HAMPTON, Va.— A Hampton dance studio was taking steps towards reopening when a devastating setback put a stop to their plans.
The Seven Cities Dance Studio in Hampton has been more like a community center to those seeking a safe space to explore multicultural movement, says owner Nadira Grubbs.
“It’s all ages, all sizes, all races. Everyone is welcome, and they feel that warm and that welcome when they come,” says Grubbs.
Two weeks ago, Grubbs was preparing to invite students back after closing for months during the pandemic.
A nightmare was on the other side of her studio door: The ceiling caved in after several storms— leaving behind a mess of insulation, hanging wires and crushed dreams.
“It took me a little bit to wrap my head around [the fact that] I was not going to be opening in the next week, which is what I had told my clients.”
It was a major setback until the community stepped forward. A friend started a GoFundMe and in just five days it surpassed the $10,000 goal.
“It’s a lot of generosity of spirit; it’s a lot of kindness; it’s a lot of unexpected love from so many different parts of the United States and around the world.”
Grubbs plans to start over in a new studio in Norfolk while she rents a space nearby for her Hampton community.
Until then, she plans to keep moving and is encouraging others to do the same.
