Just weeks before their big competition in Atlanta, a South Side dance team was suddenly kicked out of their studio — now they only have one week to raise $12,000.
Dancers and coaches at the EmpIIre Dance Institute have spent months practicing and fundraising for the Warzone Hip-Hop and Majorette dance competition in the Atlanta area on March 16. But only weeks before they were set to leave, they were kicked out of their Roseland studio , said Latisha Waters, CEO and founder of the team.
Because they were left without a studio, the team had to dip into their competition funds to pay for a new practice space in Woodlawn. Now with the competition only a week away, the team is short almost $12,000.
“We’ve done so many things to fundraise, and we just came up short,” said Teneshia Jackson, president of the dance team. “We don’t want to disappoint these babies and tell them that they’ve been practicing in the cold, in the dark, and won’t be able to go.”
Next Thursday, 52 dancers and their coaches hope to hop onto a bus and arrive in time for the competition March 16.
For 12-year-old Prosperity Swarn, winning the first place trophy would be “everything.”
“It’ll be my first time really doing a serious competition, and it’s everything we’ve worked for,” said Prosperity. “We’ve been working so hard.”
The team are two-time reigning champions at Warzone — they won first place in 2023 and 2024. Next weekend they hope to bring home a third first-place trophy.
“I tell the girls that by just getting to the competition, we’ve already won, but for some it’ll be their first time there,” Waters said. “For us to be able to go out here and win this competition? It would mean the world to them.”
Philanthropist Early Walker donated $1,000 and called on community members to help the team reach their goal.
“There are not enough resources that are coming to our communities, and these kids are not getting the resources that they need,” Walker said at a press conference Thursday. “But I am urging other business owners, or individuals, to donate what they can because these kids are part of our community.”
Waters started EmpIIre in 2001, and since then the team has grown to over 100 dancers and won dozens of competitions.
But winning trophies isn’t everything, said Waters. Dance helps teach dancers self-esteem, confidence and discipline — skills that are needed to succeed in life.
Many of Waters’ students who’ve graduated from the program are still a part of the team. Many are now instructors, board members or parents of current dancers.
“We’re more of a family than just a regular dance company,” said Waters.
But aside from giving them a space to express their love for dance, the team also provides a safe haven for dancers.
“Dance is keeping them off the streets. It’s giving them something positive to look forward to,” said Jackson. “We want them to know that when we work hard, good things happen.”
Any remaining funds from donations will go toward finding a permanent dance studio, said Waters.