By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
While many spend their spring breaks on a long vacation, St. Joseph Dance Arts Center owner Marla Heeler spent part of her’s working.
Heeler got the opportunity to choreograph a national commercial for Holiday Inn Club Vacations in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Heeler says after spending some time in Myrtle Beach scouting the location and getting a vision, she began putting together the choreography
“Started playing around with just different movement that I thought would work, they do a little scene with a luggage cart so I literally went to our local Holiday Inn and borrowed their luggage cart for about an hour one day to figure out some different things we might do on a luggage cart,” Heeler tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.
Heeler says once she got back to Myrtle Beach, she had just two days to rehearse with the dancers before the filming began.
Heeler was presented with the opportunity by Dallas Henry, a former theater director and professor at Missouri Western, who she previously choreographed works for.
Heeler says she had never choreographed anything on this scale before
“I’m really thankful that I did get that opportunity, it was very cool,” Heeler says.
Heeler says Henry calling her to give her this chance, shows the power of connections
“And people remembering you later on down the road, which is you know how things can definitely work in the arts,” Heeler says.
Heeler says she’s excited for her students at the Dance Arts Center to see the commercial, especially those who might want to do that sort of work in the future.
“I think the kids learning that having that ability to make a simple movement look really sharp and amazing, is just as effective, because that’s what everybody wants to see and that’s what draws people in to watch that commercial, is their really cute personalities and performances,” Heeler explains.
Heeler says for herself she learned more of the importance of making connections and says she would do something like this again in a heartbeat.
You can see the commercial below:
Listen to our Journal with Marla:
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.
