Dancers invade Morristown over the weekend

Is Justin Bieber coming to the Mayo Performing Arts Center?

That was our first thought when we saw the mob of girls outside the Morristown theater this weekend.

Turns out they were dance students from Nicole’s Broadway Dance Company of East Hanover. For three shows, they took the stage while proud parents and grandparents cheered them through their routines.

This marked the 22nd annual performance by the studio, run by former New Jersey Nets- and New York Knicks dancer Nicole Hosbach.

Natalie Santangelo and Camryn Coffee, 11, of East Hanover tapped through a number called Pay the Banker, in the Monopoly-themed production. The cousins have been dancing since ages 3 and 5, respectively, and take classes once a week. They seemed pretty happy with the results on Saturday.

Avery Reiman and Dylan Hammer, both 7, from Livingston, were part of an ensemble in a routine called Pennsylvania Railroad.

“We like to hip hop,” Avery said.

There were some guys, too. Michael Villone, 17, of Livingston, said dance has given him confidence and an outlet for self-expression. But his sights are set on an accounting career. That’s just fine with his dad, Tom Villone.

“He can dance around the tax code,” Tom said.