World Arts Focus and JOE'S

Joe's Artists

	The American Composers Forum is committed to supporting composers and developing new markets for their music. Through granting, commissioning, and performance programs, the Forum provides composers at all stages of their careers with valuable resources for professional and artistic development. By linking communities with composers and performers, the Forum fosters a demand for new music, enriches communities, and helps develop the next generation of composers, musicians, and music patrons.

	Arachne Areial Arts co-directors Andrea Burkholder and Sharon Witting have developed a dynamic duet company that is unique to the DC area and original in its approach to aerial performance. Andrea and Sharon began working together as founding members of Air Dance Bernasconi and have studied intensively with Gemini Trapeze’s Elsie and Serenity Smith, former members of Cirque du Soleil. The company's work has been presented by theaters, galleries, museums, nightclubs and at corporate events across the region. Arachne Aerial Arts is named for the mythological weaver, Arachne, who was transformed by Athena into a spider as a testament to her spinning skills.

	Balafon West African Dance Company officially formed in 1997, Balafon is a creative partnership among several artists who masterfully blend the natural elegance of traditional West African dance and culture with an amazing heroic athleticism. Incorporated in 2001, Balafon is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. The mission of Balafon West African Dance Ensemble, Inc. is to provide an insightful, woman-centered perspective on West African tradition and culture as a source of healing and balance by providing quality education and entertainment to audiences of all nationalities and walks of life.

	Junious Brickhouse, a.k.a “House” is a dancer, choreographer, student of culture, and community leader. He began his career in dance in the Atlanta and Washington D.C underground scenes. These scenes were rooted in creativity and positive cypher culture, which inspired him to learn the Hip Hop (New Style), Popping, Locking, House, Tap, Wacking, Voguing, and West African Dance elements that were being represented. House moved to Europe in 1997 where he received in depth instruction from Denmark’s, Special FX (Out of Control), who mentored and guided him to build technique in all dance styles in order to become an ambassador of urban dance. Most importantly, House is an artist who has chosen to dedicate his life to preserving and honoring urban and ethnic dance culture by staying “close to streets”, continuously educating himself and sharing his blessings.

	Zahra Christine is an artist and healer dedicated to uplifting the mother earth. She is a channel of feminine creativity through Henna Art and North African Dance. As a Reiki Master, she incorporates knowledge of the exchange of energies and the cultivation of life force in her art. She brings together these disciplines into a blend of wholistic practices that celebrates the mind, body, spirit connection. photo taken by Pom

	Stephen Clapp is a dance artist, choreographer, theater artist, composer, writer, arts educator and cultural activist. He is a collaborating artist with Laura Schandelmeier and is a co-artistic director of CatScratch Theatre. He has performed regionally, nationally and internationally with CatScratch Theatre, ClancyWorks Dance Company, The Other Theatre, Kinding Sindaw and Laura Maryland State Arts Council for Solo Dance Performance in 2006. He serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for Alternate ROOTS; he is a member of the DC Community Coalition for Justice and Peace; and he serves the DC dance community as the Manager of Foundation Giving for Dance Place. He currently resides in the Gateway Arts District of Mount Rainier, Maryland with creative and life partner Laura Schandelmeier and 11 year old, Holly Rae.

photo taken by Kevin Weber	Kadiatou Conte Forte was born in Conakry, Guinea, West Africa in 1955. and was selected to join Les Ballet Africans in, the national dance company of Guinea, 1970. From 1970 to 1985 she traveled and performed around the world for heads of state and sold out audiences in Moscow, France, Belgium, England, Brazil, Spain, Japan, Australia, the United States and nearly every country in Africa. In 1985 Kadiatou moved to Washington D.C. to fulfill her dream of teaching. Kadiatou, affectionately known as Mama Kadiatou, has become a major force in the African Arts community serving as a bridge between the Guinean and the Washington D.C. community. Kadiatou Conte is currently the artistic director of the Balafon West African Dance Ensemble, which is composed of many of her students and colleagues from her years with the National Ballet of Guinea.

	Dancing by the Power Ministries and the Gospel Lights Liturgical Dance Ministry are delighted to make Joe’s Movement Emporium their home base. Dancing by the Power Ministries, Inc. a non-denominational, non-profit organization is the parent company of the Gospel Lights Liturgical Dance Ministry which was founded in 1994 by Pauline and Ronya-Lee Anderson, a mother and daughter team. Together DPM and the Gospel lights seek to transform the lives of young people through the performing arts with liturgical dance as its primary medium. Weekly technique classes, workshops, Scripture studies and mentoring programs are the primary mediums of enrichment both for our members and the community.

No Photo Available at this time.	Diva Works Dance is a comprehensive training program for aspiring dancers. The curriculum includes dance history, dance theory, body science, dance terminology, and of course a wide syllabus of dance techniques (Ballet a Terre, Pointe ballet, graham, Dunham, and Horton based modern, jazz, tap, hip hop, urban reggae, African, and ballroom). The mission of Diva Works is to nurture, mentor, and develop future dance artists. The program services youth of all ages (6 - 17+) with a kinderdance class forming later this fall. Intermediate and advanced classes on a repertory level with performance opportunities are also available. Our open house series, winter concert, annual pictures, travel engagements, and year-end recital are program highlights.

	Mahiri Edwards has studied Mandigue drumming extensively with Master Musicians and historians from all over the US and Africa. He has toured nationally and internationally as a lead drummer for several performing companies. Mahiri is the first appointed director of all Tam Tam Mendingue Institutes in the US and currently coordinates and manages annual workshop tours throughout the US and Guinea.

	Ronya-Lee LaVaune Anderson holds a Master’s of Divinity from Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina. She also holds a B.A. in Dance and one in English Language and Literature from the University of Maryland at College Park. She has worked extensively with youth and children instructing them in various dance forms such as modern, tap, African, ballet, and hip hop. A former member of the Chuck Davis African American Dance Ensemble, and annual guest artist with Dance for All Youth Company in Capetown, South Africa, Ronya-Lee has traveled extensively teaching, dancing, and choreographing. She is Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Dancing by the Power Ministries, a Maryland based non-profit organization that seeks to transform the lives of young people through performing arts ministry, namely dance. She is ever grateful to Him who has blessed her since conception.

	Farafina Kan literally translates to the sound of Africa. We are a professional performing arts company dedicated to maintaining the history and integrity of traditional African drumming and dancing. Under the tutelage of international performing arts legends, Farafina Kan seeks to sustain the work initiated by these legends through professionalism, artistry, continual learning and proactive intergenerational transmission of African culture through music and movement. Farafina Kan is a family! We are comprised of young African-American artists who have been reared in various other dance companies including but not limited to Memory of African Culture, Sankofa Dance Theatre, Kankouran West African Dance Company, Dono Drum and Dance Ensemble, Maimouna Keita West African Dance Company, and Wose Dance Theatre.

	Marcia Freeman, Resident artist and bodyworker Marcia Freeman just returned from eight days in Zurich, Switzerland, where she has trained intermittently since 1998 with Dr. Hans Flury, one of Europe’s foremost Structural Integration (Rolfing) practitioners. His pioneering contribution to the field of bodywork is a new movement technique based on Ida Rolf’s principles, which Dr. Flury calls “Normal Function.” (His book, the only one available and only in German, translates as “The New Ease of the Body.”) Normal Function is based on the role of the fascia – the multiple layers of elastic, connective tissue which provide shape and structure to all of the muscles, bones and organs throughout the body. The fascia, when used “normally,” help to integrate movement (e.g. walking, climbing, kneeling, lifting, sports, dance, etc.) by providing the most economical way to initiate each movement, and by enhancing balance and flexibility. It must be experienced to be believed! Marcia, who comes from a dance and theatre background, is one of only two teachers of Normal Function in the US, and her private basement space at Joe’s is the ideal setting in which to learn.

	Gamelan Mitra Kusuma is a Balinese Gamelan, or percussion orchestra, based in Washington DC and comprised of Americans, Indonesians, and others interested in the music and dance of Bali. Balinese for "Flowering Friendship," the name was chosen to describe the warm and creative link between the musicians of these two cultures. Dedicated to presenting authentic Balinese music and dance performances in the Washington DC area and beyond.

	Laurel Victoria Gray is the recipient of the Kennedy Centers 2003 Local Dance Commissioning Project Award and the International Academy of Middle Eastern Dance (IAMED) Awards for Best Choreographer (2003) and Best Ethnic Dancer (1999). She is the Artistic Director of both the Silk Road Dance Company -- winner of the IAMED award for Best Dance Company (2003) and Joy of Motion Company-in-Residence. She is a finalist for the 2004 Metro DC Dance Award for "Excellence in Costume Design." An internationally acclaimed dancer, scholar, instructor, and choreographer, Ms. Gray’s research has taken her to five continents. She has inspired thousands of students, both amateur and professional, giving workshops and concerts throughout Europe, Central Asia, Australia, the United States and Canada. In 1984, Ms. Gray founded the Uzbek Dance and Culture Society and in 1994 established the annual Central Asian Dance Camp. She teaches "Dances of the Islamic World" and "Dances of Egypt" as Adjunct Faculty at George Mason University and George Washington University. In 2004, she taught at the American College Dance Festival and the Mendocino Middle East Music and Dance Camp.

	Romnee M. Childs was born in New York City. She graduated from LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts and earned a BFA in dance from The Ohio State University. Upon graduation she joined The Philadelphia Dance Company(Philadanco) where she performed nationally and internationally. Romnee moved to the DC area three years ago, and performed as a member of Washington Reflections Dance Company, in their first two seasons. She also performed with Dancesmith. Romnee has performed some musical theater as an ensemble member in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Romnee’s has enjoyed performing works by several great choreographers such as Bebe Miller, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Donald Byrd, Daniel Ezralow, Hinton Battle, Terri O’ Connor, Thaddeus Davis, Zane Booker, Roger C. Jeffrey, Pat Catterson, Milton Myers, Gene Hill Sagan, Fred Benjamin, Elisa Monte, Nathan Trice, Laila Sales, Talley Beatty, Victoria Uris, Jamel Gaines, Igal Perry, Elisa King, Christopher Huggins to name a few. She is the Director of Joe’s Moving Company, Joe’s Movement Emporium’s youth performing ensemble. She also teaches Contemporary Dance for adults, and is the Program Director at Joe’s Movement Emporium. She is enjoying her freelance career as a performer and choreographer.

	Tam Tam Mandingue is a traditional percussion institute founded by Mamady Keita in Brussels, Belgium in 1991. Today there are fourteen percussion institutes founded throughout the world. Our purpose is to preserve the original form of the Mandingue Djembe Orchestra by teaching the history and techniques specific to this cultural form. Tam Tam Mandingue’s mission is two-fold: artistic and cultural. The school plays the role of ambassador to Mandingue culture while teaching the history and traditional drumming techniques in foreign countries.

	Improv Arts Inc. initiates the creation, performance, research, and evaluation of improvisational dance, music, and multi-disciplinary performance. Improv Arts Inc. accomplishes its goals through operating its performance companies, creating opportunities for networking and collaboration among artists, and producing educational programming. The PlayGround, a movement based improvisational performance group is led by co-founder Jonathan Burkholder and DC Improvisers Collective, an ensemble exploring the intersection of jazz, contemporary composition and experimental music is led by co-founder Jonathan Morris.

	Lesina Martin holds a B.A. in African Studies from Howard University. She has been a professional dancer/choreographer since age 11 and one of the co-founders of Nsaa Dance Ensemble - a student based African Dance Company housed at Howard University. She has been studying traditional West African dance and songs from internationally renowned master teachers. Lesina is currently a full time dance instructor in the Washington DC area.

	The Mitchellville Community School of the Arts (MCSA) is a multi-disciplinary school that makes quality arts education accessible and advances artistic/cultural development in Prince George's County, Maryland and the surrounding area. With programs in Music, Art, and Creative Writing, MCSA offers an attractive program for all members of the community. The school welcomes people of all ages, skill levels, and cultural and economic backgrounds. Programs are supported by donations, tuitions and grants. MCSA provides a convenient neighborhood location where all people can be exposed to and pursue the arts as a life-long avocation, and where motivated students can receive intensive training in specific disciplines. The school is unique because it targets pre-school children thru senior citizens. By creating local opportunities for high quality arts programs, performances, and exhibitions MCSA promotes an intercultural and intergenerational exchange of arts and heritage, creating a harmonious coexistence of citizens and sustaining lifelong skills and friendships with the arts.

	Suteera Nagavajara has been dancing and performing Thai classical dance for 25 years. She studied under the most prominent teachers in Bangkok, Thailand including, the late National Artist in Performing Arts Ms. Jamrieng Phuthpradab, Mrs. Komkai Klinpukdee from the Department of Fine Arts, and Mom Rajawongse Orachat Songthong. Suteera came to the U.S. in 1993 and co-founded the Somapa Thai Dance Company (www.somapadance.org) in 1999. In addition to Thai dance, Suteera is also an avid Salsa dancer and a co-founder of a salsabangkok (www.salsabangkok.com). She also actively trains and performs with the Cambodian Heritage Dance Troupe in Arlington, Virginia.

	Rebecca Gitter, RYT 200, delights in sharing yoga with her students - primarily babies, toddlers and their caregivers. The natural joy and playfulness of children is a perfect compliment for yoga. Teaching yoga to such young students is as challenging as it is rewarding. As a mom of two very active school age children, Rebecca identifies with the challenges of parenthood and finds her yoga practice and sharing yoga with her children help to bring a sense of balance and stillness to an otherwise hectic world. Rebecca is a certified Itsy-Bitsy Yoga® Tykes, Tots & Baby facilitator, having trained with IBY founder Helen Garabedian. She completed her yoga teacher training in 2006 at the Yoga Center of Columbia. She has continued her study of children’s yoga with the Radiant Child Yoga Program and Budding Yogis and hold certificates from both programs.

	Maytinee Pramawat co-founded the Somapa Thai Dance Company while promoting Thai culture in the greater Metropolitan area of Washington D.C. in 1999 with her dance partners Suteera and Kotchakorn. Even though her father is Thai and her mother is American, Maytinee has a great appreciation, pride, and love of Thai culture.

No Picture Available a this time	Samba Trovão is Washington DC's premier Afro-Brazilian percussion ensemble. Samba Trovão's sound comes from the Northeastern coast of Brazil, where samba music mixes with the rhythms of afoxé, muzenza, candomble, capoeira, and reggae. Samba Trovão performs and gives workshops all over the DC-Baltimore-Philadelphia area. Livaldi Pereira da Cruz (Babajan), a native of Bahia, Brazil with more than seventeen years experience as a musician, directs the ensemble and arranges the music. Samba Trovão is Livaldi Pereira da Cruz, Santemu Amare, Kamau Johnson, Kojo Johnson, Jason Harris, Christian Miles (Themba), Rose Moraes. Baba Rashidi, Felicia Ross (Soneca), and Kristen Spoales (Sorridente).

	Laura Schandelmeier is a Dance Artist who works as a choreographer, performer, teacher, and Director of The Field/DC. She creates movement-based solo and company works that draw from physical, thematic, and structural experimentations. She was the Artistic Director of her own dance company in New York City from 1988-1994. During that time she choreographed, produced, staged, and performed over twenty dance and theater works, including four full-evening productions. Her work has been commissioned and produced by Dance Theater Workshop and Danspace Project at St. Mark’s Church in NYC. In DC, her work has been produced by The Kennedy Center, Dance Place, The IN Series, and by Washington Performing Arts Society in Martha @ Dance Place, curated by Richard Move. Regionally, festivals such as the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Dancenow/NYC Festival and, Yes, Virginia Dance have presented her work.

	The Northeast Academy of Dance (N.E.A.D.) History In 1939, The Hammond Dance Studio opened to bring the first black business of dance in the District of Columbia. Today, it is known as the Northeast Academy of Dance and continues to uphold the standard of excellence and long-term commitment to the community. Miss Bernice Hammond is an alumna of Howard University where she was encouraged by her professors to open a school of dance and culture. She is a published author, songwriter, play writer, poet, choreographer, and Prima Ballerina. Miss Hammond worked with Mary Caldwell Dawson, founder of the National Negro Opera Company where she was the choreographer for the ballet opera, “Aida”. You will find that she is still an important part of the Northeast Academy of Dance. The love she has for the children and for the arts makes the Northeast Academy of Dance the oldest and finest school of dance and music in the Metro Area. The Northeast Academy of Dance, now in its 68th year, fosters excellence, a strong commitment to God, family and community, and a positive self-esteem for its students. Because of the high values and code of conduct demonstrated by the director and staff, the alumni are among the ranks of professional performers, proprietors of dance schools, TV stars, educators, doctors, lawyers, and administrators.

	Soul In Motion Players have performed since 1984, and their performances continue to be expressions of the African-American Experience highlighting influences from West Africa, Cuba, and Brazil. SIMPINC is committed to maintaining the African-American Experience in each and every performance while demonstrating the utmost respect for the genre. They describe the African-American Experience as a representation of those born and raised in America but claim Africa in their historical lineage. They are led by artistic director Michael Friend. Michael studied at Fisk University and Howard University where he received his B.A. degree in Communications in 1980. He went on to perform nationally and internationally, including a jazz tour in 1989 to Cameroon, West Africa.

	Marika Suval teaches an integrated form of Vinyasa Yoga, helping students of all levels to work with awareness and develop core strength and flexibility through carefully balanced movements and asanas. She began studying yoga in India in the early 90s, and successfully completed 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training certifications with Dr. Sushil Battacharya of Patanjali Yoga in Nepal and, more recently, with Hot Yoga in Washington, D.C. Her classes blend elements of Hatha and Vinyasa Yoga, VinPranayama (Breathing Techniques), Mudra (Energy Movement Techniques), application of Bandha (Energy Locks) and Shat Kriyas (Cleansing Techniques) into a meditative flow.

	Noelle Powers (aka Hooping Powers & Strange Powers) has an extensive background in various forms of dance ranging from tap and modern to club and improvisation. Noelle divides her hoop-time between instructing classes, crafting hand-made hoops, and performing her radical styling of hoopdance. Over the last two years she has been fundamental in bringing the hoola hooping revolution to the DC-Baltimore region in general, and specifically to Joe's Movement Emporium. Noelle has been seen hoopdancing at such venues as DC's Palace of Wonders, 9:30 Club, and Glen Echo Park, and in Baltimore at the Creative Alliance, Ottobar, 14K Cabaret, Inner Harbor, Virgin Festival, and random parks about town. Hooping brings infinite amounts of joy and peace to Noelle's life, and she is excited to share the revolutionary movement and goodness it affords with others. To learn more about the hooping movement, visit Noelle's hooplog at www.hoopingpowers.com