It’s been a couple months since Doug and Jamie Murphy opened Hip Kidz Dance Academy in Burns. The Burns Times-Heralds’ Terri Watts caught up with Jamie’s busy schedule and asked her a few questions about her business.

BTH: Tell us about yourself and your dance/gymnastics experience.

Murphy: I grew up doing both competitive dance and gymnastics! I made it as far as the Junior Olympic level in gymnastics and competed at the regional and national level earning many overall titles with USA Gymnastics. 

I also competed at the National level in dance with styles varying from Acro, lyrical, jazz, tap and musical theatre and have won numerous titles for top Jr. and Top Sr. Dancer of the year!

BTH: Do you have other dance academies and if so what are their names and locations?

Murphy: I do have another dance studio in Madras! The name of it is Unique Performing Arts and it’s a highly competitive dance studio that competes all over the nation!

BTH: What brought you to Burns?

Murphy: I met my husband a few years ago…and he is from Burns! Also, our children are here in Burns and we are currently building our new home in Burns…so now we live between the 2 places (Madras and Burns)!

BTH: What motivated you to open Hip Kidz Dance Academy in Burns?

Murphy: I opened Hip Kidz Dance Academy because I have a huge passion for teaching dance and gymnastics….especially in a community that is small and may not have a lot to offer for kids!

BTH: What classes do you offer at Hip Kidz?

Murphy: We offer classes and camps in multiple styles, such as;

Ballet, Jazz, tap, lyrical, acro, gymnastics, musical theatre, tiny Totz, creative movement, Ariel silks and coming soon, hip hop and adult classes!

BTH: What are the age groups for the classes you offer?

Murphy: We start at age 2 1/2 and go all the way through adult classes!

BTH: Do individuals wanting to enroll at Hip Kidz need to have prior gymnastics or dance experience?

Murphy: There is no experience needed in order to join any of our classes! Beginning through advanced students are welcome to join!

BTH: You have mentioned that you recently took some of your students (do you prefer your dancers/gymnasts be called something other than students?) to Nationals … where were these held and how did your team do? 

Murphy: Yes! We are just getting back from a week long national finals in Las Vegas! The name of the competition was Encore Performing Arts Dance Nationals! We took about 40 kids and competed about 55 different routines ranging from soloist to small and large groups! Every single routine we took placed in the top 3 in the nation for their group age and size! But it was our Production # (that includes all 40 dancers in this 10 min routine) to the music “The Greatest Showman” that won the MOST prestigious award for “Top Production #” in the nation!!

BTH: When are your next camps/classes scheduled to begin?

Murphy: Wednesday, July 3rd: Mini dance Camp 9am-12pm

(This is a one day camp where the kids will learn a parade walk to do the following morning in the 4th of July parade)!

After that, we have week long camps that will run starting the week of July 8th and will run until August 15th. (Camps are for ages 4 years old through 12 years old). 

We also have Tiny Totz Clases (this is for ages 2 to 4 years old) on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 5pm-6pm that also start the week of July 8th and run through until August 15th. 

BTH: What is the best way for somebody to contact you to get more info about Hip Kidz Dance Academy (such as costs for classes, etc…) and/or to register for upcoming camps or classes?

Murphy: The best way to reach us for more info or to sign up for camps/classes is:

Call-Jamie Murphy-541-777-7985

Email-jamiemurphy2@yahoo.com

Come by-325 N. Broadway Ave. Burns, OR

BTH: What is Hip Kidz Dance Academy’s address?

Murphy: Hip Kidz Dance Academy ADDRESS:

325 N. Broadway Ave. Burns, OR

BTH: What days of the week and hours is Hip Kidz Dance Academy open?

Murphy: Hours of operation:

Mondays-Thursdays 9am-12pm/5pm-7pm