Hilltown Dance Center

Dance classes currently being offered:

Acrobatics

Ballet

Jazz

Pointe

Tap

Lyrical

Pre-School Dance

Adult Ballroom

Summer Dance Camps

Dance Teams

Summer Intensive Dance Training

For students age 2 through adult.

Information about our teachers:

Polly Jo Labbé

Director

BA in Education Studies with a concentration in Dance and a minor in Psychology. Certification to teach by Dance Masters of America.
Current National President of the National Association of Dance and Affiliated Arts, Inc (NADAA). Past National Vice President of NADAA, past President of Connecticut Chapter #20 NADAA and past Vice President of Connecticut Chapter #20 NADAA.
27 years of teaching experience in the Pioneer Valley for Hilltown Dance Center, Carol Butler's School of Dance, Dance SiStems, Jenny's School of Dance and New England Dance Quarters.
Choreographed "Anything Goes" and "Oliver" for Smith Academy in Hatfield, MA.
Taught lyrical, jazz, contemporary, ballet, hip hop, tap and stretch classes at numerous dance conventions in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Wisconsin. Also taught at NADAA National Dance Conventions in Connecticut, New York and Wisconsin.
Her choreography has won numerous Platinum and Gold Awards, as well as high score awards at NADAA Nationals, Dance Arts Plus and Dance Capers to name a few. She also has won Top Choreography of the Day at Dance Arts Plus and Dance Ovations.
Her students have won numerous scholarships including: Chancellor's Award for Talent to the University of Massachusetts, National Merit Awards for NADAA, College Scholarships from NADAA, NADAA New England Youth Representative, Honor's Circle and Merit Awards.
She studied dance at the University of Massachusetts as a Dance Major, Carol Butler School of Dance, Frank Hatchett Senior Dance Company member, Northeast American Ballet, Amherst Ballet and the Pioneer Valley Ballet. She also has studied with Art Stone, Phil Black, Charles Kelly, Bob Rizzo, Janice Barringer and Al Gilbert to name a few.

Lauren Yamilkoski

Teacher

Lauren has studied dance in all areas for 15 years with a concentration in acrobatics and ballet. She is a graduate of the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter High School. She is currently attending Westfield State College. She is entering her third year of teaching for us at Hilltown Dance Center.

She is a member of the National Association of Dance and Affiliated Arts, Inc. She is also currently serving as a chapter Vice President for New England Chapter #20. She received the Eunice Goundrey Member Exchange scholarship for 2008.

She has studied with Hilltown Dance Center for numerous years and was a member of our Acrobatics, Tap & Master Dance Teams. She was an assistant teacher for many years before joining our faculty in 2006.

She has taught at regional and national NADAA dance conventions in Connecticut & Wisconsin.

She has also studied with Kathryn Sullivan, Bob Rizzo, Janice Barringer, Frank Hatchett and Anthony Locasio to name a few. She has won merit awards from NADAA and was the New England Youth Representative for 2006.