Powers Performing Arts Center Dances Into Rio Vista

Powers Performing Arts Center is one of Rio Vista’s newest businesses.
They opened their doors in August 2022.

Nicole Powers, a Rio Vista resident, is the owner of the dance studio that is located at 50 N. Second Street, Rio Vista.

Powers started dancing when she was 7 years old. She has experience in many styles of dance. By the time she was 13, she became more serious in her training, dancing 30 hours a week. She grew up in the Bay Area and went to Carondelet High School in Concord. There, Powers was on the school varsity dance team, which was intense and competitive. From 2012-2014 she was the best tapper on the West Coast. Then she went on to be dance caption at Sacramento City College. She won many scholarships and awards throughout her career in competitive dance.

At the age of 16, she started teaching dance at a youth center and other studios in the Bay Area and Sacramento for 8 plus years. After moving to Rio Vista two years ago she knew that this was a place that needed something for kids to have more opportunities and activities. She was planning on opening a studio in 2020 and then the pandemic hit, and she was taking care of her ill Father. Unfortunately her Father passed away in October 2020. This inspired her to carry his legacy and open a studio as he always wanted her too.

In 2021 Powers had started looking for a location in Rio Vista. It was difficult to find a place in town that would offer enough space and had parking. She was so happy when she landed at the place she is currently, right next to where the gym was located on Second Street. There is plenty of parking and it is accessible for all. She has been able to put down specialized dance flooring and make the space her own.

She teaches 22 classes a week. The classes that are taught are tap, jazz, hip hop, tumbling, lyrical, parent and me, and magical movement (for ages 2-3). The hip hop classes are taught by Paige Miller, and Nicole is assisted by Ms. Michaela in most tumbling classes.

The ages of her students are from 18 months old to adults.

Most of the classes are in the afternoon and the evenings Monday through Friday. The Parent and Me and a toddler class are offered in the mornings. She currently offers two adult classes, one adult ballet class on Tuesdays, and one adult tap class on Thursdays. She hopes to offer more classes for adults and kids in the fall of 2023.

The studio had their first recital this past weekend, and it went well with two shows and both of them were sold out. Powers is proud of her students’ progression in just the few short months she has been open, and is pleased her students got to show their dances to an audience that was incredibly supportive.

In 2023 there is a dance competition in Sacramento where their competitive dance group will be dancing. Her group has been working hard with their challenging choreography and is excited to get judges feedback and awards for their work in the upcoming competition season.

Having a dream come true is so exciting for Powers. “There is a lot of talent in Rio Vista,” she says, and she looks forward to seeing it grow. She feels blessed to be a part of such a great community with such fantastic kids!

If you are interested in learning more about the dance studio, you can email them at powersperformingarts@gmail.com or visit their website at www.powersperformingarts.com You can also text or give her a call at 925.989.6746. Registration for this next season is now open.

—
*Cindy Green*
*Rio Vista Beacon*
*925-642-0661