Retirement? “Not an option, I love teaching”, says Hilarie Neely, Artistic Director/Founder of Footlight Dance for the past 41 years, but she is passing the torch of administration starting August 2025. Her vision of “dance for all”, with many styles of dance (ballet, modern, jazz, tap and hip hop) being offered in a conservatory environment has brought generations to the studio. She established a pre-professional company for the valley’s high school students so they could study and be able to continue their training outside the valley with a solid base for a career. She embraced a studio that brings community service in the forefront of sharing the beauty of the dance arts. From marching in the Trailing of the Sheep Parade, helping support professional dance performances brought to the valley, performing at the Senior Connection, to teaching in the schools or sharing dance with the summer Bloom truck, Hilarie has been there promoting dance and what it has to offer our well-being and expression.
