Juli Calderon

Juli Calderon has been a faculty member at Joy of Motion Dance Center since 2001, teaching both youth and adult classes, and was the artistic Director of Groove Elements for the past 3 years. She has also danced and performed with D.C. Showbiz and trained with Creative Dance Center under Shawn Cosby. Ms. Calderon has trained with choreographers Fatima, Brian Friedman, Rhapsody, Jennifer Archibald and others. She has opened concerts for artists Lil'  Kim, Missy Elliott, Junior Mafia, Total, Chico DeBarge, and Tito Puente as well as performed at many festivals locally and internationally. She has also performed with the Montgomery College Touring Dance Company and been a teacher for the D.A.R.E.® America Dance Program.  Ms. Calderon is founder and artistic director of her own adult dance company entitled Grupo Cumbé, dedicated to performing traditional Colombian dance as well as modern dance with choreography 
inspired by her cultures African, Spanish and indigenous roots. Ms. Calderon was also cofounder and co-director of Expansion Dance Project (EDP), a company dedicated to educating the world about hip-hop and all its elements. She has been nominated for emerging choreographer at the 2006 DC Dance Awards and most recently; Ms. Calderon had the opportunity to tour internationally with 
recording artist Mya.