Project Motion: Creating Communities That Dance

At Joy of Motion Dance Center, we believe that “Dance is for Everyone.” That means access to quality dance education for people of all ages, abilities, ethnic origins and income levels. Each year, JOMDC opens its studio doors and invites the community to participate in free and low-cost dance classes, performances, workshops, and family dance activities.

Motion Express: Outreach classes and performances for DC public and charter school children

Each academic year, Joy of Motion Dance Center brings its talented dance educators to DC area schools to provide free dance classes for hundreds of students, and performances for hundreds more through outreach initiatives. Our Motion Express program currently serves the following partner schools in Northeast DC :

Elliot Middle School                                                                            Miner Elementary School
Stuart-Hobson Museum Middle School                                                 McKinley Tech High School
Academy for Ideal Education                                                               Two Rivers Public Charter School
Ludlow Taylor Elementary School                                                        Maury Elementary School                                                     Cesar Chavez Public Charter School for Public Policy (both campuses)

Step Ahead: Dance training and job skills program for DC teens

Each summer, JOMDC serves as a host agency for the “Passport to Work” Youth Employment Program through the DC Mayor’s office. Step Ahead is a 10-week program for high school students providing intensive dance training and hands-on experience in the performing arts workplace at JOMDC Atlas.

Dance is for Everyone Youth Scholarship Program

The Dance is for Everyone Youth Scholarship Program assists families of limited means who are seeking quality dance education for their children through full and partial scholarships.

Seniors in Motion

JOMDC's expanding program for mature dancers, Seniors in Motion, regularly enriches the lives of hundreds of seniors through interactive movement and performance classes at local senior centers.

D.A.R.E Dance America

JOMDC has also been designated as a regional center for D.A.R.E. Dance America, the national youth advocacy organization. Through this partnership, JOMDC instructors teach dance as a positive alternatives to drugs, alcohol, and violence. Our D.A.R.E. Dance America program serves schools in DC and VA:

Bailey’s Elementary School
Gunston Middle School
Maury Elementary School
Swanson Elementary School
Turner Elementary School
St. Ann’s Elementary School

Donate to Project Motion today!

For more information about our outreach programs, please contact:

Heidi Schimpf
Director of Education and Outreach
2201 Wisconsin Avenue, NW Suite C130
Washington, DC 20007
(202)-333-6801 ext.12
heidi@joyofmotion.org.

Community Engagement

Joy of Motion Dance Center is proud to be a resident arts partner of the Atlas Performing Arts Center in the H Street community. In 2005, we opened the doors to our new center at the Atlas and engaged hundreds of community members in free dance events and activities, including Open Floor Nights, Senior Yoga classes, Family Dance Classes, Open Rehearsals with resident dance companies, workshops, performances, and introductory classes.

JOMDC Youth Dance Ensemble and Youth Companies participate in local festivals, parades and events throughout the DC Metro area, providing performances for communities of all ages to enjoy. Throughout the year, JAZZeMOTION, JOMDC’s adult outreach performance group, provides interactive dance performances for senior centers throughout the DC Metro Area.

JOMDC has been a pioneer in coordinating events and festivals in partnership with community organizations. Most recently, we played a major role in helping the Bethesda Urban Partnership launch Dance Bethesda, a city-wide dance festival that engages hundreds of participants in classes and performances, and raises awareness of dance in the Bethesda area.

Community Recognition and Support

Project Motion would not be possible without the generous support of foundations, government agencies, and individuals. Joy of Motion Dance Center is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable arts organization recognized for its service to the greater DC metropolitan region. Major support for these initiatives has been provided by: