[piano intro] [pump hisses] [pump continues hissing] - [Interviewer] Do you have to blow 'em up every week?

- No, no, no.

They get blown up once, twice a year maybe.

This was something that needed to be done.

About an extra 10 minutes of doing it.

[phone rings] This is Joyce Triche speaking.

I am unable to talk with you at this time.

I'm either busy teaching class or out of the studio.

Remember to wait for the beep before you leave your name, phone number, and message.

Thank you for calling Miss Joyce's Dance Studio.

[answering machine beeps] I came back to my hometown and taught and opened the first dance studio in Stokes County.

I had taught from my teacher in Winston-Salem.

When I taught in Winston, it was the thing to do.

Your child should take some dance class.

The kids I taught here were taking dance because they loved to dance, they wanted to dance, and that made all the difference, and so been here ever since.

[laughs] All right, just all in one motion, Jodie.

Okay.

Leap, cut.

Heel, toe, heel, toe, heel, toe, leap, toe.

Heel, toe, heel, toe, heel, toe, leap, toe.

Spring, step.

[footsteps clomp] ♪ Down at the grocery store ♪ - That's good.

Five and a six, seven, eight.

One and a two.

Very good.

Feet together.

You danced pretty today, and thank you, and thank you.

Right.

Go get ready for ballet class.

[elegant music] First, rond de jambe.

To the left.

Slide.

Front.

Slide, stop, front.

Reach for it.

Back, you're gonna walk around.

Back.

[spectators chatter] - Well, didn't even say that.

[dancer faintly speaks] Even though we're city kids.

- [Joyce] Well, what happens if it falls out, girls?

- Keep on dancing.

- You keep on dancing.

[dancers chatter] If you can see anyone in the audience, they can see you.

You do not go and ask right here.

You see this line right here?

Stay back here on this side of it.

[footsteps patter] I love to teach.

It's a challenge to find a way to get through to a child, and I will try one thing after another after another and rack my brain to try, "Okay.

What can I do to get them to understand this?

To get this?"

and then when that aha moment comes and they finally understand, they finally get it, I say, "Yes, yes."

That's the big satisfaction moment.

That's it.

[triumphant music] [lively music] [audience applauds] Good job, good job.

- One more.

One, two.

Everybody was smiling.

That was awesome.

I'll see y'all tomorrow.

[parents faintly speak] - [Dancer] Here, Miss Joyce.

- For me?

Thank you!

Thank you, Kate!

Have you gotten the stuff out of that trailer?

Like Indy said.

Okay.

[footsteps patter] [tape scrapes] [pump hisses] [pump continues hissing] [pump continues hissing] [pump squeaks] Okay.

There, that should.

Looking good.

[guests chatter] I don't know if I have something for my little bittiest ones, but you college kids for sure that came back and stuff, I have something for you, so thank you so much.

You made it a wonderful, wonderful day, and I do appreciate each and every one of you coming, and the food is just, wow!

[guests laugh] Thank you.

[guests chatter] Back.

Side.

Keep that on.

[spirited music] And eight.

Okay?

Other side.

Try that one again.

Here we go.

Front, side, back.

Yes.

Yeah, yeah!

[babbles] This is backwards!

This is backwards.

I'm not used to doing these.

With your feet flat on the wall on the floor, arms off the floor, push.

Last one.

Back.

Yes!

I should have your music by next week and we will start on your routine at that time.

Ah, thank you.

Thank you.

[phone rings] [phone rings] This is Joyce Triche speaking.

The studio is currently closed due to the coronavirus and will reopen when it is allowed to do so by the governor of North Carolina.

I am making videos for my current students and will continue to do that.

Please stay safe and wear your mask.

Thank you for calling Miss Joyce's Dance Studio.

[answering machine beeps] - Hi, everybody.

Welcome to week one of our online ballet class.

First, I will go over your routine without the music, and I have added a whole new section, so please pay attention.

The singing starts.

Walk one, two, three.

First, do our best one time.

I'm going to show you your streamer routine for the Dash Ball Game, which we will do at some time.

It may not be April the 17th, but we will do the Dash Ball Game sometime this year.

Hello, everybody.

This is week two of online twos and moms.

Are you all here?

I hope so.

I brought Holly Hippo with me this week so she can help me with class, and I'll give her a big hug for all of you, and I would like to give you a big hug as well.

I hope that you looked at your video last week with all the beats because you're going to need it this week with the new choreography on your routine.

This is video number five and I have finished your routine.

Hello, everybody.

This video is video number 10, and I brought Holly to help me, and last year we had for our theme legends and heroes, and Holly was our superhero, and she wore this pretty red cape, and she wore this mask.

This year, Holly wore a different mask.

So, this is the new superhero mask for 2020.

Hello, Hailey.

This is video number 11.

This is for June 2nd and this is the last of the 2019/2020 videos.

Step up, side, up.

Step up, catch.

Have a great summer.

Thank you.

Bye.

- [Interviewer] Do you know what you wanna do next now?

- [Joyce] [huffs] No.

I figured I would do videos through June 4th, which would've been the end of the thing and I've got to decide between now and then what they're doing.

I think the daggum thing's gonna come back.

Yeah.

- Yeah.

- I'm afraid there's gonna be a wave two or whatever August, September.

- Mm-hmm.

- [Joyce] And I'm not too sure that I'm going to be opening in September.

Yeah, the way things are right now.

- [Interviewer] Yeah.

- [Joyce] What are you doing at church?

- [Ward] I'm going to church to walk.

- Oh, okay.

Dad's going to go walk, yeah.

I can go walk with him today.

- [Interviewer] You should go do that.

You should go do that.

All right.

- Love you.

- [Interviewer] Love you too.

- Bye-bye.

- Bye.

[pump hisses] [fan whirs] [fan continues whirring] - I would say probably my blood pressure has gone up some.

It's just that challenge.

You want to make sure that nobody gets sick, and so it is fewer classes, but it's constant go go go, because as soon as that class is over, you immediately start cleaning and getting ready for the next class.

[ambience hums] Hello!

Wash your hands!

See?

You can do, you can do cartwheels with a mask on.

You can do rolls with the mask on.

You can do headstands for sure with a mask on.

Front.

One, two.

That's three.

[elegant music] [elegant music continues] Front long.

One, two.

Three, and stretch.

Front long.

One, two, three.

Stretch.

There you go.

Front.

That's it.

Now, this leg falls back.

[Joyce faintly speaks] Now, we're going.

All right.

[elegant music] One, two, one, two.

One, two.

Two steps.

Thank you very much.

[fan whirs] [fan continues whirring] Now, I'm off to clean because the next class is up here.

[birds chirp] [birds continues chirping] - [Ward] Hello!

- The couple of teachers that I've had that have quit, it has been because their husband was not supportive.

I, on the other hand, have one that is extremely supportive of what I'm doing.

I don't know that he really knew everything that was involved in what he was getting into, but he learned.

- [Ward] There we go.

- [Joyce] Oh yeah.

[birds chirp] [birds continue chirping] I'll be right back.

- [Worker] Very good.

- [Joyce] Wow.

It doesn't need to be that high.

- [Worker] No.

- [Joyce] Right in the center and you need to be over.

Does that look about right just there?

It looks a whole lot better than what it did before.

[Joyce and workers laugh] - [Worker] Okay.

- Ta-da!

Hello, everybody.

Can you hear me through this mask?

Can you hear me fine?

Good.

This is our 2020 take two performance.

We did not start back in-person classes until October, so this is a way different performance.

We are now celebrating our 50-years-plus.

I got into teaching dance in Stokes County so that the ordinary person, they could afford for their child to take one class a week.

This may not have been the most profitable way to go, but I need to like what I'm doing and I need to feel like I'm making a difference, and then I have people that bring their kids here.

"Yes, I took here and I want my child to take here as well."

That's my vindication for, "Hey, I must be doing something right."

You know, there are lots and lots of businesses that have not lasted for 50 years.

[lively music] [lively music continues] ♪ Gorgeous hands ♪ [audience applauds] - So, on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce and the city, we wanna present you with a certificate that just commemorates your 50th anniversary.

I'm gonna let the mayor say a little something if you don't mind, okay?

- What?

- Just say a little something.

- Oh.

Good morning.

- [Audience] Good morning.

- What a beautiful morning the Lord has made for us, right?

- [Audience Member] Amen.

- He's done good.

Wanna congratulate Miss Joyce.

50 years.

That's 13 years before the city was incorporated, but she is making a lot of precious memories, precious, especially to the grandparents and the parents and to these young people, and we appreciate that.

- So, congratulations.

[audience applauds and cheers] - Thanks, all of you, for coming.

Thank you for supporting the studio through kinda thick and thin this last year.

It's not been an easy year and we're looking for September to be back normal, maybe.

Hopefully normal.

[audience applauds and cheers] [audience member faintly speaks] [stagehands chatter] [stagehands continue chattering] [stagehands continue chattering] [birds chirp] [Joyce faintly speaks] - [Stagehand] Now, here we come.

Well, come grab them.

- Here comes Joyce with the mats.

- Hey!

Hey, Miss Joyce.

We'll grab those mats.

[mat thuds] [stagehands chatter] [parents chatter] [parents continue chattering] - [Announcer] Welcome to the Stevens Center of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Please take a moment to locate the nearest emergency exit, keeping in mind the nearest exit may be behind you.

Thank you and enjoy the performance.

- [Parent] You ready?

Okay, are you listening to her?

Put your listening ears on.

- I had always said that as long as my health was good and I wasn't losing money, I'll keep the studio open.

Well, my health is not that bad.

My hearing has got a lot worse and wearing masks the whole time has not been helpful.

That was part.

2020, I worked for free for the whole year, but I did not lose money.

2021, yes, I lost money.

There were lots of toss turned nights in April, particularly when I was trying to decide and go, "Eh."

I think I have made peace with it.

I wanted to tell you that we worked very hard this year to give the students a, quote, "normal year" after last year in the pandemic and it doesn't seem like it is going away anytime soon, unfortunately.

I'm happy to be back here to let you know this is where my first dance recital was as a child when I was, like, seven, eight years old.

The Stevens Center, the building has a special place in my heart.

Thank you.

[audience applauds and cheers] [audience applauds] [audience chatters] [parents chatter] [parents chatter and laugh] [parents chatter] Thank you.

Thank you for working.

That's about it.

- [Photographer] Miss Joyce, can we get one more picture of the three of us?

- [Joyce] The celebrity?

- [Photographer] You are.

- [Joyce] All right.

- [Bystander] Miss Joyce, what can I help you carry out to your car?

It's out there waiting?

Okay, I'll give it to Ward.

[stagehands chatter] [stagehands continue chattering] [stagehands continue chattering] [phone rings] - This is Joyce Triche speaking.

I am unable to talk with you at this time.

We are currently having a tag sale for studio equipment and supplies by appointment only.

Thank you for calling Miss Joyce's Dance Studio.

[answering machine beeps] - I bought this one, I bought this one.

This one, I want to keep.

This one is from Kate Eiser, which you might know.

They don't get that one.

This, I'll keep.

"Right now in this theater, there are families who have made it a family tradition to bring their children to Miss Joyce's Dance Studio.

Parents who you taught in past years are now bringing their children.

They bring them because there's a trust and faith that you will find a way to bring out the best in each child.

Miss Joyce, you don't just teach us dance.

You taught us to believe in ourselves and to be proud of what we can do."

I've perhaps benefited people through the years and I think that's important, so that's, in that, I have a great deal of satisfaction.

[no audio] This one is very important because we curtsy at the end of our dance, so then the people know that we're through and they're ready to applaud for us, so you need to know how to curtsy.

Point front, point side, curtsy, and close.

You ready?

- Ready.

[mat squishes] [mat continues squishing] [feet clomp] [mat squishes] [mat continues squishing] [traffic faintly whooshes] [feet clomp] [feet continue clomping] [feet clomp] Yeah, good.

- I gotta do a retake on that.

[Joyce laughs] I rolled through.

[videographer laughs]