Hailey Lillis

What companies/classes are you currently in?

I am currently in the Senior Cat's company, Hip Hop Company, Ocean Tap Cats,  and Ocean Hoofers. 

When did you start at Center Stage?

I started at Center Stage in the 2011-2012 Season, I was 5. 

Do you remember your first dance routine? 

Of course I do, it was a jazz dance to Fabulous from High School Musical 2 choreographed by Ms.Danielle.  We wore a very sparkly pink costume.

What was your Center Stage journey?

I started at Center Stage by going on a Girl Scout trip, loving the Ocean studio, and taking a rec jazz hip hop once a week with Danielle Mondi.  I took Jazz for about 5 years until I almost stopped dancing. Then ,  had a change of heart and wanted to take lyrical with Tori Moots, so I took jazz, ballet, and lyrical classes.   I then decided to try out for the team and made it!   I  became a junior jazzcat with one competition dance for a year. I continued to move up to two competition dances in the lyrical and jazz categories, and then in 2019 I joined the Tap Cats in Ocean.  That year I started to travel to the East Brunswick studio to be a part of the Jazzcat production., I was a Jazzcat apprentice at this time. Then ,in the 2022-23 season, I became a part of the Hybrid company, dancing with the East Brunswick Senior Cats and the company director Mickey Defranco. That same year I joined the Hip-Hop Company led by Lauren Elsaser, and Hoofers in Ocean led by George Warren.  I am now a Senior Company member taking classes in Ocean on Monday and Tuesday and in East Brunswick on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.  I am also teaching two hours of classes on Fridays in Ocean.

Why has it been worth all of the energy you’ve put into it and the sacrifices you’ve made?

It has been worth all of my time and energy because I learned amazing skills in all categories of dance.  I have also learned time management skills, having to balance dance, school, and everyday life.  I cannot forget to mention I have made amazing friendships and relationships with my fellow company members and the staff at Center Stage!

What other outside-of-school activities do you do?

Other than competitive dancing, I teach on Fridays in the Ocean studio, I am the Student Council President of my school, and in my free time, I love spending time with family and friends. 

Assisting has been a major part of your time at Center Stage.  What do you enjoy about working with young kids?  What are the hard parts?

I could talk about the importance of assisting to me for hours!  I started assisting at the Ocean Studio during my first year of company. I started with one class, then I assisted Amanda Chiarello on Saturdays with the Jr. Cougars of Ocean. I later started assisting all of Krystle's Wednesday classes and George's Ocean Jr Tap Cats. Early on, I realized I had a passion for helping young children learn and have the time of their life in a 45-minute dance class. I think that the challenges are having to adapt to how all of the students learn differently in all each class.   It is also challenging to assist many teachers and learn their styles of teaching. 

What’s your favorite board game or party game?  If you could compile a group to play it with, living or dead, real or fictional, who would you be playing with?

I love a good game of Uno. I would want to play uno with Steve Harvey, Morgan Wallen, my mom, Rex from Toy Story, and probably a genius like Albert Einstein or something.  I feel that this would be a very diverse group and I would love to see where it would go.

Having taken classes at the 2 center-stage studios, give us a personality breakdown of each location.  If they were characters from OG sitcoms (Friends, The Office, etc.), who would they be?

Since the Ocean Studio is my home base and is smaller in size, it has always provided a sense of home and comfort.  While traveling up to East Brunswick was intimidating at first, it is my third home!  The Ocean Studio would be Rachel from Friends. I feel like Rachel is someone you can always go to and confide in and she will make you feel at home, the Ocean Studio will always provide that for me!   The East Brunswick studio is definitely Sue Heck from The Middle. She means well but she is always crazy, which I feel wraps up the East Brunswick studio perfectly!

What personal trait do you have that you are most proud of?

I have to say I am most proud of my leadership.  I love being in leadership roles and taking on large tasks with big groups!  I love how it came naturally with me and I don't think I would have had this trait if it weren't for my mom. 

Who are your role models and why?

My mom is my biggest role model. She has taught me everything I know and do. All of my dedication and leadership comes from watching her in leadership roles. She is also one of the funniest people I know. Not only that but she is my best friend. She is the person I always go to when something is wrong or I am upset about something. She seems to always have the right answer! Love you ma <3

If you were made queen of the world tomorrow, what would be your first edict?

I would get rid of standardized testing for students. It may be the most stressful and pointless thing I have had to do as a student. 

Would you like to be famous?  What would you be famous for?

I don’t think I would. It seems very stressful. If I were to become famous I would want to be famous for a good cause, like a non-profit organization or something like that. 

If they made a movie about your life, who should play you?

Thats tough. If we are going off of looks I would say Lindsay Lohan just because of the hair. But if we are going off of personality I would love for one of my close friends to play me. I think it would be really funny. I would also be willing to play myself but it wouldn’t be my first choice. 

What’s next?

I plan on attending college, Majoring in Early Childhood Education and minoring in leadership. I want to stay local, within a 2-3 hour drive.  

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Hopefully married with a kid. Teaching 1st grade and maybe even dance classes.

Will you come back to visit Center Stage, or are you gone for good when you’re out the door?

Center stage is my second home, and leaving home is hard enough so definitely. I will definitely come back to surprise my friends and teachers