By MADELINE REIDA

Staff writer

Between Feb. 7 and 11, Studio 23 Dance in Hillsboro was filled with butterflies, fairies, mermaids, and a herd of girls ready to try being ballerinas.

Owners Amanda Abrahams and Krista Matlock, who have operated Studio 23 Dance since 2017, usually have a dance camp for children ages 2 to 7 in the summer. They decided to try a winter camp to engage dance students and encourage dance class enrollment after quarantine.

“Since winter’s such a dreary time, we’d figure we’d try something new,” Abrahams said.

A baker’s dozen little dancers took part in each of the two classes — one for age 4 and younger, one for age 5 and older. Abrahams engaged them with common dance stretches and basic ballet positions in the guise of playing pretend and making silly postures, like creating a sundae, flying like a butterfly, and sprouting like a flower in a tornado.

Their parents watched from a one-way mirror in the entryway.

“Do you guys want a turn? I’d hate to hog the window,” one mom said. “My camera’s already full of photos.”

The studio teaches both children and adults and has hired Tabor College students Lexi Milne and Lauren Christensen for hip hop, ballet, and cheer classes in the summer.