Stage LYFE finds new home after COVID-19

COVID-19 drove Stage LYFE from its previous home on Queen Street, but owner Shannarra Barrow didn’t give up. In October, her dream of owning her own studio space came true. Stage LYFE is a dance company and a competition dance studio that provides dance classes at affordable prices to kids who love to dance or who want to just learn the art.

“Stage LYFE started as an answer to my wanting to change my two dance teams into a business,” said Barrow. “I started Hiphopcrisy Teens in 2008, a hip-hop team for middle and high school students, and in 2013 I added Diva LYFE which was for elementary school Girls. In 2016, I started Stage LYFE to bridge the gap, and we added a majorette team and another coach.”

Stage LYFE is like a family. Once dancers age out, they find ways for them to continue to dance, even if its teaching workshops, teaching a class, or doing summer camps. Stage LYFE focuses on the bigger picture.

“We also do community service and local performances,” said Barrow. “We have traveled from New York to Florida competing, performing, and participating in Community Service.”

Stage LYFE is a dance studio that services children ages four through eighteen. They hope to include adult classes in February. They teach classes in hip-hop, majorette, technique, Afrobeat, heels, and more. Stage LYFE also offers private classes.

Barrow is a native of Kinston, NC, who attended LCPS and graduated from Kinston High in 2001. She furthered her education at NC A&T SU, where she got a B. S. in Accounting in 2006 and received her Masters in Business Administration. She taught at Rochelle Middle School for 10 years as a substitute, ISS instructor and as the Business and STEM teacher.

“I would just like to thank my parents, my dancers (old and new), my dance parents, my friends, and all our supporters for sticking buy me all these years,” said Barrow. “Its been a long journey sometimes its gotten hard and Ive wanted to walk away but a group of kids always come through and make me realize why I haven’t given up.”

Stage LYFE is currently looking for two instructors, one trained in majorette, and one who has technical background training in ballet, jazz, and lyrical. Their hours of operation are Monday through Thursday, 5:00 pm-9:00 pm.