Artist Partners

Black Leaves Dance Company: *Sons of Douglass* (2023), photo by Michèle Egan

BLACK LEAVES DANCE COMPANY is an all-Black, all-male, queer-inclusive dance company specializing in modern ballet, highlighting the stories and perspectives of Black men in America. We explore themes related to identity and self-actualization: questions of masculinity, sexuality, religion, and race.

Website • Instagram • FACEBOOK

CAPOEIRA ANGOLA DC offers weekly community classes. They emphasize inclusivity and community over profit. All are welcome!

Instagram

KATHERINE SMITH CONTEMPORARY DANCE ENSEMBLE is committed to representing a high-level standard of excellence and artistry, traditionally preparing ALL dancers of today in the dedication and discipline to become future professional dance artists. Under the guidance and direction of artistic director, Katherine Smith, dancers continue to develop their technical and performance skills with opportunities to perform throughout the DC metropolitan area.

Website • instagram • Facebook

LAUREN DEVERA is the Founder and Artistic Director, of The Lion’s Den. She can be found performing, teaching, curating events, and coaching creatives and entrepreneurs across the DC metropolitan area and online community. Her mission is to empower folks to take up space, pursue their passions, and live courageously!

Website • Instagram • Facebook

LESOLE MAINE seeks to empower youth and community members to engage in healthy, creative self-expression by providing educational arts programming and opportunities for cultural exchange through Lesole’s Dance Project (LDP).

Working in the United States and South Africa, LDP promotes the unique movement vocabulary and choreographic style inspired by the Southern African heritage, and facilitates learning spaces that honor Black artistic excellence.

website • INSTAGRAM • FACEBOOK

THE LION’S DEN is a Filipina-founded, DMV-based dance & wellness community dedicated to creating joyful spaces for people to freely express themselves. We're a welcoming hub that believes how you move in your body impacts how you move in the world. Through heart-centered programming and community-focused practices, The Lion's Den provides in-person and virtual classes, events, workshops, and performance opportunities to help cultivate confidence and new connections. We got our humble start in 2017, renting space at a Safeway supermarket, and have since partnered with countless local small businesses and arts organizations including The Kennedy Center, Joe's Movement Emporium, Local Motion Project, Dance Institute of Washington, and more!

Website • Instagram • Facebook

NOOTANA INDIAN DANCE AND MUSIC was founded in 2012. It is a 100% volunteer-run performing arts ensemble committed to fostering innovation within the Indian classical arts. They perform modern representations of Indian classical music and dance by integrating music, dance, stories, and styles from around the world.

WEBSITE • INSTAGRAM • FACEBOOK

RAEDIANT MOVEMENT integrates and inspires others through passionate and exciting dance performances by providing the community with access to Black dance education and events. They envision a community where Black dancers and audiences will understand and appreciate the connections between Black dance forms existing across Black ethnic, cultural, and social experiences.

Website • Instagram • Facebook

SACRED HIPS IN MOTION is a collective of six dancers whose goal is to promote fitness, health, artistic expression, positive body image, and sisterhood through belly dance. Choosing the name 'Sacred Hips' to convey our reverence for the feminine body and the sanctity of the dance, we aim to provide a unique and fun belly dance workout while making each student feel special, divine, and most importantly, free to be themselves!

Website • Instagram • Facebook

SILK ROAD DANCE COMPANY is an award-winning, critically acclaimed ensemble that presents an extensive repertoire of more than 200 dances from Central Asia, Iran, the Middle East, South Asia, the Caucasus, and beyond. With the goal of promoting “cultural understanding through beauty and delight,” their pioneering performances offer a unique glimpse of the life and art of ancient cultures, especially the Islamic World.

Website • Instagram • Facebook

SMOOTH & EZ UNLIMITED was established in 1994 by Lawrence “Brad” Bradford as Smooth & EZ Hand Dance Performing Arts Troupe. It is recognized as the oldest, largest, and BEST hand dance performing arts troupe in the DC metropolitan area. With the passing of Brad, the troupe has been renamed to Smooth & EZ Unlimited (SEZU).

The SEZU Dance Troupe has performed locally and nationally for government and private organizations. They have performed all over the nation from Washington, D.C. to Las Vegas, NV to Massachusetts to Atlanta, GA. The troupe and its individual members have competed in numerous dance competitions. Their experience over the years has served to fortify their skills, style, and performance level, making SEZU the most entertaining hand dance troupe in the country!

Website • Instagram • Facebook

SOUL IN MOTION PLAYERS, INC (SIMPINC) was founded in 1984 by Michael Friend after he resigned from his government job to pursue the SIMPINC dream. Soul in Motion became a full-time touring company with its busy season occurring during Black History Month. The group would hit the road for week-long stints. While attending a NACA convention in October 1989, Michael began writing his first play, WE ARE AFRICA. This script was inspired by Tony Browder’s book, From the Browder Files. Later that Fall, the script was completed, the roles were cast, and the group hit the road. Soul In Motion went on to tour WE ARE AFRICA for 13 seasons. During this time-frame, the group grew from just 4 company members to a full ensemble including drummers and dancers. Michael’s longtime friend, Keith Stephens, joined the tour as technical director; his role continues to provide a key element to Soul In Motion’s success.

Website • Instagram • Facebook

TARATIBU YOUTH ASSOCIATION provides a transformative experience through the performing arts for youth of the African diaspora. Their mission is to cultivate socially-responsible change agents, healing, and transform people of the Pan-African community, seven generations forward and backward.