Physical Therapy near Hanahan, SC

It's the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, to be exact. It looks as though Valentine's Day has taken up residence on stage: giant red heart-shaped domes adorned with twinkling lights create an almost portal-like visual that is about to take the audience on a musical journey. The words "Moulin Rouge" hover high above, and nearly 1,500 visitors have packed into a sea of sold-out double-tiered seats.

When she thinks about making her debut as a dancer on that stage on Feb. 7, it is enough to get Dabria Aguilar emotional, struggling to find the words to describe the feeling of having a lifelong goal come to fruition; after all, she has grown up dancing, and it was always her dream to be in a Broadway show – specifically this one.

"It was just one of the most surreal moments," she said.

Before taking the stage, Aguilar felt nervous, but more importantly, it just felt right. She had rehearsed so hard and for so long, and she had the support of her fellow dancers and trainers. She finally felt like she was "exactly where I was meant to be."

A year ago, this talented young dancer and former Hanahan High School student decided to take a giant leap of faith by moving to the Upper West Side of New York City. She hit the ground running as a dancer. Now she is pirouetting her way through a city where it is said if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.

A dancing Hawk

Aguilar grew up in Hanahan. She attended Daniel Island School until fourth grade before switching to Hanahan Elementary. She was homeschooled during middle school to allow some flexibility as a traveling competitive dancer.

Aguilar is skilled in multiple dance concentrations – a smart move that has helped her be more versatile in her dancing career today.

"One thing that was always really important to me was never picking a concentration – I always wanted to pursue everything," she said. "That has been kind of ingrained in me since I was very little."

During her preteen years, Aguilar started securing some work by performing in local shows such as the Charleston Christmas Special. Still, she considers her "big break" to be when she was 12 years old and was selected to dance on an episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show as part of an advertisement for "DancerPalooza." The DancerPalooza company was owned by a convention circuit that selected dedicated "stand out" dancers of all ages from around the country to participate in the promotion; out of about 50 chosen children, Aguilar was one of the younger.

"To be on that stage that young, I definitely recognized: 'This is crazy,'" she said. "Ever since I was young, it's never been a question that dance was what I wanted to pursue – and I wanted to pursue it at a very high level."

She attended Hanahan High School full-time and graduated a year early in 2021. She remained a competitive dancer during high school through the Dance Conservatory of Charleston, exploring more solo performances than group dances.

At Hanahan High, Aguilar was involved in what was then known as Club Joy, created by former Hanahan special services teacher and the school's 2019 Teacher of the Year, Aly Formichella. The club was known at the time for integrating students with special needs and general education students, breaking down barriers and promoting kindness at school.

Aguilar was inspired to support the club after seeing her older brother, Omar Jr., be active with Formichella's students.

"Getting to dive into that with him was extremely special," she said.

Outside of Club Joy, Aguilar enjoyed cheering on the Hanahan Hawks baseball team; she also has a younger brother, Oakley, and both of her brothers played baseball for the school.

She loved taking theatre with since-retired Amy Rogers and chemistry with "comedian" Craig Bachman, who she remembered for making chemistry fun and giving her the nickname "Debra" – something Bachman remembers about her as well, crediting her for having a good, fun-loving attitude.

"She was a conscientious and reliable student who seemed to not only do things right but also do the right things," Bachman said. "My favorite thing about her, however, was that she had a sense of humor and could take a joke."

Aguilar also loved her freshman English II teacher, Amanda Cromer, who now serves as the testing coordinator and academic coach at Hanahan High. Aguilar described Cromer as a teacher who always made students feel seen and heard; she learned so much from her.

As a student, Aguilar competed in a couple of Miss Hanahan pageants. She won "Miss Sophomore" in the tenth grade and was crowned "Miss Hanahan" her senior year. Cromer served as the adviser for the pageant, so she spent a lot of time with Aguilar beyond her classroom.

Cromer remembers Aguilar as a kind, genuine, hardworking student who still made time for her classmates and teachers despite her rigorous schedule with dance and clubs.

"She never wanted to be mediocre, and she set tremendous goals for herself in all areas of her life, and because of this, she was mature beyond that of her peers and has never stopped striving for excellence," Cromer said.

After being discovered in a dress store, Aguilar competed in her first state pageant in March 2021. She was the first runner-up to Miss South Carolina Teen USA. Then, she was contacted by the local executive director for the Miss South Carolina organization to fill a role in the Miss South Carolina Teen state pageant. Aguilar performed a contemporary ballet dance for the talent portion of the pageant, which she competed in shortly after graduating high school.

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After winning the state crown, Aguilar competed in the national event, Miss America's Outstanding Teen, in Orlando, Florida, that year. She made the top 10 and won top overall in dance and fundraising.

Aguilar has not participated in pageants since that experience but said she enjoyed it. Her platform was a social impact initiative she called "make everybody feel like somebody," addressing the crippling effects of low self-esteem and serving as a mental health advocate. She also continued to promote integration between general education students and students with special needs.

A city that doesn't sleep

Aguilar's lifelong dream was to move to Los Angeles or New York City since those cities are the hotspots of the entertainment industry in the country.

She naturally gravitated to New York, feeling a sense of community and family when she danced in the city and had her eye on theatre, concert and commercial work. She is part of a contemporary ballet company called Ballet Collective.

"It was the dream to move here, and it was the dream to be on Broadway," she said. "It was the dream to be in a contemporary ballet company, so I am very, very lucky that I was able to make these things happen so soon, and these opportunities presented themselves in such a way that I was able to (pursue them)."

Her biggest dream was to be a dancer in the Broadway hit musical "Moulin Rouge!" set in the Montmartre Quarter of Paris during the Belle Epoque at the turn of the 20th century.

This past year, Aguilar successfully auditioned for the musical's week-long intensive training, where she and fellow dancers learned the material for the show.

Around this time, Aguilar also auditioned for and landed a spot with the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular as part of the production's dance ensemble.

Radio City Music Hall is home to the Rockettes, a famous dance group known for their kick lines. When the Rockettes are not on stage, other performers, such as singers, ice skaters and the coed ensemble dancers, which included Aguilar, will come out. Rehearsals started in October, with Aguilar as part of the "blue cast" (or morning cast). The ensemble dancers get to do dances with the Rockettes as well.

Radio City Music Hall has the largest indoor theatre in the world, with its marquee an entire city block long, earning it the name "the Great Stage." Aguilar said performing on such a stage for more than 6,000 people was "crazy."

"We would travel from one side – from 50th Street to 51st Street – in two eight-counts (of music)," she said. "It was a really fun stage to dance on and spread some Christmas cheer."

Aguilar was rehearsing with Radio City when she found out she was accepted to make her Broadway debut in "Moulin Rouge!" just in time to complete her contract with Radio City.

Performances are still ongoing. Aguilar is a "swing" with production, meaning she could go on to perform any day. She has to learn all six female ensemble positions; she knows two and is working on learning a third. In addition to dancing, ensemble members sing as well.

As she enjoys accomplishing this feat, Aguilar is not sure what the next New York adventure will be – but she is not in any rush.

"I think I'm trying to settle into 'Moulin Rouge!' and really embrace each character and each track, but I definitely think I want to get into more television and film stuff afterward," she said. "I think I'm trying to enjoy where I am right now, but I'm definitely researching what I want to do next."

Southern roots

While she loves New York, Aguilar said she misses the South. She still makes trips back home and has been lucky to have had her parents, Dawn and Omar, come to New York to see her performances.

She credits her family, hometown and alma mater for providing a loving and nurturing environment that set her up for success.

"That support system has launched me and has kept me motivated to keep pushing and keep driving," she said.

Outside of dancing, Aguilar is also studying business online through Western Carolina University, with plans to one day own and operate a business that is yet to be determined.

Her advice to anybody who wants to make it big out there: Dream really big. Be your own advocate. Do your research.

And have a good mindset.

"A lot of it starts with your mindset and telling yourself that you can and that it is a possibility," she said. "Yes, the support system is huge, and it's crucial to have that, but you have to support yourself in so many ways, so taking matters into your own hands and making those decisions that only better you are just really important."

HANAHAN, S.C. (WCIV) — He's got a following in Hanahan and an even bigger following on social media.

Jake the Fire Pibble won the hearts of first responders after being rescued from a fire in 2015. Thursday, he is living the semi-retired life but continuing to keep his department a close-knit family.

"His social media presence identified with our department and brought animal lovers, and we had some other means to talk about with people," said Michale Bargeron, an assistant fire chief at Hanahan Fire Department.

Engineer Bill Lindler was off duty when he noticed that a neighbor's backyard shed was on fire.

Read more: "Hanahan firefighter saves puppy's life, not once but twice."

With help from several first responders, he was able to save the lovable Jake, who managed to survive severe burns to become a local legend.

"I believe it was in December that Jake was officially sworn in as the honoree mascot and Goodwill Ambassador for the Hanahan Fire Department," Lindler said.

Lindler remembers the day saving him in 2015 like it was yesterday.

"I saw him free himself from under the fallen ceiling, and he disappeared back into the smoke over into a corner," Lindler said. "Jake was not breathing or anything. I got him around to the front yard, at which time I started doing mouth to snout on him and chest compressions on him as well."

Read more: "Vigilance rises in Lowcountry amidst nationwide mystery dog illness outbreak."

Despite burns over 75 percent of his body, Jake recovered and became a celebrity over the next eight years. He now has an Instagram account with more than 22,000 followers.

Lindler explained he loved being around the firefighters but is now enjoying a semi-retired life.

"He's a goofy dog, and he's got a great disposition, and he enlightens everybody his day that has time to spend some time with him," Bargeron said.

Read more: "Behind the Badge: Lowcountry K-9 trainer the 'dog whisperer' for law enforcement."

Jake's Instagram fame has also helped as a recruiting tool for the fire department.

"New firefighters come in, and the first thing they ask is about Jake because apparently, they know when you Google hand-to-hand fire department, Jake's picture, and his story pops up a lot," Lindler said. "Or even they just heard Jake's story, and they're like, 'Hey, we heard Jake's story. We were interested in becoming a firefighter.'"

Lindler said Jake is enjoying semi-retired life but still loves jumping on those big red trucks from time to time.

HANAHAN, S.C. (WCIV) — A Hanahan family is getting an outpouring of support after losing everything in a house fire.

A fire spread through the Stewarts' Rembert Drive home Sunday in the blink of an eye. Neighbor Mike Hinson said he dropped what he was doing to help because he knew it was right.

"Meghan was in a panic," Hinson said. "I brought the kids in, found them something to watch on TV, and made them a little snack just to kind of get their minds off stuff."

A fire gutting their home is just the latest obstacle for Meghan had Bobby Stewart.

Read more: "2 mobile homes destroyed in Colleton County fire, investigation ongoing."

Meghan fought breast cancer for five years.

Bobby is recovering from surgery.

Long-time neighbor Hinson said he had to help his fellow neighbors, remembering the support the family gave him when his wife had cancer.

"Two years ago, my wife passed away, and so many people come together for me," Hinson said. "You can't give that back. She helped my wife, Sheila, get through it the best that she could. And we did the same for her, just returning what it is that we had borrowed."

His front porch is now a sort of landing zone.

People are stopping by with bags filled with clothes and shoes for the kids, toiletries, and other items.

Read more: "Firefighter falls through floor during house fire response in downtown Charleston: CFD."

All to make life a little easier for the Stewarts.

Hinson said this is what the Hanahan community is all about.

"These people right here are the people who are doing it for the right reasons," Hinson said. "You know, it's coming from the heart. All in all, if nothing else, they feel a lot of love."

A GoFundMe for the Stewarts was created. It can be seen here.

Learning how to save lives one class at a time is the goal of a course at Hanahan Middle School. (WCIV)

HANAHAN, S.C. (WCIV) — Learning how to save lives one class at a time is the goal of a course at Hanahan Middle School.

"Our principal came to me last year , wanting to start a new class," teacher Susan Hill said. "And we did."

Read more: Berkeley County begins construction of Nexton Middle School

The new class, called Introduction to Health Professions, brings the medical world to the classroom.

"We go through a lot about the body systems, different tools used by health professionals, and different types of jobs," Hill said.

For students to get a complete understanding of what it’s like to work in the medical field, health professionals from the community are invited to come speak, including Rodney Profit, a training captain with Boeing Security and Fire.

Learning about these jobs isn't the only takeaway for the students; they leave the course certified in basic life support.

"We do everything from adult child infant, CPR, choking first aid, and AED usages to get these students certified in basic life support," Profit said. "Students are given a chance to kind of look and explore what's out there for them and letting them know that there are no hurdles. If there are any hurdles, they can transverse those hurdles, but no one can tell them they can't do what they want to do.”

This encouragement has left students with the world at their fingertips.

"This has opened a lot more like pathways," student Lianny Martinez said.

Student, Savannah Wika said, "I would say it really like helped me realize what I really want to do for like a job. It really opened up what's happening when you go to the hospital."

Read more: BCSD approves $1.5K and $500 bonuses for fourth incentive of the year

The course also includes off-campus field trips. The class recently visited Charleston Southern University (CSU), where students got a tour of the campus.

For Hill, she believes each and every one of the students are more than capable of accomplishing their dreams.

"I just hope they understand how valuable they are and what a future they have," she said. "They have their whole lives in front of them and I'm just really excited to see what they do with that."

Hill says she could not be prouder of her students and teaching them has been a rewarding experience.