Dance studio offers options for adults

By PAIGE CARR

Staff writer

As Studio 23’s youth classes come to an end with the beginning of summer vacation, owner Krista Matlock said she is excited about several classes that will target adults age 16 and over.

“We had our student recital a couple of weeks ago at the high school,” she said. “We had a great turnout. We’re taking a break for the summer and will start up again in September. We’ll have an age-based dance camp June 4-8.”

Matlock said among class options for adults is “WERQ.”

“It’s a hip hop dance class for fitness with the newest top 100 music hits,” she said.

Studio 23 has offered the class every other Saturday for the past six months under instructor Sydney McMillen, but Matlock became certified about a month ago to offer weekday options for the class as well. WERQ will be offered Tuesdays at 6:30 a.m. and Wednesdays at 9 p.m. along with Saturday classes.

“With my class, I’m going to try and offer different styles of music,” said Matlock. “It’s a well rounded work out with continual dancing for about 10 songs. You really break a sweat. It’s a lot of fun and you really don’t feel like you’re working out.”

Five to six people regularly attend the Saturday class, and Matlock said she is hoping to get more fresh faces through the studio’s doors.

Along with WERQ, Studio 23 will offer a ballet fitness class Mondays at 7 a.m starting in June.

“If hip-hop or fast dancing isn’t your thing, it’s a slower stretch and workout,” she said.

A class held Mondays at 7 p.m., also beginning in June, will be an adult worship dance class and feature a variety of styles as time progresses.

“Every two months we’ll do a different genre for that class,” Matlock said. “Like ballroom and tap dancing. We’ll change up the style so people can try them out.”

Dancers can register and pay for classes through Hillsboro Recreation Commission or stop in at the studio.

“You don’t have to be a natural dancer,” she Matlock. “I have dancers from all different levels and a wide range of ages from 16 to people in their 60s. I tell people who are self conscious that you’re so involved with yourself that you don’t notice anyone else.”

Matlock said she is pleased with the studio’s success thus far.

“It’s exciting to continue to add classes and it’s going really well,” she said. “We’re exactly what we imagined we’d be for the community.”