Meet Missy Lay- Zimmer & Andrew Hubbard | Owners / Artistic Directors

We had the good fortune of connecting with Missy Lay- Zimmer & Andrew Hubbard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Missy Lay- Zimmer & Andrew, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Planet Dance Cincinnati was founded in 2003 by two Broadway veterans of four shows in New York City. CATS, FOOTLOOSE, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Christmas spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. This incredibly dynamic duo has choreographed for Mariah Carey and performed on Saturday Night Live just to name a few of their impressive credits.

Their mission was to connect the industry with families and thriving young artists in our tri-state region uniting the world through Dance. For the last 21 years Planet Dance students have had the pleasure of training with the Broadway choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler; Hamilton, In the Heights on Broadway and Beyoncé‘s original single lady, Ebony Williams, and more! Accessibility is extremely important to our owners.

Planet Dance has been bringing dancers and master teachers from all over the world to train our students! From Spain, Sweden, New Zealand, Japan, the Bahamas and more!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Both myself and Andrew started our careers at the young age of 18 years old!

Before moving to New York City, Andrew had worked for Disney in Florida and I worked on a cruise ship for Royal Caribbean cruise lines as a dance captain and adagio performer.

Once in New York City, I danced once in New York City, I danced as a Knicks City Dancer for the NY Knicks for three seasons as well as dancing/choreographing for Mariah Carey!
“All I want for Christmas”.

Andrew danced for the Radio City Music Hall spectacular as well as booking Footloose and CATS on Broadway as Tumblebrutus within the first two years of his stay.

Missy toured nationally with the Broadway show Jesus Christ superstar with the original Judas and Jesus from the film and followed up by dancing the Broadway national tour of CATS as Victoria the white cat. After touring professionally, she was casted as Victoria on Broadway for 3 1/2 years.

Andrew has appeared on the soap opera, Guiding Light, as a day player, as well the national commercial for Dr Pepper.

Missy also appeared on Saturday Night Live in the I’m 50! skit with Molly Shanon.

After an, incredible performing career in New York City the couple began team teaching at the claimed Broadway Dance Center (NYC), which started the second phase of their careers as master teachers around the world. Their teaching career has taken them as far as New Zealand sharing their love of dance!

Currently, we run a nonprofit adult dance company that is a resident dance company at the Aronoff center for the arts.
Exhale Dance Tribe , which was noted as “25 to Watch” by Dance Magazine. Exhale Dance Tribe , most recently engaged in a cultural exchange between the Māori and Cherokee tribes in an incredible original work created by Andrew and Missy Hubbard and the artistic Director of Okareka Dance Company Tai Royal, From Spirit Eagles Land, Hōkioi me te Vwōhali.

As a couple they have choreographed on the Cincinnati Ballet, Exhale Dance Tribe performing arts high schools around the country, as well as notable universities. They have had the pleasure of choreographing on rock, legend Peter Frampton, and the incredible musical duo Over the Rhine.

Fun fact: Last season, they choreographed the Kentucky lottery commercial. HOLLAPOLOOZA, an Alternative Holiday Show with live band AstroVan at the Aronoff Center for the Arts.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Aside from our wonderful Dance home Planet Dance Cincinnati, Andrew and I both very much enjoy Smaile Park, Eden Park, Music Hall and love our Downtown and the plethora of good eats that our city supplies!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Both of us owe everything to our families! Neither one of us would be the person that we are without the love and support of our incredible families. With the love and endless support they have shown us, we are able to offer our love and mentorship to all of our students! We are very proud of our students as well who are now as associate Broadway, choreographers and company dancers around the world.

Website: https://www.planetdancecincinnati.com

Instagram: @planetdancecincinnati

Linkedin: MissyLayZimmer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/planetdancecincinnati?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Yelp: https://yelp.to/Yf0fBq40kD

Image Credits
Photography: Missy Lay Zimmer, Ōkareka Dance Company, Exhale Dance Tribe