A longtime leader in competitive dance has rebranded and relocated, opening a new location and a new chapter in Hershey. Morton's Dance Center held a grand opening celebration on Sept. 7, featuring performances from its competitive team as well as involvement from the crowd of attendees in a sampling of its adult hip-hop fitness classes.

The hip-hop focused competitive team was founded over a decade ago by Elijah Morton, who led teams to many local and national dance championships. According to Steven Jones, who owns and operates the business, Morton serves as the creative director, team coach and lead instructor and choreographer.

Morton has been known to allow his team of dancers to influence moves and song selection for its performances. One such community performance was held at Field of Screams on Oct. 19 with CROWN, the competition team, on the main stage. Recently, several team dancers performed with R&B stars at Lancaster's Fall Fest at Penn Medicine Park in Lancaster. With approximately 20 students in CROWN, the competitive hip-hop team ranges from dancers ages 9 to 18.

Morton's Dance Center is also expanding its offerings with even more styles of recreational dance such as musical theater, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary and ballet. Students at the studio range from age 3 to adults in their 60s. The studio also offers adult fitness and dance classes for those looking to embrace dance at any stage of life.

The new location provides two modern, spacious studios and a welcoming reception area for parents and caregivers to watch their dancers and for dancers to commune between classes. Jones believes the studio is now strategically positioned at the center of several key communities, including Hershey, Elizabethtown, Hummelstown, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Palmyra and Lebanon, making it accessible to a wide range of students.

Morton's Dance Center is located at 3003 Elizabethtown Road, Hershey. For more information, visit http://www.mdc.dance.