“Sarah wants to have everyone dancing in the family,” says her mom Christy Hunt. “It’s such an honor for her to be part of the show [Dance Moms] and for it to have led to this opportunity. She was only eight when she was asked to be on the show and it validates Sarah’s talent. We had watched the show for years and never expected to be chosen. This is truly a blessing. And to be here is amazing. We have been embraced by everyone from the moment we arrived. We have become so close to all of the group here. This has become our home away from home.”
The Leggz students have welcomed Hunt into their spotlight. “Sarah is really sweet,” says her understudy, 12-year-old Aimee Gallagher, of West Hempstead. “It’s been great to have her here. I’ve seen Sarah in the show and couldn’t believe it when I saw her walk in to audition. This is a really big deal for us and we’re all excited.”
Hunt, who will be appearing in her second season of “Dance Moms” when Season 5 airs, beginning in January on the Lifetime network, also has the enthusiastic support of her television “family” back home as she prepares for her Nutcracker debut — notably Abbey Lee Miller. Miller, who runs her namesake studio that is the focus of the pop-culture hit, has “embraced this opportunity and is proud of Sarah,” says Christy Hunt. “She even posted Leggz’s poster in her studio and it has gotten a lot of feedback. And some of Sarah’s teachers are planning to come.”
It’s all leading up to an exciting weekend for MacNaughton and company. “This year’s Nutcracker will reach a new level of excellence,” she enthuses. “It’s the first year we have a professional child dance the role of Clara, with not just performance experience, but an ongoing TV show and a tremendous following. She’s an inspiration to aspiring dancers.”
And for Sarah Hunt, this performance is yet another stop on the road to Broadway — her ultimate goal. “I want to dance on Broadway eventually. Dance is the main part of my life,” says Hunt, who at her young age, is already focused on the future.