Touring with Camp Nex is more than just dance, it’s a job

BOSTON, Mass. (WCBI) – On Friday, we brought you the story of a young dancer who is chasing after her dreams.

Now, we take a look at the training and discipline it takes to achieve her goals and the work she puts in while touring.

“Everyone’s on their own little journey here,” said program director Nancy O’Meara.

Ainsley Dobbs is living her dream of being a lead dancer with a tour group called Camp Nex.

But when she’s not on tour, she’s training at her home studio, ACPA, in Starkville.

“I think when I’m at my studio, I think I dance for about 30 hours somewhere around that time because sometimes we have extra long practices especially when a competition is coming up,” said Ainsley.

But that’s just the beginning. When she is on tour with Nexus, it’s not all fun and games.

“You think that we just come in and we dance and then we’re gone. But actually, there is this whole process of being up there. You have to come in, you have to help set up, you have to help do all these papers, you have to help get the books, and that kinda combines together which makes being lead,” said Ainsley.

She is on stage demonstrating dances, encouraging the other dancers, and helping the teachers.

“Each faculty member is different. So I have certain expectations, Lane has expectations, but they have to be a good role model. It’s everything, it’s just a full package. In case they do want to move on into the business they are already getting the tools here,” said O’Meara.

She along with the other leads are working a job and sometimes that can be stressful.

“They have great teamwork which again is another skill they need to learn. They help support each other. Even with just the elites, usually, they’re the ones that stay later than the leads obviously ’cause they are older, but I know sometimes when someone is like really frustrated, and someone will be like we got this it’s okay. It’s just that team work, and they got to use each other because you know we can’t do this alone we got to have help,” said faculty member and choreographer Kevin Frey.

Ainsley said while the weekends are draining she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“A lot of times when I get off stage I’m like I’m so tired, and I just want to lie in my bed and go to sleep. But then as soon as you get on stage, I feel like you kinda feel the energy from everyone in the room and so like it makes you like have all that energy,” said Ainsley.