"It's just like a safe space for me," dancer Harmonie Terry said. "If I'm feeling down, I danced. If I'm not in a good mood, I just dance."
Founded by East Carolina University graduates Michelle Moran and Alepha Foster, the nonprofit studio offers technical instruction in styles ranging from ballet to hip hop and contemporary. The two met while working as dance directors at a Title I school, where they recognized a lack of affordable opportunities for students with talent and interest in dance.
"Finding diamonds in the rough is essentially what you're doing here," Moran said. "It's kids that are built to do this--born to do this--but if they've never been exposed, they wouldn't know that."
The founders launched Artistry Unleashed Dance to remove financial barriers and continue serving the same communities they taught in. Their goal is to ensure a student's ability to pay does not determine access to high-quality instruction.
"It was very important to us to continue to serve the community we were serving, so that's why we wanted to make this a nonprofit," Foster said.
Students train year-round and compete and perform across the region, all while keeping costs low for families. For many parents, performances mark the first time they've seen their children on stage, revealing abilities that might otherwise have gone unnoticed.
"Your finances should not limit your opportunities," Foster said. "We know that there are many talented, deserving young people that are out there that simply need an opportunity."
The studio places a strong emphasis on confidence and personal growth, providing an environment where dancers feel supported both artistically and emotionally. Moran and Foster say the work goes beyond dance, focusing on investing in students and their families.
"Any time that we perform-whether it's competition or show -- you can just see the pride of the families' faces," Moran said. "Brought to tears at times, just not even knowing their kids have this talent."
As a nonprofit organization, Artistry Unleashed Dance relies on grants and donations to operate. Its annual showcase is scheduled for May 6 at the Boykin Center in Wilson. Tickets cost $10.