By Charles Petty

Three sisters from Sanford are fulfilling a lifelong dream of opening a dance studio and hoping they can offer contributions to the Sanford and Lee County community in the process.

Dance has been a passion for sisters Lexie Anne Stephens Brown, Mary Blaire Stephens and Colbie Normann Stephens, and that’s the reason they decided to create Triple Pointe Academy, which opens in August at the old YMCA building in the Spring Lane Galleria between Dollar Tree and Office Max.

“Growing up, we all danced our entire life, had dad build a dance studio, and had friends and families who supported us in our passion,” said Lexie Anne, who will serve as Triple Pointe’s director. “We always wanted to dance and make it big. For us, this is going big because it’s helping a community we love dearly.”

The sisters each began dancing around the age of 2 and over the years performed in several groups. They would later go on to train at the Dancer’s Workshop locally and compete on stages across the state. This drive for dance and its potential for lifting spirits encouraged them to want to pursue it even after leaving school.

Each of the sisters attended Meredith College and had dance to some extent as part of their studies. Lexie Anne majored in dance studies and taught dance for several years at both B.T. Bullock and W.B. Wicker elementary schools. Mary Blaire majored in business administration with a minor in dance studies, and Colbie holds a degree in business administration with a dance studies minor.

Each of them performed while attending college for various dance companies on campus, and learning specific dance disciplines at Meredith allowed them to further their love of the craft.

“My sisters and I love Sanford and wanted to give back in a big way to our community,” said Colbie. “We feel that the studio will be a great place for the community to meet and interact together.”

Triple Pointe Academy will be a space where the Lee County community can come together to express itself through the art and craft of dance. The focus of the academy is to create a safe space where students can grow their love of dance and appreciation for the art. Classes will be engaging and interactive with the sisters being hands-on with teaching the various dance mediums. Additionally, classes will be offered for students from 18 months to 18 years, plus adult classes.

In addition to dance lessons and classes, the sisters are also hoping to enrich the community with service projects.

“We plan to have a service project every month as a studio,” said Mary Blaire. “If a student has an idea for a service project they can bring it to us and we will focus on it for a couple weeks or so. We want our students to be known in the community as helpers and people that make Sanford a better place.”

An open house for Triple Pointe is set for 2 p.m. on Aug. 8. Classes will begin on Aug. 30. For more information, visit www.triplepointedanceacademy.com.