DANCING IN THE DC METRO AREA FOR 43 YEARS:

Since our founding in October of 1976, we have grown from a small Cleveland Park studio with just three instructors to the “the area’s most comprehensive dance institution” (Washington Post), with 60 faculty members and teaching artists, 8,000 unique students, 300 weekly classes, and locations in Near Northeast DC, Friendship Heights DC, and Bethesda, as well as a dozen school and partner sites. While numbers have grown, our core philosophy has remained strong and constant. At Joy of Motion, dance is not the province of an elite or talented few. Dance belongs to us all, and we all belong in the studio and on the stage — growing and learning, moving and creating.

Explore our history below and then start dancing with us today!

* this “History of Joy of Motion Dance Center” page was made possible by the Flachs Family Fund in honor of Joy of Motion’s founder, Michelle Ava.