dance using props including a ramp and battery-lit candles.
    “They enjoyed performing in front of these prestigious people that they see on TV all the time,” said McClellan. “We’re just in this little town. We do this recreationally. A lot of people there eat, drink and sleep dance. We just try to make it cheap, exciting and have a good time.”
    Fusion N Motion recently received its nonprofit license because of the amount of scholarships it provides for underprivileged kids to take dance classes.
    It’s Fusion Dance and Theatre’s second year as a company, and McClellan said they’ve already grown so much.
    “Every week we have more and more kids coming in,” she said. “We’re really proud of the team and the studio in general. It’s just been a lot of fun. I don’t know what the kids would do without it.”
Fusion Dance and Theatre Co. is at 4041 Bruin Blvd., Frederick. Call 720-641-7636 or visit ww.fusiondanceandTheatrecompany.com.