Joy of Motion Dance Center

I’ve been dancing with JOM for about a year and a half and I love it! I take rhythm tap classes here, and Heidi is simply awesome. Before joining JOM, I hadn’t tapped in 13 years and now I’m slowing re-​building all of my fundamentals, as well as learning the musicality that is characteristic of this particular style of tap. Heidi is big on mastering the basics and building upon them. She’s patient and always positive, and slowly (very slowly!) but surely, under her tutelage I’m becoming a better tap dancer.
More than the classes, the studio keeps us updated on what’s going on in the dance community, for those of us who wish to take our dance experience to the next level. I learned about the Percussive Dance Festival not long after I started taking lessons here (I’ve lived in DC my while life, and taught tap years ago, and I never knew that this festival even existed. Now it is one of the annual events that I really look forward to. There are also auditions, performances, and workshops offered by the center.
I wish that I had started my dance experience at JOM. It’s a really great company with phenomenal teaching staff. If you’re curious about learning a new style, or taking classes in a familiar style, check them out. If you’re new to the studio, $ 20 gets you unlimited classes for your first week (thanks Rachel for clarifying)! There are well over two dozen different styles of dance taught between the three JOM studios, and you are bound to find something you enjoy.

I’ve been taking dance classes here and at their Bethesda location since I was little. Now, as a college student, I love taking drop-​in classes when I’m home on break. I cannot recommend Tanya’s Zumba class highly enough: it’s 60 minutes of upbeat Latin and Caribbean music and aerobic dance fun that will leave you drenched in sweat. It’s awesome.

Amazing dance studio! The staff is welcoming/​helpful/​friendly. The classes are more than what I expected. I get a nice workout and I get to dance, I can’t ask for more.

I’m updating my review solely based on Tanya’s Zumba classes to let everyone in the world know (in case they don’t already know) that Tanya is one of the best Zumba instructors I’ve ever had. She was also the FIRST Zumba instructor I ever had, but every instructor ever since then has to live up to my Tanya-​level standard. She is super high-​energy, always smiling, ALWAYS having fun. She really makes each of her classes feel like a party. But most importantly, she is easy to follow. She actually helps her students follow the movement. Plus, she offers a killer workout.
Tanya is just one more great instructor at Joy of Motion.
p. s. this location recently remodeled its lobby area… for the first time in more than 15 years I think. It was a much needed improvement.

There are many great opportunities for dance in the city but not very many quality programs for children. My daughter took class at JOM and she loved it. The policies are in place for various reasons and most of them are for safety reason. Even an adult that arrives late to class should not go in without a proper warm up. It is about respect for your teacher and other students that have paid for a class. These mistakes lead to injuries. Also, dance is about artistry but it also about learning discipline. Dance is not easy and it takes work, conditioning and dedication. Children should be taught in an environment where they feel comfortable and maybe dance isn’t for everyone but if you dedicate yourself to at (at any age) the benefits are incredible.

Ballet/​Dance Class for Kids — NOT the place to be
We have been taking ballet/​dance class at Joy of Motion for 2 years, it has been a struggle and not a pleasant experience. This is not a place that is child friendly. We keep going back because my daughter actually enjoys dancing and the studio is on a walking distance to our house. We had a friend of ours sign up with us for the fall semester and on the first day of class, she was hesitant to go in, once she finally decided to go in and join, the teacher actually sent her back because she didn’t warm up. The most disappointing fact was that this was the manager of the location so it is easy to see how her attitude actually affects the entire place. In my view, if you are looking for a fun place to introduce your kids to dance this is NOT the place. They are too serious, and really have no reason to be. For example in the intro to ballet dance class the teacher is far from actually being able to show proper posture or let alone a pirouette yet she is so serious about it that my daughter and few other kids have been in tears during and after class. I truly don’t like writing a bad review but the attitude and the policies of Joy of Motion are so child unfriendly that I felt I should warn other people. Especially since their policy is that you don’t get any refunds just credit for another class. I would recommend that you pay with a check so if your kid hates the first class you can stop the check. I guess I should stop being lazy and believing in supporting neighborhood businesses and take my daughter to a class where people actually enjoy working with kids.

Even though I’d rather be in bed at 8:30am on freezing cold Saturday mornings, I still enjoy coming her for dance class. All of the office staff are very nice, the instructors all seem very cool, and everyone who comes to leap, twirl, and drop it like its hot all seem very friendly. Only thing that bothers me is the studio is VERY VERY cold! Granted, its the freakin winter time and I’m pretty sure I’m anemic since I get cold in 75 degree weather, so I won’t take a star away for that.
JOMDC has something for everyone at all ages and for all occasions. If you feel like popping, maybe even a lil locking, take the Hip Hop class. Need to tune up your skills for those upcoming nuptials, take the Ballroom dance class. Wanna sweat your tracks out to loud ass music, take a Zumba class. I prefer focusing on my posture and flexibility so Ballet and Modern dance are my type of thing and I love every minute of it.

I love, love, love this place! :) I have tried other dance studios closer to me that aren’t half as much fun as this one. While I like all three JOM locations, the Friendship Heights location is my favorite, because it’s the easiest one for me to get to. All are a bit of a hike for me coming from Arlington, VA, but I consider it a labor of love, because the teachers are amazing and everyone you talk with from the front desk, to everyone in the various dance communities you run into is very nice and helpful.
All the classes I have taken, everything from Modern, to tap, hip-​hop and jazz have been amazing, each with an interesting culture of dancers of its own. My favorite instructor/​class at Joy of Motion though is Vincent Williams by far, he teaches jazz. Not only is he an amazing dancer, he also has a wonderful attitude. No matter how hard my day or what I am dealing with, Vincent’s smile, expertise and positive attitude are infectious and before long, everyone in the room has the «Vincent glow.» :)
If you are looking for a place to learn to dance, I would recommend giving Joy of Motion a try!

I was interning in DC last summer and looking for some dance classes, and this was perfect! I only wish I found it sooner. But expect classes to be a bit harder than the level stated (not always a bad thing though). I first took a low-​intermediate modern class, and although I have dance experience, I felt a bit out of my league. I think it’s easy to feel intimidated as a newcomer, because even though the classes are drop-​in, most people have been going to classes. so I felt behind when she barely reviewed choreography and everyone seemed to know it already. But I guess you have to have a «first» class sometime! Regardless, the class was definitely a work-​out, and the teacher was passionate and inspiring.
I also took an advanced beginner tap class (later found out they had a beginner class not listed on the website that was before my class that I wish I went to first!). I also felt a little out of place because everyone seemed to know the steps already, but it was a small class (5 – 6 people) and the teacher actually stopped everyone after I couldn’t get a step and said «I know you can get it, you’re so close, so I just wanted to break it down for you. Don’t worry, none of these people got it at first either.» She was such a good teacher and made me feel really welcome as a new student. And the class was SO GREAT. Definitely recommend it. Overall, I think it’s a good studio for dancers of all levels/​styles — and prices aren’t too bad, and you get a slight discount if you’re a student!

I started with ballet here as an adult and for the most part have enjoyed it. Beware that the «beginners» class doesn’t take any time to explain what the positions are or what all the French terms mean; you’re just expected to go with it. On the plus side, nobody’s going to point and laugh or scold if you can’t follow along at first; they just expect that if you keep coming back you’ll pick it up — which is true, but I can definitely see how this wouldn’t fly for everyone.
At $ 17 for an hour and a half, it’s not bad at all. I do wish they would limit the number of students some days, because when you’ve got thirty people in a hot little studio with no a/​c sharing a limited number of bars and everyone’s struggling to hit passé on releve and hold it, tempers can sometimes fly. :)
I’ve since moved onto another studio, but since this one’s right by my house, I imagine I’ll still be coming here for the drop-​in classes if I’m feeling lazy some weekends.

It has been many many years since my last ballet class but I decided to give it a try… a *beginners* class at Joy of Motion. I was ok for the first 30 minutes of stretching and yoga-​like poses… but the next hour was filled with a steady stream of positions I didn’t understand and moves that were not explained. I’m sure this would be a great class for someone who already knows the basic techniques and fundamentals but isn’t that what advanced beginner or intermediate is for? The teacher appeared to understand that she was way too complex for a beginner class because she kept saying «wow, this is like cramming a year of learning into one class!» but she didn’t seem interested in explaining it to the few of us who were clearly beginners. Kept thinking I should have saved the $ 17 and youtubed some ballet instruction.

A great place to take a yoga or dance class. Very welcoming and funky. Reasonable prices. Try Margaret Townsend’s yoga class. She is one of the best teachers in the Washington area.

New to the area, but not new to dance, I wanted to start taking classes again for fun. When I saw a groupon for Joy Motion, I jumped right on it. I am so happy I did because the best, best, best thing to come out of this is my love for Namaad’s Grind and Hip-​Hop classes. He is so fun, you sweat and just have a great time. He doesn’t make anyone feel inferior and answers all questions. I am a weekly attendee now and that is even after my groupon ran out (dedication because 17 bucks a week is not cheap. ha). I also attended an Afro-​Venezualan class with Mesi Walton that was a great treat on a Sunday mornning and an Afro-​Brazilian class with Angela Ingram that was fun. My only not-​so-​good experience was a pop class with Derek Brown. He is a great dancer, but I felt awful in that class. He didn’t take time to break things down because everyone knew each other and knew him and it was like they all knew they could do the moves, but hey… some of us were new! I loved the dance, but the across the floors singling us out really sucked. I don’t blame that on him though — that is what dance class is. Part of it is probably me thinking I was more experienced than I really was, but usually teachers modify stuff or something if they see someone is really struggling.
I won’t be back to his class because I left feeling not so confident, but I will be in the others with a smile!

I wanna be made into a b-​girl! (without the mental break down all the kids go through on MTV’s MADE)
I decided to take intro to hip hop class with Alana Hill. I like when we are learning different steps that she would give a little history about hip hop. I just love the hip hop culture since I took Sociology of Hip Hop in undergrad. NERD ALERT !!!
I am in a small class of 5 people. 3 people with zero dance experience, a guy that took 2 other intro to dance classes and lady who took ballet. I learn how to find my «inner groove», top rock and isolations. Alana said we will learn about 14+ moves (hopefully since I am a rookie) by the end of the 6 weeks. Alana gave each of us individual attention and really took the time to help us feel comfortable.
I don’t have any dance experience and encourage those who just want to learn, get fit or enjoy dance to sign up.
(pop and locks away from the review)

I’m all about trying new things and getting outside of my comfort zone, so when I saw a discounted deal for a 6-​week dance class at Joy of Motion, I jumped at the opportunity to try a new dance style. I signed up for the Intro to Dance Technique class, which is basically a ballet, jazz, and modern dance class for adults who don’t have any technical dance training.
Each class started with a ten minute warm up to get our bodies ready for the new moves we were about to learn. My class was small — only about 20 people — and everyone was really supportive of each other, which helped lessen my self-​consciousness when trying a new step for the first time. My instructor, Lauren was awesome. She created a comfortable and fun space for us to learn the new dance styles. Each week’s class built on the previous one until we were flowing seamlessly from basic ballet positions to tendus and Chassés. From jazz walks and isolations to freely flinging and twisting our bodies to convey an emotion.
The temperature inside the studio was perfect — not too hot or too cold. There are no lockers to put your stuff in, so you have to lug them into class each week and leave them on the floor in the back while you dance.
The changing room is a tiny alcove covered by a curtain. This minuscule room serves as a communal dressing room for anyone who needs to change into or out of clothes before or after class. For some reason the area around the changing room always reeked of smelly feet.
The location is pretty convenient — just one block from the Jenifer Street entrance of the Friendship Heights metro.
I had a fun time; I just would have preferred a more modern studio.

Let me start by saying that the Saturday morning Ballet classes are the BEST! The classes are 90 minutes long and $ 17 bucks.
Make sure to get there early because the class fills up pretty quickly and the parking situation is not great. There’s metered parking but make sure you come with change because the front desk does not carry any.
This studio reminds me of the studios in NY. The instructor has solid experience and comes around to offer personal instruction if your form is not quite accurate. I would have given this place 5 stars but the parking situation is just awful.

Such a great feeling everytime i leave this place! I love the classes offered they get better and better and the instructors are so professional but friendly. I go out with ppl from my class all the time, it’s a great way to meet people with similar interests. I have so much fun love Joy of motion!

How can you not love a dance studio that allows you to jump into any type of dance class without a reservation and encourages people of all skill levels to participate? Plus, there are multiple locations around the city and they offer a variety of classes from beginner to advanced.
Let me be clear, I am not known for my dance talents but Joy of Motion gives me an opportunity to enhance my technique, workout and have fun at the same time. I have taken a variety of classes and have found the teachers to be very patient and helpful. Some of my favorite classes include jazz with Vincent Williams, modern with Michelle Ava, zumba and afro jazz with Tyrone Murray.
Don’t miss out on dance classes even if you don’t have much experience. It’s the perfect place to learn. They also offer intro to dance classes for those with little experience. Joy of Motion is a great find!

I love, love, love taking classes at JOMDC. I wouldn’t exactly call myself a seasoned dancer, but I’ve taken several types of classes throughout my life, from ballet to hip-​hop. JOMDC is the type of studio that really appeals and accommodates to someone like myself who always wants to try something new.
I’ve done one Studio-​to-​Stage performance class with JOMDC, Juliana Calderon’s Latin Hip-​Hop class, and am currently taking Nikki Gambhir’s Bollywood Hip-​Hop performance class (can you tell I like hip-​hop fusion?). Latin Hip-​Hop was insanely fun — it opened up my awareness of other types of dance (like traditional Columbian). If you’re trying to get over stage fright, doing a class like this is the best way to do so — you’re in the spotlight but everyone knows you’re not a professional so you’re not expected to be perfect. And classes like these are a great way of meeting people, since you see them every week for two or three months at a time.
I’ve taken occasional hip hop classes with Aysha, Esperonto, and other choreographers as well. I love that with any choreographer you learn under, you learn a new style as well (like popping and locking, etc.). You get a full workout in just an hour, since they start off with a warmup, including streches, crunches and push-​ups, before moving on to choreography. The choreography is usually high-​energy, and difficult enough to be challenging but easy enough to master in one session.
Pricing at JOMDC isn’t too bad — if you’re a student, senior or pro dancer, you can get a discount. Classes are normally $ 17 (I think they recently raised the price from $ 15, unfortunately), which is actually cheaper than most dance studios I’ve been to. It’s definitely worth it, even if you’re just looking for something new to change up your regular work out routine.

We are very lucky to have a place like JOM in the DC area. In all the cities I have lived, I have never found a dance studio that is more accommodating for working adult learners. It really is possible for anyone to learn to dance here, no matter what your age, shape, background, ability, or style. I am living proof of this, having started dancing in my mid-​twenties.
There are lots of classes in the evenings and on weekends, and you can almost always find the style, level, and location you want to fit your lifestyle. If you are new to dance, the intro classes are a very nice and non threatening way to ease into it. I have also appreciated the opportunity to perform through the performance workshops and to be exposed to nationally known performers and teachers through workshops.
Being a large studio with several locations, many instructors, and even more classes, of course not every single experience you have is going to be the best. If you are frustrated by a particular class, keep moving until you find one that suits you. The great thing about their drop in system is that, with the exception of a few social dance styles, you never have to commit to a particular series– you just come to the class you want, when you want. Some teachers have big followings but that doesn’t mean they are the right one for you.
My personal favorite instructors are Maurice Johnson (for a class that will kick your butt, try street jazz), Doug Yuell (Friday morning Broadway Jazz is great for any ability level and will leave you with a huge grin on your face), and Helanius Wilkinson for beautiful contemporary modern choreography and technique. Miya Hisaka is my favorite ballet instructor– I am at a basic level in ballet and she really breaks things down and emphasizes safety. Her modern class, if she ever teaches it again, is fantastic. Another modern teacher I love is Danilo Rivera. These are just a few of the great instructors you will find at JOM.