Shelby Lee Olmsted at the dance camp, training with the Rockettes. (Photo courtesy of Shelby Olmsted). Shelby Lee Olmsted at the dance camp, training with the Rockettes. (Photo courtesy of Shelby Olmsted).
Chatham

Local Dancer Shines In NYC

A 15-year-old local dancer will be returning to her dance studio in Chatham soon with some new moves she learned from the Radio City Rockettes.

Shelby Lee Olmsted is back home from an intense training camp held in New York City.

Shelby Lee Olmsted at the dance camp, training with the Rockettes. (Photo courtesy of Shelby Olmsted).

"There was four Rockettes there to teach us," she says. "We spent six hours a day at Radio City Music Hall learning the choreography."

Olmsted says they were taught four dances, the Rockettes themselves have performed.

"We learned their Soldiers routine, which they perform at their Christmas Spectacular; we learned a jazz dance called Shine, which they perform at the lighting of the Christmas tree in New York; we learned a dance called Welcome to New York, which they performed at their summer show; and we also learned Kick-Line."

Although the stage back home won't be quite as big, Olmsted says she'll be able to incorporate the skills learned at the Rockettes' dance camp to Pure Academy.

"I feel like I'll be able to be a stronger dancer," she says. "I'll refer to what I learned in New York -- to be very sharp on all the dance moves I do on my dance team."

Olmsted had previously told BlackburnNews.com, the process of getting to participate in the camp is competitive with an audition process, but she plans to apply again next summer.

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