JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It could be the magnetic pulse of energy that vibrates from head to toe. Or the roaring burst of crowd enthusiasm filling the room.
Either way, with decades of combined dance experience, Rochelle Underdue and Shirley Murray are two forces behind “In the Midst,” a Jacksonville-based dance platform rooted in hip-hop and street culture that has spent the last decade creating spaces for rhythmic liberation.
“I can never forget about the heart aspect of community,” Rochelle said. “I simply enjoy being in community and just building something for the community.”
On this episode of “Voices of the 904,” Rochelle, founder and creative director of “In the Midst,” and executive producer Shirley take a look at the 10-year journey that helped shape Jacksonville’s dance community.
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The couple dives into their individual approaches to artistic expression, why intentional storytelling and human connection matter in the world of dance, and how In the Midst" has become more than a performance platform — serving as a safe space where dancers can discover themselves, express emotion and be seen in a city where street dance is often overlooked.
“Dance in general is overlooked,” Shirley said. “In the Midst has provided visibility into our world, into different people in the community and their creativity.”
As they reflect on a decade of impact, both dancers open up about entering a new chapter, hoping “In the Midst” will be remembered as a platform that nurtured community, amplified the underground movement and showcased the power of movement, creativity, and authenticity.
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