Early College Student Turns Love of Dance Into Service for Seniors
Photo: Powell leading Senior Shuffle at the 2025 BBQ Fest
For Halle Powell, dance has always been a big part of her life. In recent years, it has also become a way to bring joy and connection to others.
Powell, a super senior at Lenoir County Early College High School from Jones County, recently earned national recognition as a finalist for the prestigious Morehead-Cain Scholarship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While the honor highlights her leadership and service, Powell’s impact is already being felt much closer to home through a nonprofit she created to serve older adults.
Powell founded the Senior Shuffle Project, an initiative that brings seated dance classes to residents in assisted living and rehabilitation facilities. The program blends simple dance movements, stretching and rhythm activities designed to help seniors stay active while enjoying music and social interaction.
A competitive dancer for 13 years, Powell said the idea for the project grew naturally from her lifelong love of dance and her connection to older adults.
“My mom is a hairdresser, and when I was little I would sit in her beauty shop with her,” Powell said. “Her clients would read me books while they were under the dryers getting their hair done. I’ve just always loved being around that generation.”
Her work with seniors expanded when she served as Miss Neuse in 2023. As part of her community service platform, Powell organized volunteer visits to a local assisted living facility. During those visits, she began noticing how much residents enjoyed watching her dance.
“They loved when I would dance for them,” she said. “So I thought, why don’t we dance together? That’s really how the Senior Shuffle Project started.”
Through the program, Powell adapts dance so that seniors of varying mobility levels can participate. Many of the classes take place while residents are seated, allowing them to move their arms and legs at their own pace.
Powell even brings special equipment to help make the experience more interactive.
“I have silicone tap shoes that slide right over their regular shoes, and they work with almost any style,” she said. “We also use tambourines and maracas so people who can’t move their legs as easily can still keep rhythm with the music.”
The classes provide more than just exercise. Powell says they also help residents connect with one another and break up the routine of daily life inside assisted living facilities.
“Sometimes they spend a lot of time in their rooms,” she said. “When we bring music and dancing in, it gives them something fun to look forward to and a chance to be active together.”
In addition to leading the nonprofit, Powell continues to stay deeply involved in dance. She teaches classes at her studio, working with students as young as three years old. Teaching has helped her develop leadership skills and reinforced her belief that dance can be a powerful tool for building confidence and connection.
Beyond dance and service, Powell has also been active in pageantry. She was recently named Miss Cleveland 2026 and will compete in the Miss North Carolina competition this summer.
Her experience at Lenoir County Early College High School has also helped shape her path. As part of the Early College program, Powell began taking college courses during her junior year, learning alongside students of all ages.
“You’re taking classes on a college campus with people who might be much older than you,” she said. “Some of them even have children. It really pushes you to mature and learn how to work with people from all different backgrounds.”
Powell also chose to remain at Early College for a fifth year, allowing her to complete additional college coursework before enrolling full time.
“My sister went through Early College too, and she encouraged me to stay,” Powell said. “She said she wished she had taken more of those foundational classes earlier. Since the classes transfer and it’s free college, it made sense to stay another year.”
Looking ahead, Powell hopes to combine her interests in business and service by working in the management side of assisted living or nursing facilities. She wants to help create engaging programs and meaningful experiences for residents.
“I want to be in a role where I can help create programs and opportunities for them,” she said. “Being there would allow me to keep bringing things like the Senior Shuffle Project to seniors.”
For Powell, the most rewarding part of the project is seeing how something as simple as music and movement can brighten someone’s day.
“I always tell people to get involved in volunteering and find a place where you really enjoy being,” she said. “When you find something you love, that’s where you can really grow and make a difference.”
