ARTIST PARTNER PROGRAM
PROGRAM
BENEFITS
Joe’s Movement Emporium is a non-profit cultural arts hub located in Mount Rainier, MD, within the Prince George’s Gateway Arts District. It catalyzes creativity and economic opportunity. Numerous artists and artist groups call Joe's home, benefiting from the Artist Partnership Membership Program, which offers professional development resources, collaborative opportunities, and affordable rehearsal and performance space. Joe's supports a varied roster of local artists who provide arts education, cultural events, entertainment, and wellness programming to the Mt. Rainier community and beyond. The mission of Joe’s Movement Emporium and the Artist Partnership Membership is to boost the local creative economy and support local creatives.
Our artist partners work together with us to promote artistic growth, boost the creative economy, and create a community of artists who engage with the public and advance the mission of Joe's and themselves.
Professional development and call for artist opportunities resources
Opportunities to curate or participate in Joe’s exhibitions or events
Vending opportunities at Joe’s, events, performances, and shows
Collaborative arts programming opportunities
Reduced space use rates
Membership Fees range from $25 to $60 per month
MEET OUR ARTIST PARTNERS
BELLY DANCERS
OF COLOR COLLECTIVE
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Founded in 2017 by Adina Gittens-Smith and Leila Rosado Nelson, the Bellydancers of Color Collective (BOCC) is more than a dance group — it is a movement. They celebrate African-diasporic bellydance as a pathway to healing, joy, and liberation. BOCC blends Afro-Caribbean rhythms, bellydance traditions, and divine feminine energy to create a signature style that is powerful, playful, and deeply rooted in culture.
Their classes are designed for everybody and every body. From first-timers to seasoned dancers, they create a welcoming space where technique meets freedom, fitness meets artistry, and movement becomes medicine. BOCC is about more than steps — they are about sisterhood, reclaiming space, and celebrating the beauty of bodies exactly as they are.
NOOTANA
INDIAN DANCE AND MUSIC
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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.
BLACK LEAVES
DANCE COMPANY
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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
Photo Credits: Black Leaves Dance Company: Sons of Douglass (2023), photo by Michèle Egan
KATHERINE SMITH CONTEMPORARY DANCE ENSEMBLE
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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.
SOUL IN MOTION PLAYERS, INC
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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.
PASSION PROJECTS FOR THE PEOPLE, LLC
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Passion Projects for the People, LLC hosts dance practice as a tool for spiritual enlightenment. We provide physical movement pathways in a brave space and playful atmosphere to experience rejuvenation for the spirit. All bodies and dance levels are welcome. Participants are open to new ideas, willing to be seen by others, and interested in self-development.
CAPOEIRA
ANGOLA DC
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Capoeira Angola DC offers weekly community classes. They emphasize inclusivity and community over profit. All are welcome!
LESOLE MAINE
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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.
SENSUAL SOUL BELLY DANCE
TARATIBU YOUTH ASSOCIATION
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Taratibu Youth Association (TYA) nonprofit organization, founded in 2007 by Arla Little Victory and Naima Hylton, provides a creative and transformative experience for young performing artists of African and African American descent using traditional African dances, songs, and spoken word. With a focus on performance education, we foster a holistic environment where dance, song, and spoken word is used to motivate, inspire, challenge, and enrich the lives of young people so they can become responsible and successful leaders in the community. TYA has completed educational and cultural exchange tours in Ghana, Benin, Togo, Tanzania, South Africa, Haiti, St Croix, Senegal, Brazil, Zimbabwe, and Zambia.
GET DANCE
by CAROLINA HERNANDEZ
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In 2018, Carolina Hernandez founded her own dance company with the purpose of exploring the rhythms and cultures of the world, embracing diversity, fun, and the joy of dance. She named it Global Expressions Through Dance (GET Dance).
From its beginnings, she focused on building a community rooted in friendship, fun, culture, and a shared passion for learning about the world.
GET Dance offers a wide, diverse, and high-quality program because Carolina seeks knowledge from direct sources, creating authentic connections with experts in each tradition.
Looking ahead, they see themselves as one of the leading cultural companies in the DMV and beyond, participating in major shows and cultural events throughout the region.
THE LION’S DEN
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The Lion’s Den is a Filipina-founded, DMV-based dance & wellness community dedicated to creating spaces for people to meet new friends and freely express themselves. 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. They got their humble start in 2017, transforming a conference room into a dance studio at a Safeway supermarket, and have since partnered with countless local small businesses and arts organizations, including The Kennedy Center, Dance Place, Dance Institute Of Washington and Joe's Movement Emporium.
Catch their weekly open-level dance workshops on Mondays at 7:30P in Alexandria and be sure to catch the community favorite event, BLOCK OUT dance party happening bi-monthly in Arlington with sounds provided by the amazing DJ 4Real & Wu Styles.
SMOOTH & EZ UNLIMITED
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Smmoth & 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!
