Hillary Andrews is the daughter of Bryan and Rhonda Andrews of Mt. Airy, Georgia and has been dancing since elementary school. She began her training at the old Dance-A-Lott studios in Cornelia, owned and directed by Habersham’s own Donna Trotter. “I took a dance class when I was five years old and began studying ballet and tap techniques at Dance-A-Lott,” says Andrews. “One of my earliest dance memories is at my very first recital, where I fell during our tap dance. I was so excited by the feeling I had being onstage that the fall barely phased me.”
And so it began, a life long dream fueled by passion, dedication, determination and drive…and some very strong mentors.
Early influences
Headshot by Robert Peck
Like many dancers, Hillary gives credit to the women who helped spark her love of the arts. “Donna Trotter, the owner of Dance-A-Lott , was my very first tap teacher. Ms. Donna was, and still is, an incredible tapper. She taught me so many wonderful things, not only pertaining to dance, but I was always amazed by her rhythm and musicality. Ms. Donna first shaped my understanding of music, which has been a huge factor in my dance career. Had it not been for Ms. Donna and Dance-A-Lott, I don’t know that I would be dancing today. I am forever grateful to her,” she enthuses.
Andrews is grateful for another woman who came into her life when she was learning jazz and ballet – Tracy Marsengill. “Ms. Tracy truly laid the foundation of my technique, being the first to teach me about alignment and the ins and outs of being a technical dancer. I can still hear her in my head in a jazz or ballet class, encouraging me to point my toes or take the arch out of my back,” recalls Andrews. “Ms. Tracy, quite an accomplished dancer herself , was exceptional at explaining the technique in a way that a young dancer could understand. Additionally, her energy in class was always so inspiring. I cannot remember a day where she was ever in a negative mood, she always had a smile on her face, which just added to my love of her classes.”
Annette Lewis, the director of Good Moves Dance in Atlanta, Georgia inspired Andrews when it came to choosing a path to follow and starting her career. “Annette Lewis is undoubtedly the most influential teacher of my career. I first met ‘Ms. A’ at Dance-A-Lott; she taught the most advanced ballet and modern classes. Ms. A actually sought me out and made it her mission to add me to her classes and to her pre-professional dance company named Good Moves. I will never forget her taking me out of class to have a conversation about my future in dance. She believed in me whole-heartedly from the beginning and without her there is no question that I would not be the dancer I am today,” Andrews insists. She adds, “Once I joined Good Moves and began learning under Ms. A everything changed. Her classes were extremely difficult and rigorous, and she pushed us all to our limits. She made me stronger physically and emotionally, and truly prepared me for the real world. I have yet to come across another teacher thus far in my career as invested as Ms. Annette.”
Dancing through school
Such early influences fortified Andrews’ love of dance and help set the course for her future; a future she lasered in on at an early age.
Her childhood and teen years centered around school and dance. “By the time I was seven years old I was dancing four days a week, and would go straight from school to the studio and from the studio to home. Over the years I tried a few different things, including basketball and cheerleading, but nothing else gave me the feeling that I had while I was dancing.”
Hillary was just ten years old when she decided to become a professional dancer. She made that decision during her first trip to New York. “Ms. Annette took us to the Jose Limon Summer Dance Intensive, even though the age requirement was sixteen. We were expected to take the intensive just as seriously as the professionals who were attending and participate with the same level of commitment. At this intensive, I was able to dance all day, everyday, for a week straight. It was such an invigorating feeling, doing what I loved all day. I knew then that I would always be dancing,” says Andrews.
Hillary not only found her life’s calling in those early days, she learned to explore the world of dance and to expose herself to new experiences. “For dancers, it is extremely important to travel and experience other teachers, companies, festivals, and intensives in order to gain a well-rounded sense of the dance world. Ms. Annette and Good Moves instilled this principle. From a young age, and I have been lucky to travel in both my pre-professional and professional experiences throughout my career,” says Andrews.
In addition to attending six Limon Summer Intensives (2002-2008) Hillary also trained at the Boston Conservatory Summer Program (2009) and the American Dance Festival at Duke University (2013).
After graduating from Habersham Central High School in 2010 Hillary Andrews packed up her talent, skills and dreams and headed to Kennesaw State University to study dance. “The major difference between my high school dance training and the training I received at KSU was that I had to learn how to motivate myself. Previous to attending KSU, under Ms. A’s direction, I was lucky to be constantly pushed and motivated by her. However, during my freshmen year, I quickly learned that I had to take the initiative in my training. I believe this was an important lesson to learn, for it forced me to grow and mature as a dancer,” Andrews recalls. It’s a life lesson that easily translates into any career.
Andrews eagerly recounts one of her more memorable experiences while at KSU. “My senior year at Kennesaw, I had the privilege of performing in Ivan Pulinkala’s work, Touchdown. This piece had been extremely challenging for me as a dancer for Dr. Pulinkala’s work is extremely athletic and technical. We had the honor of performing at the Cobb Energy Center, which is one of the most beautiful theaters I have ever been in. Performing with KSU in Touchdown was an unforgettable experience.”
Dancing through life
Most performance opportunities, like most opportunities in life, are driven by two main factors; talent and relationships. More often than not it’s as much about who you know as what you know. Hillary Andrews sees that cliche playing out in her own life.
“Many of the connections and professional opportunities I have had in my career stem from the time at KSU. For example, the contemporary company of which I am a founding member is directed by one of my former professors at KSU, Emily Cargill. Emily was my modern teacher during my freshmen and sophomore years, and when she decided to begin her own company, Emily Cargill and Dancers, she reached out to me. I am very proud of the work that I am able to do with Emily and her company.”
This is Hillary’s first year out of college and she’s fortunate to have, first, found work and, second, found work she enjoys doing. “Being an artist in this day and time is definitely a struggle and requires the artist to wear a few different hats in order to make ends meet.” Hillary currently holds down three jobs and can be found working two of them on any given day. She incorporates her dance training into her job as a fitness instructor at Pure Barre Buckhead. She also teaches after school dance classes to elementary school students in Dekalb and thrives on her work with Emily Cargill and Dancers. Andrews says she’s “passionate” about all of her jobs and is grateful to have found work so soon after graduating college.
The dream holds
Hillary is undaunted by the challenges of making a living in the performing arts. Her passion fuels her dreams and informs her career choices. “For my future, I hope to continue dancing as much as possible. I would like to broaden my experiences in Atlanta and work with as many choreographers as possible, furthering my dance training.” She adds, “I truly think that as long as I have dance in my life, whether it be through teaching, dancing, or choreographing, that I will be happy and fulfilled.”
Hillary invites you to her next performance with Emily Cargill and Dancers on April 3rd and 4th at the Synchronicity Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. Andrews and her group will present their freshest piece, Hush. For show times and ticket information visit www.emilycargillanddancers.com
