Laila Hardman is the owner and director of The Dance Project SLC in Cotton Woods Heights, Utah. It
is a studio that caters to all type of dancers. Although they are a competition studio, they also offer classes to dancers who don’t want to compete. They offer the same quality of teachers and instruction regardless if they compete or not. The studio builds a schedule specifically designed to cater to the needs of a dancer’s individual objectives and goals.
The objective of The Dance Project SLC is to provide a dance education that will emphasize proper dance training and technique coupled with building self-esteem and encouraging individual creativity in a safe and positive environment. Each dancer will have the opportunity to train under many different master class teachers to optimize their learning potential.
The staff at the Dance Project are all accomplished dancers with extraordinary reputations and resumes. Laila, herself, has distinguished herself in the field of choreography. She has choreographed for commercials, NFL half time shows, trade and fashion shows, numerous nationally ranked dance teams, and has received over 20 choreography awards. Recently, she patented “Air Guitar Aerobics” in Europe and also appeared on Extreme Makeover UK 
as part of the “Dream Team.” Additionally, Laila served as a private dance coach for several celebrities especially for several Disney Mickey Mouse Club members, most notably Justin Timberlake. Many of her former dancers have appeared on Broadway, in music videos and commercials, on NBA and NFL dance teams, and on tour with artists such as Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, Madonna and the late Michael Jackson.
The staff at The Dance Project is great about keeping their dancers motivated. They ask each dancer to set goals and then help them keep their eye on those goals. Self-esteem is the key to keeping dancers motivated and they make it their number one priority to help all of their dancers believe in themselves and keep it a positive environment. Laila always tells her dancers the famous quote by Henry Ford, “If you think you can or you think you can’t, either way you’re right!”
It is hard for Laila to pick a moment of which she is most proud because she has had so many proud moments. She said that probably seeing dancers reach their professional goals (she has had many previous dancers who are now professionally dancing) is a pretty proud moment. That being said, seeing a dancer that has really struggled, and then gets on stage and kills it, always brings tears to her eyes!
Laila feels that the biggest mistake dancers make when competing actually comes during rehearsal. When a dancer doesn’t rehearse full out in rehearsal, then gets on stage at competition and tries to kill it, ultimately they will always make mistakes! She believes that good work ethic in rehearsal equals
an outstanding performance.
Her idea of dancewear items every dancer needs is pretty basic. It consists of a dance bra top and bootie shorts that the dancer feels fierce in!
Laila’s goal for this year is, as always, to create a positive dance environment where a dancer can come and feel safe and make the studio their second home. She loves the family atmosphere her studio emanates and believes it’s important to keep that.
She started The Dance Project because she loves teaching and working with kids. It’s addicting to her.
If you have experience with The Dance Project SLC or Laila Hardman please leave a comment below about your experience!
