Team Bios

A'Jay Lassiter, teaching artist

A'Jay "EntertAinA" Lassiter has been dancing and performing since the age of 4 with the nationally renowned Northeast Performing Arts Group (Rita Jackson). He has choreographed and provided creative expertise for many productions with the NEPAG. A'Jay has performed in several community performances throughout the East and West Coasts. Arrington is currently a member of Culture Shock DC Choreography Team, Artistic Director for CSDC Freestyle Team and Assistant Director For Mini Shock DC. Arrington also trained with Raw Element Dance Company, where he performs under the name of EntertAinA, AACC Dance Company, Dance Institute of Washington, Dance Theatre of Harlem Youth Residency Program, Luv2Dants. He has performed at the Kennedy Center in four (4) award-winning performances with DebbieAllen. In 2014, he reprised hisrole as Big Fat Raoul in Debbie Allen's Brothers Of The Knight National Tour. He also performed, choreographed and opened up for Glee's Alex Newell, Raheem DeVaughn, Kenny Iko, Vassy, etc. 

Arabia Woolfolk, programming director and studio manager

Arabia Woolfolk is a native Washingtonian, who has more than 20 years of dance experience in diverse industries including business, education, entertainment, performing arts, and professional sports; including the work-study program at Joy of Motion when she was in high school. Arabia earned her Bachelor's degree in Business and Dance Studies degree from The Pennsylvania State University in 2015; where she earned the Lizka Award for Dance and Most Innovative business award. It was during this time, she also trained at Alvin Ailey during the winters before graduating. After undergraduate school, Arabia worked as a DC studio dance instructor for youth aged 10 months - 12 years old; earning Teacher of The Year in 2016 and 2017. Shortly after, Arabia began her career in DC Public Charter Schools as a pioneer for dance education in the charter school system. Arabia was the first dance program director at KIPP DC Public Schools; where she wrote the dance curriculum, taught dance to all students in grades 3-8, was the head dance and cheerleading coach, lead a robust performing arts after school program and trained new dance teachers in the KIPP DC network upon hire. Arabia’s professional dance experience comes from the DC Sports Entertainment Industry! She began her career as a Valorette; a professional dancer for DC's Arena Football team, The Washington Valor. Arabia then became a First Lady of Football! Meaning, she’s an NFL Cheer Alum; more specifically a former professional cheerleader for the Washington Commanders (formerly Washington Redskins)! Arabia enjoyed her time as a professional cheerleader, dance educator, and teacher; while also serving the community as United States of America’s Miss DC in 2019 and Miss Eastern Market DC USA in 2021. Now as Studio Manager and Programming Director, Arabia brings her passions and experience to our community, hoping to “bring a little joy to the dance floor and the community.”

Derek Brown, teaching artist

Derek Brown is a professional Choreographer, Director, and Producer, based out of Washington, DC. Derek has been in the business for two decades working with companies such as BET, NBC, FOX, BRAVO, VH1, TV ONE, NFL, NBA, AFE, Amazon, RuPaul (World Of Wonder), Disney, and Touchstone Films. Derek has worked with such artists as Prince, Mya, Ding Dong, Pink, Monica, Sean Paul, RuPaul, Chrisette Michelle, Jennifer Hudson, as well as multiple recurring shows in the DMV area, and global tours. 

Ebony Vines Jackson, managing director

Ebony is a native Washingtonian with deep roots in the arts and administration. A graduate of the prestigious Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Howard University, she has an impressive background that uniquely qualifies her for this role. Her dedication to the arts and her commitment to excellence make her the perfect fit to lead Joy of Motion Dance Center into its next chapter. Ebony bring a wealth of experience in arts administration, but she also has a personal connection to Joy of Motion Dance Center. Representing three generations that have studied dance at JOMDC, Ebony deeply appreciates and understands our community's values and traditions. Her vision for the center's future aligns seamlessly with our mission to inspire and support dancers of all ages and abilities.

Samantha Williams, teaching artist

Samantha Shae Williams (Bowie, Maryland) began her dance training with The Dance Institute of Washington at the age of thirteen. She attended Suitland Visual and Performing Arts High School for two years then continued her dance training at The Baltimore School for the Arts, where she received her High School Diploma, under the direction of Norma Pera. Samantha attended The Ailey School for three summers as a scholarship recipient and also trained with The Dance Theater of Harlem Residency Program under the direction of Arthur Mitchell. Ms. Williams continued her dance training by attending Virginia Commonwealth University where she obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance and Choreography. She has performed works by choreographers, Fabian Barnes, Ralph Glenmore, and Carlos Dos Santos as well as Autumn Proctor and Christian von Howard. Ms. Williams has been teaching dance for eight years and is currently a full-time dance educator for Prince Georges County Public Schools located in the state of Maryland. Samantha is currently a company member and Director of Outreach and Missionary for The Collectif Project, a ministry based professional dance company, this is her fourth year with the company.

Shannon Harrison, teaching artist and studio assistant

Shannon performed at the Apollo Theatre in New York City and performed on BET's Teen Summit with Artist: Asia now Kindred the Family Soul and Video Soul with  Mr. Donnie Simpson and Mrs. Sherri Carter. I worked with Mr. Glenn Jackson while performing in modeling shows and with modeling schools such as Unity Productions. Working as part of a team and group, we won a competition with Missy Elliott at Howard University. Competitions, as mentioned above, have gained us more press and more respect in the arts world. By High School,  the stats became higher.  It was time to train more intensively.  I danced for years with the Suitland Highs Visual and Performing Arts Dance Program and worked with the all-talented Mya' Harrison on a few projects. Dancing outside of school with Umoja and dancing in school was cool, but not without cheerleading. As a Suitland High School cheerleader, we attended two Bird Stadium Football Championships and won local cheer competitions. After high school,  Johnson C. Smith University was I joined their cheerleading squad, and band majorette team, and pledged to a sorority with good grades. While there we won two CIAA Basketball Championships with the JCSU Basketball team and made a big noise with the school's Luv A Bulls team in cheerleading by becoming the first African American all-girls team to win in a national cheerleading competition. We were featured in magazines, on TV, and radio, etc. In recent years. I dance for Wizards dance team, short-lived but worth it.  I performed with the Katherine Smith Dance Ensemble for two years with the adult company. Taught locally for years, and I still take classes when I can. I studied abroad at the NYC Broadway dance center, and The Alvin Ailey summer workshops. My career involves, a host of master classes with Savion Glover and more! Had a modeling job in the video "Hell of a Night" with School Boy Q, carried equipment for the Go-Go Band EU, and have worked with Diddy, Musiq Soulchild, and Tupac Shakur! I Teach, organize, and promote, with The National Parks and Planning Commission as a Production Manager and Hostess for the annual Meet and Greet of Miss Wheelchair Pageant Contestants. Now, I am presently working with the Joy of Motion staff as a front desk associate, teacher artist, and camp counselor.

Whitney Brown, teaching artist

Whitney Leigh Brown aka Rue Brown was born and raised in Washington D.C. where she received most of her early training in Dance. She is a graduate of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Whitney has studied with Dance Theater of Harlem, Washington Ballet, and Dance Institute of Washington, and Alvin Ailey. She continued her studies at the Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase College. Ms. Brown has also had the opportunity to work with some of the best choreographers in the world such as Debbie Allen, George Faison and Desmond Richardson as well as various hip-hop choreographers such as Jamal Sims and Rosero, Laurianne, and Soraya Lundy. In 2003, she joined her first company, Creative Outlet Dance Theater. Ms. Brown's film credits include Step Up, HAIRSPRAY, Big Momma's House: Like Father, Like Son and FOOTLOOSE, and ANNIE. She has also performed in the musical theater production Lost & Found as well as the 1st National tour of the Broadway production of MEMPHIS. Her performance experience includes a host of international dance festivals, concerts, and music videos. She has instructed international Hip-hop workshops in Poland and with Russia's Open Look Festival. As a soloist, Whitney performed with contemporary ballet company Ballet Noir for two seasons as a soloist. She is also an accomplished singer and songwriter and has performed in the Jamaican Jazz and Blues Festival, and a host of other festivals and venues across NYC. She has performed with the tour of Broadway production FELA! since 2016, and has performed on live shows such as the VMA Awards with Beyonce, Oprah, The Today Show, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and Samantha Bee. Ms. Brown is currently teaching Ballet/Pointe classes at Duke Ellington school of the Arts, and recently joining Howard University in the Theater Arts/Dance faculty.