Meet the Instructors

Nicole Oxendine has been a proven and acknowledged dance professional, instructor, choreographer, curriculum specialist, movement theorist, and entrepreneur. Nicole pursued a career in dance at Hollins University in Roanoke, VA, studying psychology and dance. For Nicole, it was more than just getting the physical training and understanding of dance, it was understanding how the mind and the body are connected. Under the tutelage of Donna Faye Burchefield, Nicole studied movement recall for dancers for her major thesis work, and the Black female relationship between hair and self. She trained under, Mark Haim, Andrea Woods-Valdes, Donald McKayle, Jenefer Davies, and Marlies Yearby. Nicole has also performed with David Dorfman and worked with Mark Morris Repertory. She received her ballet training with Teresa Ruth Howard, modern and hip-hop under Nicholas Leichter, and African dance with Baba Chuck Davis.

Returning to her hometown Durham, NC, Nicole taught dance at her alma mater Hillside High School, and authored the dance curriculum for the public school system. Nicole became an adjunct faculty member at North Carolina Central University and continued to dance as a principal dancer at the Bellan Contemporary Dance Theater. While working with the students, Nicole discovered many of them used movement to process their own trauma and feelings and decided to further connect the relationship between dance and psychology. Nicole pursued a Masters in Dance Movement Therapy at Columbia College in Chicago, IL, focusing her work on adolescents with developmental disabilities. She worked with this population and trauma survivors.  It was in 2015 when Nicole stepped in line with her purpose and founded Empower Dance Studio. 

Under Nicole’s leadership, Empower Dance Studio has been in high demand for performances and workshops from Durham Public Schools, Durham Chamber of Commerce, North Carolina Museum of Art, African American Heritage Commission, North Carolina Museum of History, East Durham Children’s Initiative, Duke Performances, and American Tobacco Campus. Through the Empower Dance Foundation, founded in 2017, Nicole has been able to create opportunities for underserved communities to experience dance education through financial assistance and community outreach. Nicole is also a community arts engagement consultant using the power of the arts to connect communities. 

She has been named as the Triangle Business Journal 40 under 40 award recipient, featured in Spectacular Magazine, Durham Magazine, and stories on ABC 11, Newsy, Spectrum News, and more. Nicole is a member of the Public Art Committee and Vice Chair of the Durham Performing Arts Center Oversight Committee. She is passionate about supporting other local business owners and giving back to her community that has given so much to her.

Nicole prioritizes quality time with her family, who all have been an integral part of her personal success and the success of Empower. Her favorite place in the entire world is the beach and she enjoys vacationing in the Outer Banks. In her free time, she explores other arts disciplines, specifically painting these days, and enjoys trying out new recipes at home.

Kyra has danced throughout her life and education. A Durham, NC native, Alston trained intensively through her high school career, studying and performing with the esteemed Durham School of the Arts Dance Company. Her studies continued at North Carolina Central University, where she focused on dance education. Alston has worked for over 6 years in Durham Public Schools.  The same system that provided her quality foundational training is honing her skills as a dance educator through working with students of all backgrounds and abilities. Recognizing the positive guiding influence that dance has provided in her own life, Alston’s great joy is to nurture, instruct, and support students in their own dance studies. Finding a kindred home for her teaching in Empower Dance Studio’s mission of making dance accessible for all students, Alston brings her teaching expertise and experience to children’s classes. In her classes she focuses on meeting each student where they are, with the hope of sparking a love of dance that will stay with them throughout their lives. 

Tina Vasquez is a first generation American of Puerto Rican, Cuban and Jamaican decent. She is the co-founder of the consulting firm, biwa|Emergent Equity, and joined Empower both as a parent and dance teacher. Originally from New York, Tina moved to the Triangle in 2016 after a 15-year professional dance career.  She is a Certified as a Movement Analyst by way of the Laban Institute for Movement Studies, has a B.A. in Individualized Study from NYU Gallatin and an MS in Organizational Behavior, Systems and Analytics from the NYU Tandon School of Engineering Polytechnic Institute.  She has also been trained by the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond on Undoing Racism. She has infused anti-racism principles throughout her professional career of teaching, dancing and organizing. Tina enjoys creating art whenever possible and feels incredibly fortunate that she and her family get to be a part of the Empower community. 

15 Years Dance Experience

Lee Edwards is originally from Mount Vernon, NY.  They initially started dancing at family gatherings and in church. Lee completed their formal training at Dance Theatre of Harlem School, and holds their BFA in Dance from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and MFA in Dance: Embodied Interdisciplinary Praxis and Masters Certificate in African and African American Studies from Duke University. From 2015-2020 they showcased work through their project based collective in Philadelphia, New York, New Jersey, and Detroit. Lee has performed with companies Lela Aisha Jones | FlyGround, Putty Dance Project, Dancespora, KCBC, and Jo-Me’ Dance. They have also worked with choreographers Michael Mao, Jasmine Powell, Raphael Xavier, and Joanna Kotze.  While Lee is still actively performing and creating work, they are also currently teaching at both Duke and Elon University’s, in addition to starting their second year with Empower Dance. Lee loves teaching the students at Empower, and works on strengthening technique and musicality, while encouraging the creative expression of every student they work with.

Durham North Carolina Native, Trey Fletcher, has been teaching dance to all ages across the country, from Murrietta Dance Project in California to Alvin Ailey Extension Programs in ATL for the last 3 years. He found his love of dance at a rather young age when dancing in different musicals in Middle School soon to be directing and producing  them in High School and has been dancing for the last 10 years. Trained by Duke professor and studio Owner, Nina Wheeler, in classical collegiate Jazz and Ballet for for all his pre-professional training. He has been titled many awards for his dance skills and choreography including awarded NCASA Best Male Dancer in 2019. He danced next to many including Travis Wall, Brian Friedman, and Autumn Miller etc. Trey studied dance at The Juilliard School for summer Intensives and Fordham University at Lincoln Center/The Ailey School. Trey Loves giving back to his community with his gift of dance knowledge and performance capabilities. He is enthusiastic, creative, and has a passion for dance like no other.

McDaniel Roberts, Assistant Artistic Director of the African American Dance Ensemble, Artistic Director of the Harambee Collective and Co-Director of Baba's Rising Sons. A native of Durham NC, and 2016 Emerging Artist in Dance. McDaniel loves to share the culture of dance throughout communities near and far. He pays homage to his dance father, the late Baba Chuck Davis and all the ancestors. He lives by his mantra, "Believe in yourself, Keep the Faith, and Don't Give Up".

There is so much joy and healing in movement. Yoga helped me find my purpose and create the life of my dreams. It is my deepest desire that you’ll join me in this beautiful practice. 

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My  movement story began as a serious dancer and athlete. Years later, I discovered the practice of yoga while grinding away at a corporate job. I was searching for peace of mind and found my divine purpose. After much study, I was certified to be a Registered Yoga Teacher with the Yoga Alliance in 2019, and haven’t stopped learning since. Now I share the knowledge and practices that have transformed my life, radiating in a new and vibrant light for everyone to enjoy. 

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With me, every class is an event! Every teaching moment is an opportunity for connection, community, and growth. Maybe you laugh, maybe you cry, maybe you just get that deep stretch, this is your personal practice — have fun with your flow! My classes help cultivate a positive mindset while gradually increasing strength, range of motion, and a greater mind-body connection. I would be honored to be part of your journey. 

Neha Giridharan has been dancing for most of her life! She is formally trained in Bharatanatyam, a South Indian Classical dance style, and graduated from the Arathi School of Indian Dances in Arizona. She moved towards Bollywood in college, where she co-founded the collegiate Bollywood dance team "Om Shanti," and competed from LA to NY. When Neha moved to the Bay Area, she started her dance company “White Swan Dance,” through which she taught a weekly class in San Francisco, made dance videos, and choreographed for weddings. She is currently an advisor for the Bay Area-based dance company Duniya Dance and Drum. She hopes to continue her dance endeavors here in North Carolina! Apart from dance, Neha is a Hospital Pharmacist and loves traveling the world with her husband!

Empower Dance Studio Instructor 

Empower Dance Studio Instructor 

Originally from Prince George’s County Maryland, Marshae Smith has a passion for dance and choreography.  Marshae began dancing at the age of two at First Class Dance Studio. While her training is in ballet, tap, modern and contemporary, Marshae also danced competitively throughout middle and high school, where she was the recipient of multiple special judge’s awards. In high school, Marshae was a member of both the National Honors Society of Dance Arts, and Prince George’s County Honors Dance Ensemble.  Upon graduating she went on to continue her dance education at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance. During Marshae’s first year at Johnson C. Smith University she was a member of their Repertory Company. Now, Marshae is focusing on teaching and honing her dance technique. Currently, Marshae’s goal is to provide Empower dancers with a safe and relatable learning environment. Her goal is to  increase confidence and preparedness for dancers in her class.

Durham native, bull city born and raised. Maia love for dance developed at a young age. However, her training did not begin until she was a 13 year old freshman at Hillside High School, where she studied ballet, modern, jazz, and hip hop under the instruction of Nicole Oxendine and Valencia Lipscomb. After two-years of training, she received the awards for Dancer of the Year and Best Choreographer. Her passion for dance led her back to pursue a professional dance career following earning a B.S. degree in Biology at East Carolina University (ECU). During her college career at ECU she danced, performed, choreographed, and taught fellow students on campus and in the Greenville community as a member of Diamond Productions, Dance Xtensions, and Dance Ability. Dance has always held a special place in her life and heart. Discovering who she is as an individual and artist is how she built self-confidence, self-esteem, self-regard, and self-love. More importantly dance is where she found purpose. Maia is  grateful that not only did she choose dance as a career, but it also chose her. In pursuit of her professional dance career, Maia is  currently teaching and training in ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, and hip hop. Her goals are to perform with dance company’s and dance in Broadway showcases based in NYC. Now that she is back home doing what she loves. She hopes to use her gifts and passions to serve, inspire, and influence dancers and non dancers.

Empower Dance Studio Instructor