Orem, Utah (ABC 4 News) “One, two, three, four.” Hefa Tuita counts out the beat as he teaches a handful of young dancers a new routine. It’s a ‘role reversal’ moment as the dancer becomes the instructor. “The kids that I’m teaching right now are my old classmates when I used to dance here.” And the here that Tuita is talking about - is the Center Stage Performing Arts Studio in Orem.
Tuita, who is 19, learned to dance and mastered his amazing moves here. Today, he is a professional dancer who is literally dancing with the stars. "I’ve been dancing with Ne-Yo, Jennifer Lopez, Chris Brown and a lot of other amazing and different things." And it’s not just talk. If you head to the “youtube” website you can see the Utah County kid all over the place. He’s in Ne-Yo’s Beautiful Monster video as well as the Jennifer Lopez live version of "What is Love" - just to name a few.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J2dwFVZHsY&feature=avmsc2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0ABZsRTt9sTuita is living a dancers dream. However, he says, five years ago his family really couldn’t afford all the dance lessons he wanted and needed. Tuita says he was lucky because unlike some kids he got a scholarship. "If I didn't get any financial help I don't think I would be here today." Just like so many other sports and activities - if you want to be great it takes a lot of time, training and money. Kim Delgrosso, the co-owner of Center Stage says, the money for costumes, travel, guest classes is "literally too much for most families." Tuita echoes that. "It's real expensive to dance. Classes cost a lot and company costs a lot."
Tuita, of course, is not the only one who wanted to dance, but didn't have the money - just ask Janene Jaynes of Spanish Fork. "I always loved dance. I've always been an avid lover. I always wish I could have had lessons, but just never had the opportunity."
Jaynes had to wait until she was an adult to get into dance. And she says it basically changed her life. She started by taking a ballroom dance classes at Utah Valley University. Four years and forty pounds later, she is a dance and fitness instructor.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hQPgZlGoe0 Now she is trying to share her passion by raising money so disadvantaged children have what she didn't. "Its making up for something I never had. It's making up for dream that I wish I could have had." To get that money, Jaynes organized a massive National Dance Day fund raiser at University of Utah. "BYU is coming for four songs, we have the dance club coming…” Ask her about it and she can tell you about all the great performers who will be there and all the instruction that teachers will be sharing. "I just knew Utah needed to be part of that. So, I put together a program for Utah so we would have a voice on this day." Jaynes dance day event - which she put together in just two weeks - has impressed dancers, like Tuita, and dance instuctors, like Delgrosso. "I'm in shock about what she has put together."
The event is on Saturday, July 31st, which happens to be National Dance Day. While Jaynes hopes to raise enough money to help several causes, her main focus is dance and the state of Utah. "We're going to sponsor someone here and follow their story." And maybe, just maybe, down the road, they’ll have a story to tell like Tuita’s.
By the way, Jaynes and Tuita met for the first time on Thursday. After learning about Janyes effort Tuita smiled and said, "To raise more money for scholarships means more people get the opportunity to do what they want to do. More dreams will come true."
The National Dance Day event at Utah Valley University's Event Center is this Saturday 4PM -10PM. It is only $5 for general admission and $10 for VIP tickets. For more information - check out these websites:
http://www.nationaldancedayutah.org/home http://mckayeventcenter.com/In addition there is a free dance event at the Provo Towne Centre this Saturday from Noon until 2PM.
http://www.provotownecentre.com For more information about Center Stage Studio in Orem click here:
http://www.centerstageutah.com/
