“Day 1 Talent”: Raleigh native Ariana DeBose is doing Raleigh Dance Studio proud with her run to the Oscars

Sunday is also a big moment for CC and Co. Dance Complex in North Raleigh. Ariana started there in the 6th grade, learned her craft and stayed on until graduating from Wake Forest High School.

“She was a talent from day one, she knew what she wanted,” said Christy Curtis, founder of CC and Co. Dance. “She was a super go-getter and worked super hard.”

Christy founded the studio 17 years ago. She said Ariana has come back to teach classes and children learning her craft have been inspired.

Curtis said the pictures of her on the wall also inspire dancers on a daily basis.

“She just let a whole bunch of people know that they can find their own way to uniquely get to their passion and purpose in life,” Curtis said.

Curtis and many others will be watching at the Theater Raleigh about ten minutes from the dance studio on Sunday.

Ariana’s mother, Gina, an 8th grade teacher at Wakefield Middle School, will fly to Los Angeles to be with her daughter in person.

She said she’s in the studio grading work while Ariana pursues her dreams.

“Going out and having the opportunity to network with professionals in the industry I think has opened a lot of doors for Ariana for her that she might not have known she had,” said Gina.