**Cierra Burnaugh works through choreography with some of her littles, and says charisma is just as important as getting the moves right.** Photo by Azhae’la Hanson

By Azhae’la Hanson, Reporter

Dance City director Cierra Burnaugh remembered always pulling together a show. She’d been dancing since she was 5, forming girl groups with her classmates and competing regionally and nationally in dance her whole life.

In 2015, Burnaugh founded Dance City to provide a fun and safe space where Black girls could learn and grow, free of judgment and express themselves through dance.

After all, a dance studio is where Burnaugh herself was able to do the same. Burnaugh is a product of the venerable Northside dance school, Hollywood Dance Studio. Her mentor and Hollywood Dance Studio Director, Diane Robinson, showed her what it was to accept and love herself. Burnaugh is creating the same ecosystem of support.

“We share a common thread when it comes to the joy of dance, but also pain,” Burnaugh said. “Being a Black woman and trying to navigate and find ourselves in a very white world, especially Minnesota.”

**Dakota Hodges, 4, center, keeps the pace with her fellow dancers.** Photo by Azhae’la Hanson

When Dance City arrives at competitions, they are often the only Black dance group in attendance. Burnaugh wants to instill in her young dancers that they should not be ashamed of the way they look when competing, as competition beauty standards are often Eurocentric.

“A lot of times, young Black girls and Black women have to assimilate and code switch and not be our true authentic selves,” Burnaugh said. “It's taxing and it's exhausting. I think it's don't have to do that.”

Ironically, those same competitions feature music and dance techniques that derive from Black and African culture.

Dance mom Chandra Eppinger enrolled her daughter Gianna when she was just 3. She understands how early perception of self starts in girls, and wants her daughter to grow up in a space that celebrates her beauty.

**Five-year-old Yara Blue shows off her dancing shoes. She said she's proud of the wear and tear because that means she's becoming a better dancer.** Photo by Azhae’la Hanson

“It's in the community, it's diverse, and the curriculum and the dances they are teaching the kids reflect that,” Eppinger said. “During the recitals, she [Burnaugh] is very cognizant of the different styles of clothing and their hair, so that all the kids feel confident.”

Dancers proudly grace the competitive stage with braids, Afro puffs, updo’s and outfits ranging from pink leotards to ensembles that nod to traditional African patterns.

A dancer in the littles program, 5-year- old Yara Blue, was eager to show off her dance moves. She demonstrated a swift leg kick, followed by a hair flip.

“Ms. Jessie and Ms. Cici like my hair and I like my hair, I feel like a pretty princess,” she said.

“We are going to dress, speak, choose music, and wear our hair, that represents who we are and I don't want them to be ashamed of that,” said Burnaugh. “They don't have to be anything other than who they are, which is brilliant, stellar, and outstanding.”

Burnaugh wants to pass down the legacy of Northside dance to her students, just as her former dance teacher inspired her. And she just might.

DAsia Walker lands her mark during rehearsals. Dancers were excited to practice in North High’s new dance studio for the first time, which is more spacious compared to the school's former dance studio. Photo by Azhae’la Hanson

Bryana Wilson has been dancing with Dance City since she was 3. Today, she’s excited to complete her fourth-grade year and head to nationals right after.

“Dance is my specialty, I wouldn’t choose anything else over it,” she said.

Bryana loves jamming out to her favorite music artists and pulling together dance routines with her friends per request of her family. Her favorite song to jam to is “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” by Whitney Houston.

“Dance is fun and loving,” she said. “Ms. Cici taught me that.”

**During rehearsal, Yara decided to do her own thing and fix her hair before she got back into the groove of practice.** Photo by Azhae’la Hanson

She says Burnaugh is her biggest role model, and one day she wants to be a dance teacher like her.

The program recently raised $25,000 dollars to compete in the StarPower Dance Competition, a national competition in Las Vegas in June, and are hoping the goodwill of donors keeps coming, so Burnaugh can grow the program and get a permanent space.

“To have people pour into this program is amazing, I’m so grateful for people believing in us,” she said.

They currently occupy space in the dance room at North High, but she has a dream of buying her own studio in the community.

“If anyone wants to help us find a space that would be amazing,” Burnaugh said. “I'm hoping that we're able to get some funding where this can be what we do full time so the girls are taken care of and the staff is taken care of.”

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