By Morgan Bryce
Editor
On the afternoon of Oct. 21, Mandy Moore of Opelika’s Make Your Move Performing Arts Studio received a phone call she wasn’t expecting – a call from representatives of ABC’s Los Angeles studios.
“One of my students came up to me and said, ‘Miss Mandy, Dancing With the Stars is calling’ and handed me the phone. I didn’t know what to think,” Moore said.
Those representatives were requesting a space in their studio for Alabama native Hannah Brown and her dance partner Alan Bersten to practice their routine in advance of their Halloween-themed performance the following Monday.
“(Brown) was in town for her best friend’s wedding that weekend … and they found us through an online search,” Moore said. “After that phone call, a bunch of moms came up here and helped us clean and get it ready.”
The duo’s identity was not revealed until they arrived at the studio. For the next four hours, Bersten and Brown practiced in a closed-off room with no rolling cameras for privacy, Moore noted.
“That was all done to keep their routine from being revealed. But, we got to hear their music so we all knew what they were going to be dancing to (on Monday),” Moore said.
Afterward, the duo high-fived and hugged students and posed for pictures with them, Mandy and her sister Jamie.
“It’s probably one of the biggest things that has happened to our studio. We are just so grateful and excited that they chose this space to come rehearse and we hope they come back,” Moore said.
As of Monday, the duo was still in contention in the dance competition. Dancing With the Stars airs each Monday on ABC beginning at 7 p.m.
For more information about Make Your Move, call 334-705-0205, like and follow their social media pages or visit www.makeyourmovedance.com. The studio is located at 1220 Fox Run Ave., Suite #212 within USA Town Center.