June 18th, 2022
Classes start September 12th! Register Today
Izizwe Dance Studio, under the direction of Amy Xotyeni, is a non-competitive dance studio with a mission to make the highest quality dance training accessible to young people of all backgrounds. Located in Lawrence Ma. Izizwe focuses on developing and nurturing strong dancers while preparing them for success as artists, leaders, and individuals.
We offer the necessary techniques needed for those pursuing dance in college, professionally, on Broadway, or recreationally. Classes at Izizwe Dance Studio are centered around the development of strong technique while expressing and understanding oneself clearly through movement. We want our students to feel empowered both as individuals and as a diverse community.
We believe everyone should have access to professional dance training and education. Our low cost tuition, scholarship programs, collaborations, and educational workshops have provided access to high quality dance education to hundreds of people in various settings.
Izizwe is committed to developing and maintaining a strong, sustainable, and culturally rich dance community within the city of Lawrence and The Merrimack Valley. Through Izizwe, dance artists have space and resources to create and share new work in an accessible and inclusive environment.
Izizwe offers the following programming
Education, Artist Development, and Outreach
2022/2023 Dance Classes, Schedule, and Class Descriptions
Click Here to Apply to The Lawrence Arts Collective Artist In Residency
African Dance Tuesday's 7-8pm
Tuesday's African Dance is back! This class takes place every week on a drop in basis. (No registration required) African Dance is all about community, exercise, movement, and music. All ages, abilities, and humans everywhere are welcome! No previous experience required.... in fact you don’t even have to dance! You can drum, watch, listen, and just be in the space.
Summer 2022 was jam packed with summer programming! Izizwe Dance Studio collaborated with Jean Appolon Expressions, The YDO, and The Performing Project; bringing dance training to over 80 students and young adults from Lawrence.
Izizwe Dance Collective at ESSEX ART CENTER
In May of 2022 Izizwe Dance Collective premiered in Lawrence with Flow and Gather, a culmination of the Artist in Residency program supported by the Lawrence Arts Collective and the Transformative Development Initiative.
Choreographer and producer Eliza Malecki presented two brand new dance pieces that were developed during her residency. Additionally, the show featured the work of architect Jeffrey Mansfield, whose exhibition gallery is on display at Essex Art Center. Flow and Gather also featured Lawrence artists including choreographer Amy Xotyeni and musicians Evelyn Blush and Lone Sol. Learn more about each performer at https://www.elizamalecki.com/flow-and-gather.
Stay tuned for our next performance!
Dancer Mcebisi Xotyeni performs with Lawrence musician Lone Sol at the premiere of Flow and Gather.
Izizwe Dance Studio Scholarship Program
We believe every young person should have access to high quality dance education. Since 2020 Izizwe has provided over 15 full or partial scholarships to students in need of tuition assistance who have shown exceptional passion and work ethic.
In 2022 Izizwe Dance Studio teamed up with The Performing Project to offer summer programming, mentoring, and scholarship opportunities. These scholarships offer students of both Izizwe Dance Studio and The Performing Project year round training, audition/college prep, scholarships, and basic funding needs to ensure their talents are fully supported.
To help us reach our goal of providing 5 additional full year scholarships for the 2022/2023 season click here.
$8,000 provides 5 students the opportunity to take 4+ hours a week of classes from September 2022 through June 2023.
