Meet Grace Johnson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Grace Johnson.

Hi Grace, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up training in a strict ballet, jazz, and contemporary dance studio and performing arts high school. Although I wanted to venture into other styles of dance, not many studios offered those other styles all in one location. I found myself hopping around to different studios just to get a more diverse experience. I founded Neema Dance Collective “NDC” in 2016 (just one month after I gave birth to my youngest daughter) and I wanted it to be different from my childhood experience.

We offer classical ballet and pointe training, hip-hop, horton, jazz, tap, dance fitness, mommy and me dance class, father/daughter dance practice, aerobics, zumba, tumbling, liturgical, and acrobatics training. We have seasonal recitals and awards ceremonies throughout the year and compete in various competitions with our competitive team. We are the one stop shop studio that I wish I had growing up. Our innovative styles, technical dance training, competitive dance team, and new facilities have helped us grow tremendously!

Over the years, NDC has expanded to service over 300 students offering classes in multiple states including the District of Columbia, Maryland, West Virginia, New Jersey, and now Georgia!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road. Just like all start-up businesses we’ve seen the highs and lows of entrepreneurship including difficult clients, show glitches, and technical difficulties.

However, going through an entire pandemic as a “baby business” was least expected. We had to pivot in a way that was very scary at first but we ended up with more clientele than ever before. We stayed engaged with our audience on virtual and social platforms, held safe, hybrid, dance classes, and virtual showcases that everyone loved. We even opened a second location in 2020 and another in 2021.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Grace A. Johnson is an accomplished dancer, studio owner, published and award-winning choreographer, dance educator, movement and dance team coach and artist developer. She is the founder, owner, and artistic director of Neema Dance Collective, located in Temple Hills, Maryland. Grace is a master ballet instructor specializing in competitive jazz choreography and audition preparation with a 93% student acceptance rate. She is most proud to be an ADCC Studio of Excellence Award recipient.

Grace’s training began at the tender age of 4 at RJV Dance Studio in Washington, DC. With 28 years of dance experience, she has studied at: 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, and the Greensboro Ballet. Wherein she mastered various genres of dance from ballet, tap, jazz, folk, African, Hawaiian, modern, horton, ballroom, and hip-hop.

Today, Grace enjoys sowing into the lives of other dancers. She continues to teach ballet, Pointe, Jazz and contributes to competitive dance choreography at dance schools in the DMV area.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and a Masters Degree in Public Health from George Washington University.

Grace is a trailblazer, exhibiting tremendous leadership and determination not only for herself but for her students and staff.

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory is attending live concerts with my parents. They took me to see everyone live in person from Lauryn Hill & Yolanda Adams to Stevie Wonder and those experiences sparked my interest in performing arts.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.neemadancecollective.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neemadancecollective/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neemadancecollectivendc
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeneCpxc5spMayUQfmy2rdg

Image Credits:
All photography by DeLisa Carrol