( ENSPIRE She Did That ) Founder Of the Neema Dance Collective And Tory Burch Foundation Entrepreneur
ENSPIRE Contributor: Gabrielle Maya
Grace A. Johnson-Wright is an accomplished dancer, studio owner, published choreographer, dance educator, movement and dance team coach, and artist developer. She is a trailblazer and a highly successful go-getter who is the artistic director and founder of Neema Dance Collective in Temple Hills, Maryland. At age 4, she trained at the RJV Dance Studio in Washington, DC. With 28 years of advanced experience, she offers private sessions for dancers and consultations for pre-professional and professional dance students, dance educators, recording artists, and other entrepreneurs.
Johnson-Wright has ten years of dance education, business development, and performance experience. Her study ventures included Suitland High School’s Visual Performing Arts Dance Program, The Christian Dance Academy, Dance Theater of Harlem, The Ailey School Summer Intensive Program, the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Maryland Youth Ballet, The Washington Ballet, and the Greensboro Ballet. In addition, she is a Tory Burch Foundation Entrepreneur and Tory Burch Fellow. She’s also a 2023 Women of Color Grant Recipient.
Johnson-Wright discusses her dancing career, what made her eager to pursue it, and the dance styles she’s learned. Her teaching methods, her mission for Neema Dance Collective, and more!
What about dancing made you eager to pursue it as a career?
Dance has always been a career choice for me. It has always been about freedom, moving, being an artist, being creative with my body, and the connection that dance has to music.
Grace, you have over 28 years of dance experience and learned over ten types of dance genres. What would you say is unique about each one?
Each style of dance builds a new character. I am not the same dancer for a ballet class as a hip-hop class. Each form works the entire body in different ways. Knowing which styles suit long, flowy movement (like lyrical) versus a type where sharp and intricate movement is necessary (like Jazz) makes for a diversified dance artist.
What are your teaching methods during your dance sessions, and how do you cater to each individual?
I have a wide range of teaching methods. I’m very aware of the classroom as a whole and how each dancer takes corrections as an individual. I take mental notes on how each student responds to a specific method and can tailor those methods depending on how they react to my teaching style. Teaching dance is a rapid mental process. Knowing how to make dance theories relatable to real life so that a dancer comprehends movement and correct technique is enormous for me in the studio.
What is your favorite dance genre(s) to teach?
I love teaching Ballet, Jazz, Jazz composition, Dance theory, Artist Development, Modern, Horton technique, and Competitive Jazz.
What is your overall mission with Neema Dance Collective?
My overall mission is to prepare rising dance artists for a career in the dance entertainment sector. My program teaches integrity, passion, leadership, diversity, sisterhood, teamwork, and technique. We pride ourselves on our program, making a communal effort to uplift, inspire, and mold the complete dancer who can master multiple dance styles in the professional realm.
What is the Tory Burch Foundation, and how has being part of their fellowship helped your business career?
The Tory Burch Foundation was founded by fashion designer, businesswoman, and philanthropist Tory Burch. Each year, They select 50 women entrepreneurs for a yearlong program designed to grow businesses through workshops, coaching sessions, network-building, and financial resources. I was awarded a $10,000 grant to assist with business programming and expansion.
Why is dance so important for any community, specifically teaching dance to those who are skilled or are just starting, what can it give you in the long run?
From our teachings, our students have successfully auditioned and been placed in some of the top dance programs in the US, like Duke Ellington School for the Arts, Baltimore School for the Arts, Suitland High School Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, Dance Theater of Harlem summer intensive, The Alvin Ailey school summer intensive, Debbie Allen Dance Academy summer intensive, The Washington Ballet, and Maryland Youth Ballet to name a few. We use dance as therapy to help our community combat depression, anxiety, and stress. Many of our dancers plan to open a dance studio of their own, become professional dancers in companies, cruise ship entertainment, dance teachers, etc. Our students have been awarded scholarships to multiple programs. Dance gives them a great deal of confidence, work ethic, and leadership qualities.
How has teaching dance built confidence in those you teach?
I’ve seen my dancers grow from being shy kids in the back to being out there front and center, confident in their beauty, knowledge, and power over the years. The children have found their voice through dance, and I love that for them!
Grace A. Johnson-Wright designs each session to meet the needs of her clients with various backgrounds. She is a master in multiple dance genres, such as ballet, tap, jazz, folk, African, Hawaiian, modern, Horton Technique, ballroom, and hip hop. In addition, she is also certified in the Cecchetti method, a unique technique specialized by an Italian ballet master. To register for lessons, click here. Visit https://www.neemadancecollective.com/ to learn more about her dance classes. Follow her on Instagram to view her up-to-date content and events.
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