DURHAM, N.C. — Empower Dance Studio is hosting its first dance recital since the pandemic started.

Owner Nicole Oxendine has been rehearsing with her dancers for weeks leading up to the big day: June 15.

 

What You Need To Know

  • The Empower Dance Studio recital, "Dance is Life", will be hosted, Tuesday, June 15 at 6 p.m.

  • Anyone can attend the event, and tickets are $15 per person

  • This is the first recital the studio has had since 2019

 

Oxendine's mission is to empower dancers through movement. As a lifelong dancer herself, she knows that learning dance this last year was hard.

"These children have pursued through dance at a very challenging time," Oxendine said. "Most of the classes were online for most of the season. But what I saw was that they loved this so much, they connected with it, they're passionate about it."

The recital's theme, "Dance is Life", is reflective of this past year and going through the pandemic.

"So, it's about this season of growth and springtime. So, this here, represents the storms, and this group is the rains," said Oxendine, while showing the dancers' colorful uniforms. "We talk about how rain brings flowers and beautiful things, and it's kind of an analogy for life."

Oxendine opened up a second dance space during the pandemic and said not having a recital since 2019 has been financially and emotionally straining. Now, she is looking forward to seeing all of her dancers' hardwork come to life.

"Really, this show is all about letting them showcase their talent, their passion, their love," Oxendine said.

"Dance is Life" will be hosted at the Historic Durham Athletic Park on June 15 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $15 and anyone is welcome to go watch the show.