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Joy of Motion Dance Center (JOMDC) was founded in 1976 by Michelle Ava as a place where students could study, observe and perform a wide variety of dance forms. Operating on a shoestring budget with only three instructors, JOMDC quickly developed as a forum where dancers and artists could collaborate, experiment and exchange ideas and talents.
The
multimedia art of late faculty member Jack Guidone and the improvisational work
of Ava gave JOMDC a progressive aura, which helped to establish the center as a
melting pot of change and excitement in the world of D.C. dance.
During the early years, JOMDC’s faculty, staff, enrollment and class
offerings grew rapidly. JOMDC programming ranged from modern and jazz to mime,
improvisation and dance exercise, and included programs for children and senior
citizens.
From 1978 to 1984, JOMDC established its successful Dance in the Valley program,
a
weeklong dance intensive in West Virginia’s mountains.
In 1980, Robert Teri became co-director of the Center and co-founder of
Ava/Teri Dance Theater, a modern jazz repertory company that was based at JOMDC
until 1986.
In
1980, JOMDC moved to its current location at 1643 Connecticut Avenue, NW from its
original location in Cleveland Park, expanding its class and program offerings,
and adding a performance space to its facilities.
JOMDC also began hosting a series of performing arts programs including
the Dupont Circle Dance Series from
1980-1984, Changing Climates: Dance at Dupont in 1987, and the Dupont
Circle Performing Arts Series 1989-1992.
In
1990, Douglas Yeuell became the Center’s executive and artistic director.
Under Yeuell’s leadership, JOMDC continued to expand and improve its
dance and fitness training and strengthen its position in the DC dance
community.
In September of 1991, JOMDC opened its second studio in the Friendship Heights community of D.C., adding a much needed children’s program which included classes for pre-schoolers, children, and young teens in the basic disciplines of creative movement, ballet, jazz, and tap.
JOMDC expanded its Friendship Heights location
in 1995 to include three large
studio spaces that also convert each weekend into the Jack Guidone Theater.
The theater has been host to many local dance companies as well as studio-sponsored performance events and has become a recognized force in the
development and presentation of dance.
As Friendship Heights expanded, so
expanded the adult and child/teen offerings at the dance center. By 1998, JOMDC’s class offerings included not only core
classes in Jazz, Modern, Ballet and Tap, but also additional classes in Belly
Dance, Flamenco and other world dance forms.
The Youth Program also expanded from a small student body of 20 in 1991
to over 350 students by 1998. In
the fall of 1999, Joy of Motion began the Early Release program for talented
young dancers interested in pursuing dance at the college or professional level.
In February 2000, Joy of Motion opened its third studio located in Bethesda, MD adding three more studio spaces. In 2006, this studio moved to its current location and added one additional studio.
In March 2005, JOMDC opened its studios at the renovated Atlas Performing Arts Center on H Street N.E. This studio location provides much-needed arts outlets to the community, and serves as a springboard for our outreach program, Project Motion, in local schools, half-way houses, and other community facilities, as well as housing special programs within the studios.
Currently, JOMDC has 11 studio spaces, each open seven days each week, serving over 1,100 youth students and over 1,000 adult students each week. With a faculty of over 100 dance professionals, JOMDC is the largest employer of dance educators in the region, and offers nearly 500 classes each week. JOMDC is home to 8 Resident Arts Partners, 3 adult companies, 7 youth companies, and the highly acclaimed Youth Dance Ensemble Program.
Project Motion is the umbrella for many individual outreach programs, including Motion Express, offering dance classes in schools and after school programs; Fine Lines, the outreach initiative for accommodating our local area mature dancers. JOMDC is also the regional center for the national D.A.R.E. Dance America program.
In December 2002, Joy of Motion Dance Center was awarded the Mayor's Art Award for Excellence in Service to the Arts and opened its new corporate office in January 2003.
In September 2006, JOMDC's Youth Dance Ensemble was awarded the Metro DC Dance Award for Outstanding Youth Performance.
