Rooted in the mantra “Dance is a sport – music is a weapon,” Leroy explores the parallels between movement and military discipline—where every step is intentional, every breath is part of a larger strategy. Inspired by the rigor of military training, the dancers—uniformed in exclusive Renee Renelle designs—activate garments as tools of storytelling, protection, and resistance. Constructed from mosquito net-inspired fabrics and tent-like silhouettes, the uniforms draw on the aesthetics of camouflage and survival gear—disguising vulnerability while revealing truth.

This activation of fabric speaks to Renee Renelle’s philosophy of world-building through motion and memory. Much like the military, dance demands repetition, endurance, and complete embodiment. But unlike war, its goal is connection—not conquest.

For many of us, dance has never been just art—it’s been a refuge. A ritual of healing, identity, and resistance. In some communities, movement has replaced violence, offering choreography in place of conflict, and rhythm in place of rage. TENsion and Release honors that truth, calling attention to the invisible wars we fight daily—within ourselves and in the world—and the ways dance continues to save lives, shape culture, and unite us in discipline, joy, and survival.