And Five, Six, Se-ven, Eight!

“Shoot for the moon, if you miss you will land among the stars” ... This is Miss Kristin Ledingham Pierce’s affirmation for her competitive and recreational dance school. Miss Kristin’s Shooting Stars is the Upper East Side-based performance arts company, which teaches acting, voice and most notably, dance to New York students.

All students are welcome to choreograph their own dance and strut their stuff for a golden spot on the competitive teams, which practice multiple hours a week.

And all that practice has certainly paid off for these dance champions. “I love winning and the feeling you get after working with girls on the team,” says 17-year-old Eastside Express captain, Emma Fournier (who also helps judge tryouts).

Teams Eastside Express and Eastside Energy have competed against dozens and dozens of dance studios from around New York and the surrounding state for prestigious top honors at Showstopper, the largest dance competition in the country. The teams walked away with several 1st and 2nd place titles and the four gold awards qualify them for nationals to boot, er, or would it be jazz shoe?

Aside from step-ball-changing into top spots at competition, Miss Kristin says the stars are a place for local girls to go and find a safe haven.

“It’s more about team friendships—growing as a teen in New York City with no gossip, no drama, just friends.”

Riya Mehta has been with the stars since she was just able to walk, and at the ripe old age of 13 she helps organize team events; like sleepovers.

“We’re like one big family and Miss Kristin is like our mom-slash-sister!” Riya jokes.

Newbie Jessie McKenzie, 13, says she auditioned for the stars because she loves to compete, but was surprised to find a home away from home.

“At first I thought I wouldn’t be included—I was so surprised at how included I felt.