Hill Dance Academy Theatre

My 13-year-old daughter has been dancing with Hill Dance Academy Theatre since she was three years old. HDAT trains young artists not only for the concert stage, but for life. My daughter is a musical theater major at Pittsburgh CAPA and I truly believe that HDAT prepared her for her theater training at school. When she auditioned for CAPA in fifth grade she already knew Theatre jargon, stage direction and much more. She has been dancing on professional stages literally since she was three years old and that’s all thanks to HDAT. would recommend HDAT to any family looking for excellent dance training and arts preparation.

My Granddaughter has been Dancing at HDAT for two years now it has
Been a rewarding experience. This program not only
Offers Dance but gives young ladies remarkable
Self esteem. It teaches responsibility which is needed
For growing youth. My granddaughters
Friend whom have come to events love
It and are wanting to be a part.
Mrs Turner

Proud Parents Promoting HDAT drew my daughter, Sydney and I to HDAT's doors which open to its students excellence in skill and creativity in many genres of dance.
HDAT's main focus is dance. HDAT does a thorough and excellent job of teaching dance and the teaching artists are phenomenal!!!!

"If you don't know where you've been,,,,you won't know where you are going", so I value HDAT's efforts to encourage students to understand, love and embrace themselves as dancers, humans, women etc . I treasure the books and folders the dancers compile concerning all aspects of dance, human physiology and kinesiology, history, cultural and social awareness. Sydney's books are kept as treasured resources, the information therein invaluable.

HDAT students participate in television and radio promos, present powerpoint presentations, take classes such as performance discipline and acting and participate as mc's in formal dance productions and in plays such as Black Nativity. Exposure to these opportunities and experiences develop them into effective communicators and polished public speakers.....I LOVE IT!!!!

Finally , HDAT fosters confidence and inspires dancers to rise beyond themselves, to act locally and globally in concern to care about and help others. I admired how the dancers participate in community service projects. Recently, some dancers collected books, others clothing, all to be donated. Others served the community by providing a creative spa day, or by sharing dance as a skilled discipline in the local community centers and libraries. These are just a few opportunities HDAT dancers have used to "give back or pay it forward."

Hdat is an amazing place to dance. I would give it five stars from The Amazing teachers to the lovely cummunity. I have been at hdat for 3years and every year, every day, and every second with Hdat is memorable. Hdat is more than a dance academy it is a learning inviriment and a place when your just having a tough day they will make you smile. Not to mention how funny the teachers and students are. There are many things and details about Hdat that I love that I can't fit into a standard amount, but the most important thing is you know that you can put your trust, effort, care, and love isn't to them. You can bet they will put it into you!

Written by Zion a proud student of Hdat.

My daughter was a student at HDAT for many years. She started in the 2nd grade as I was concerned about her shyness and health. Everyone at HDAT from Ms. Ayisha to the volunteers was professional, caring, and highly knowledgeable. HDAT is like family in the way that the nurture their students. Mariah learned so much more than how to dance.....She gained confidence !!!! I am so grateful to everyone from this organization and am so glad that they continue to do great work! Highly recommended!!!!

I am writing to express my support for the Hill Dance Academy Theatre (HDAT) School and organization on their steadfast efforts to uplift children, particularly African American children, by immersing them in the Arts. As a HDAT Parent, I can speak with confidence regarding the positive impact HDAT has on girls ages 3 to 18. For the last 2 years, I have watched the program develop and touch the lives of girls and young women with a holistic approach to teaching and mentoring. While exposing students to a variety of dance, HDAT also exposes students to disciplines that support the arts: fitness, nutrition, self-identity, theatrical expression, chorus, professionalism in the arts, service projects, and history & culture.

Two years ago, my daughter, Ayan Michie, decided to leave the pre-professional dance school that she had been attending for five years. Ayan had done pretty well there. The Ballet technique she gained gave her a strong basis to grow from. The down-side of her experience was the majority of the students nor the instructors looked like her or shared a similar community or cultural background. Ayan was often placed in the background of choreographed pieces. She was never given the opportunity to shine or display her talents and consequently, her self-esteem and dance development suffered. There were times when Ayan wasn’t even sure if she still liked dance. Sadly, the enjoyment of dance was dwindling away.

In summer 2012, Ayan applied for a Summer Internship at HDAT. The 8 weeks that she spent learning in the Intensive, relit her flame and her love for dance. Ayan continued studying at HDAT until she graduated from high school in June 2014. Ayan blossomed as a dancer and young professional, under the direction of Ayisha Morgan-Lee. The instructors saw Ayan’s strengths and they built upon them. Ayan was given leadership roles and was given multiple opportunities to shine in choreographed pieces. The instructors and the students embraced her as a beautiful young dancer. She loved and respected her instructors and the students looked up to her. As a result, of the relationships built and the growth she could see in herself, Ayan’s attitude toward her abilities changed, markedly. Dancing in liturgical pieces, learning her history, journaling about her experiences: inner feelings, goals, and challenges, all made her a stronger dancer and an asset to the HDAT organization. Ayan has learned so much about herself in the last 2 years at HDAT. Life lessons that, I am sure, have yet to be realized.

In just 2 short years, Ayan developed as a dancer and experienced things that she most likely would not have at the school she had previously attended. Some of her accomplishments include:

Attended the International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD) conference.
Played the role of “Mary” in Shona Sharif’s Black Nativity: A Christmas gift.
Invited to join the company Ju.B.Lation Spirit Filled Feet.
Danced in lead roles in a variety of Showcases and Concerts.
Promoted to Director of Rehearsal for the company, Ju.B.Lation Spirit Filled Feet.
Promoted to Teaching Assistant for Summer Intensive
Student Office Manager of Hill Dance Academy during Summer Intensive

My daughter is now a freshmen at the Penn State University. She is majoring in Athletic Training/Kinesiology. Ayan aspires to be a Physical Therapist for dancers. It is with great confidence and pride, I can say that the experiences and exposure Ayan received at the Hill Dance Academy Theatre has prepared her to meet her goals and accomplish her future endeavors.

Respecfully Submitted By:

Sherlyn E. Michie

When i came through the doors of Hill Dance Academy Theatre to start teaching a class on how to carry and present yourself to others in a professional environment, I was amazed by the activities going on and the genuine care the owner had for the students. I have worked a number of nonprofits and taught youth in and out of school, but what I witnessed here; accountability from the students and parents, involvement from the executive staff, not just people sitting behind a desk making decisions, but actually carrying out the decisions and ideas they created really made me see a different way nonprofits worked.

As I grew with the organization, I was able to see the youth grow. Watching their growth in dance and growth in being young professionals is a joy to see. Seeing the organization grow to involve teachers and artists who have such a passion for what they do, they wish to pass it on to the next generation to sustain the art form. Watching the organization go from one room on a college campus, to a large floor plan in a community center has amazed me. I look forward to many more years of watching this organization and the students involved grow.

My daughter is loving her experience at HDAT. They give a well-rounded experience focusing on the child as a whole (education, health, etc)--not just on the talent of the child. They offer so many opportunities for children to display their talents. They teach the children discipline in their art and well as self-respect and respect for others. I have told several people about this organization and I hope that they take advantage.

I'm so thankful for HDAT my son and daughter has had the opportunity to experience the performing arts inside and out from performing on stage, what happened behind stage for every day discipline participating in a dance class also the discipline of eating healthy and taking care of their own bodiesI I I feel that had HDAT is a well organized program and I will continue send my children there for years to come

My granddaughter is not only learning about the art of dance at HDAT, but the culture and discipline that goes with It as well. She is learning how to be responsible, interact socially with peers and instructors, life skills such as personal care, hygiene, ,good nutrition, and exercise. These are all so important to her growth and development as a young lady and as a dancer. Being a dance Grandma is tough on me, but well worth the investment in so many ways....

My daughter came into their program through an after-school tutoring program. They participate as a way to provide exposure to the arts in young boys and girls inside and outside of their immediate community. While dance is not my daughter's first love it is one she appreciates seeing and participating in. She has been afforded opportunities to do photography, assist with stage management as well as performing for various age groups. As an athlete dance in all of its forms can help a student with poise, fluidity, strength, stamina and confidence of which my daughter has benefited. Hill Dance Academy Theatre's programs and teaching instructors have helped and continue to help build its students in preparation for their future by showing them how to blossom and flourish within themselves.

Hill Dance Academy Theatre for nearly 10 years has provided Arts Education to children, ages 3 to 18 years old. This is an outstanding program for children who are interested in a career in the art of dance and theatre. The program helps children to develop as emerging artists and students who simply love the arts. The student performances are spectacular and you can see in their performances the confidence, skills and techniques that the students bring to the stage.

Hill Dance Academy Theatre (HDAT) has been a blessing for both my daughter, Drew and myself. This program has had such a positive impact in our lives and I wholeheartedly welcome and encourage others to bring their 'dancers' to participate in the program. As a member of the Parent Advisory Council, I have the privelage to learn more about the HDAT and spread the word. HDAT's mission is to enlighten and encourage all of the participants to learn through experts in the field of dance, choreography and a variety of art forms. I want to personally thank everyone who supports HDAT and invite you to join the program. - Robin Young, PAC Member, and Drew's mommy!