Our Mission. Our Vision.
Ngoma Center for Dance (N-Go-mah) is a 501(c)3 arts organization whose mission is to provide a conduit between multicultural dance artists and their enthusiasts, across generations and social classes, with a deeper understanding of the art of dance through intense community integration, inspirational performance, competitive training, and artist development.
Mission Vision
Our vision is to present a performing dance company known locally, nationally and internationally for its brilliance in contemporary ballet and innovative dance works; train all students with the utmost refinement and education best-practices, and to enrich the lives of communities through our love of dance, theatre, and events.
About Ngoma Center for Dance
History & Background
Since 2012, Ngoma Center for Dance (Ngoma) has been a cornerstone of the DC arts community, where music and dance unite to inspire creativity and foster community change. Ngoma believes that creativity is a powerful catalyst for community development and social justice.
Starting as Dissonance Dance Theatre (Founded by Ngoma’s Shawn Short in 2008), Ngoma’s journey began in a modest midtown DC dance studio, teaching aspiring dancers and students. In 2012, Short expanded his vision by incorporating Ngoma Center for Dance in 2012. Today, Ngoma manages DC’s only Black-led, nationally recognized Dissonance Dance Theatre, now a Resident Arts Partner at DC’s H Street Atlas Performing Arts Center. Ngoma’s programs impact over 600 residents annually, focusing on investing in developing equitable outcomes for Black and Brown communities.
Unique Value Proposition
Ngoma Center for Dance is the only Black-Led arts organization impacting the Greater Washington, DC, area through creative professional employment, standardized education, pro bono arts consultation, and research rooted in a culturally rooted African-American experience.
Inclusion, Cultural Empowerment, Artistic Excellence, Community Engagement, Human Relations, Technical Knowledge, Self-Confidence
Growing Through Creativity, While Improving Commerce Programs
The Ngoma School
Future Home: DC Flagship
Pro Bono Arts Services
Ngoma Film Works
Future: Joint BFA Program
The Ngoma School
Overview
Since 2014, The Ngoma School has “met youth where they are” in Washington, DC and Maryland by providing a hybrid educational approach (physical, written, communal), that informs and encourages the pursuit of post-secondary education, healthy living, mentorship, self-care, and life skill mastery.
Expression, Escapism, Enlightenment, Education
Many students come to the arts for varying reasons (expression, escapism, enlightenment, education).
Target Demographic Jobs Attained
• 200 Students, ages 5 - 17 years old
• Mainly Serving Black and Brown Communities
• Working to Middle Class Families
• Students who wish to study dance in a structured, professional environment
Ngoma Students have graduated and begun their careers at Dissonance Dance Theatre, Norwegian Cruise Ships, Broadway (Matilda, Spamalot), International Tour of Dream Girls, Fivetwodance (NYC), Carolyn Dorfman Dance
Ngoma student needs include safety, overall wellness (physical, psychological, spiritual), self-reflecting inspiration models, creativity/creative space, and new ideas or the chance to share their own. The Ngoma School utilizes the power of the dance, to develop students into better forms of themselves through classical and contemporary dance forms.
The Ngoma School’s Measurable Student Outcomes:
1. Translate French dance terminology to deepen comprehension
2. Gain an understanding of the entertainment industry and how it works
3. Use creativity in their everyday lives to solve solutions and handle conflict resolution
4. Learn healthy eating habits, and body conditioning as a life skill
5. Learn self-confidence, self-governance, and how to express themselves
Dissonance Dance Theatre
Overview
Hailed by Dance Spirit Magazine (NYC) as, “One of the 11 small-but-mighty dance companies outside of LA and NYC”, our award-winning Dissonance Dance Theatre (DDT) is the only nationally-recognized, Black-operated contemporary ballet company between New York City and Atlanta. More specifically, Dissonance Dance Theatre serves as a racially diverse platform that provides emerging and minority dance talent in the region the opportunity to launch their professional careers, consciously confronting the equitable complexities of working with, within, and for the African-American dance community.
Serving 600 patrons (and 18 artists) annually, DDT has impacted the lives of many DC region dance artists. DDT alumni have transitioned to national and international theatrical tours, notable TV and film work, UniverSoul Circus, Nexflix theatrical productions, and acclaimed companies domestic and abroad (Garth Fagan Dance, Dorfman Dance, Phoenix Dance Theatre, Philadanco, Virginia Ballet Theater, America’s Got Talent, and more).
Notable Venues Performed
New York City
*Brooklyn Arts Exchange
*Jazz@Lincoln Center Philadelphia
*Capital & Charm City Fringe Festivals
*Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
Washington, DC
*Dance Place
*Shakespeare TheaterSidney Harmon Hall
*US Conference on AIDS
*Lincoln Theater
*Howard University
Notable Collaborations
Maryland
*Public Playhouse
*The Clarice Performing Arts Center
• Netflix
• Cynthia Geffon (Superbowl Halftime Show)
• Washington Performing Arts (WPA)
Helping Each Other In The Community
Arts impact is not solely education and performance. We at Ngoma Center for Dance believe that creative economics and equitable realities reside hand in hand – becoming an essential path to arts ownership and equality for Brown and Black organizations.
Community Outreach
Providing more than 600 hours of pro bono arts consulting for the Black dance community locally and nationally, Ngoma Center for Dance has moved its provided communities towards a more equitable reality.
Ngoma Has Provided Services To:
Marymount Univ Architecture + Design (VA)
New School of Dance & Art (WDC)
Northeast Performing Arts Group (WDC)
PGCC’s Queen Anne Dance Programming (MD) Social Movement Contemporary Dance (Houston, TX)
The Arts Wing @ Maya (WDC)
UDC Prospecitve Dance Program (WDC)
Ngoma Center for Dance’s community presence can be observed across the Greater Washington, DC area, with community performances, news engagements, TV productions, special events, and workshops. Ngoma produced Ngoma Reader Magazine (DC only digital dance magazine from 2014 to 2016) showcasing the dance community. Ngoma has worked with dance and other creative partners in one-time performances and productions.
Ngoma has produced community performances at:
* Channel 9 Health Expo/Fox 5 Velocity Dance Festival
* DC DOH/Black Aid Institute Conference
* United States Conference on Aids
* Mandate/HRC: Male Wellness Conference
*Rayceen Pendarvis Show (MLK Library)
* Bohemian Caverns Jazz Club
*DCCAH Annual Report at Lincoln Theater
*Black Boys Scholarship Fund at Howard University
* Kwanza Celebration at MCC With DC Mayor Vincent Gray
Community Awards
*Washington CityPaper Best of Washington (Theater Nominee)
*Us Helping Us Inc Founder Award
Cultural Preservation and Education
Recording Our History
Ngoma Center for Dance is the sole DC organization with a substantial Black dance history timeline that is digitally available to the public.
With the extensive historical thesis work of Ngoma’s Founder, Shawn Short, DC now has a written history of DC Black dance from 1932 through 2016. The historical content is used in Ngoma School and community workshops to teach students the rich history and contribution of DC Black dancers, choreographers, teachers, and Directors.
Additionally, Ngoma erected the first regional Black dance festival - Black Dance Festival DMV - in 2019 to raise awareness and celebrate the region’s African-American dance sector. The festival paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is slated for revival in 2026, funding dependent.
Ngoma FilmWorks program, digitally launches local stories of history, communities, and dance itself through documentaries.
“With Mayor Bowser, erecting D.C. as a cultural city, we need to do our part to preserve and celebrate the voices of Black directors, choreographers, and dance artists.”
- Shawn Short, MFA
Performances and Events
Dissonance Dance Theatre - Season 17
Fall Forward - Oct 19th, 2024 - Atlas PAC (DC)
Winter Stories - Dec 8th, 2024 - Atlas PAC (DC)
Booking Dance Festival - Jazz @Lincoln Center (NYC)
Black Kinesphere - Jan 18th, 2025 - Atlas PAC (DC)
On The Porch - March 1st , 2025 - Atlas PAC (DC)
Performance Garage - March 22nd, 2025 - (Philly)
The Ngoma School
School Year Program Sept 2024 - May 2025
11th Annual Summer DanceLab June 2025 - July 2025
Financial Assistance Program
Situations happen in life, and we at the Ngoma Center for Dance are working to assist families in making quality dance training affordable. To build equitable opportunities for our underserved communities, the Ngoma Center for Dance provides four financial assistance programs (hardship, DC Dance Student, Military, and merit scholarship).
Community Programs
Ngoma Center for Dance diligently works to create spaces and opportunities for communities to learn through the art of dance. When permitted, we constantly develop our financial programs to fit the needs of our communities. Through generous donations from individual donors and grants from grantors, Ngoma assists families in sharing and experiencing dance.
Scholarships and Employment Opportunities
Ngoma Center for Dance – as a member of the International Association of Blacks in Dance – convenes with community members at the the annual conference. Continuing its legacy as the broadest international gathering of Black Dance professionals, agents, artistic directors, artists, choreographers, company managers, executive directors, historians, presenters, scholars, teachers, and many others, the IABD’s conference and festival remains the most diverse place to share ideas, cultures and experiences.
Ngoma Center for Dance provided more than 30 scholarships for youth dancers toward its Summer DancerLab program, and 9 professional dancer contracts for dancers of color.
Dissonance Dance Theatre
Company Roster 2024 - 2025
Paulina Alban
Cali, Colombia
Company Artist
Instituto Colombiano de Ballet
Joel Kioko
Kenya
Company Artist
English National Ballet
Daniel Artis
Washington, DC
DDT 11 Year - Veteran
Ngoma School Alumnus
Maurissa Powell
Madison, WI
Company Artist
Madison Ballet
Catherine Casey
Wilmington, DE
Apprentice
Ballet de Barcelona
Sarah Phillips
Norfolk, Va
Apprentice
Joffrey Ballet
Giovanne Frota
Brazil
Company Artist
Estúdio em Cena Dança
Kassi Tiedjens
Milwaukee, WI
Company Artist
Confluence Ballet
Skyy Twyman
Hyattsville Trainee
Ngoma School Alumnae
Educational Initiatives Educational Initiatives
Ngoma Center for Dance (Ngoma) believes that education is critical to the success of any student, especially a dancer. Ngoma has provided masterclasses and after-school enrichment programs in DC and Maryland. Through frequent communication with teaching staff regarding their school-year goals, Ngoma provides enrichment experiences to enhance what students are currently learning in classical ballet and modern dance.
Moreover, Ngoma has worked with 3rd party after-school activity providers (i.e., Flex Academies) as vendors to expand its impact across the region.
Lastly, Ngoma has provided free performances to 100 DC Public School students through Atlas Performing Arts Center.
Public School Systems Engaged
Prince George’s County, MD
Suitland High School for the Arts
Northwestern High School for the Arts
Montgomery County
Westbrook Elementary
Special Projects
Telling the stories of many who felt their stories of love, relationships, and community would never be heard, Dissonance Dance Theatre presented Black To Silver: A Black LGBT Experience from 2013 - 2017.
With support from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, HIV organization Us Helping Us, Joy of Motion Dance Center, Human Rights Campaign, and local artists and storytellers, the production became an annual mainstay, with audiences coming from New York City to Charlotte. The performance impacted 300 patrons annually.
Ngoma Founder Shawn Short, wanted to bring street performance (hip hop and vogue dance styles) to the stage with classical and contemporary ballet in a night of performance and artistic sharing. Me2018 was born.
The performance was presented at The Clarice Opera House (UMD) in collaboration with dance crews Phunktions and Culture Shock DC.
Ngoma’s Dissonance Dance Theatre completed the production with a mixed bill of dance works. The performance was supported by the UMD Theatre, Dance, and Design concentration, PG Park & Rec Cultural Heritage Dept, and CarMax Foundation. The performance impacted 400 patrons.
Black To Silver Me2018
Dance Medicine
To improve and standardize the health of our dance personnel, Ngoma Center for Dance has partnered with Performance Plus PT to provide physical therapy services to Dissonance Dance Theatre faculty and dancers.
Quantitative Data
- 127 World Premiere Dance Works
- 14,972 Patrons Served (MD,DC,VA,PA,WI)
Since 2008 2024
- 75 Company Artists & Apprentices Hired - 800 National/International Dancers Reached - 7k Followers: Facebook - 45.8 Followers: Instagram (Collectively) - 402K Unique Web Visitors
Ngoma’s Impact
Daniel Artis
A graduate of the Ngoma School (DDT’s official school), Daniel grew up in a single-mother household. A young man filled with dreams of dancing, Daniel didn’t want to go to college. Since his mother could not afford tuition for his dance training, Artis felt his dreams may not come true. Through the Ngoma School, Daniel gained essential skills, landing him an apprenticeship with Dissonance Dance Theatre, beginning his professional dancing dreams.
“Ngoma allowed me to see outside the DC area. It gave me friends and family, too. The skills I’ve learned here have given me the opportunity to guest perform, and meet my fiancée.” - Daniel A.
Testimonial
From High School to the World
William Wilson
After moving to DC as a student at Howard University, William was not adapting well. Howard University’s dance program didn’t accept minors at the time. Through community engagement, William discovered Ngoma. Through Ngoma’s male dancer training program at the time, William gained the technical prowess to refine his dance abilities, joining Dissonance Dance Theatre after an apprenticeship.
“Through my time in Dissonance Dance Theatre, I learned a lot about myself and how to use dance to bring calm to my life. Living with HIV, many stigmatized me, leaving me with shame. During our Black To Silver: A Black LGBT Experience, dance became the tool for my peace of mind and healing. Thank you, Ngoma ” - William W.
Testimonial
Dancing With HIV
Damon Foster
A Texan from Dallas and a college dropout with journalism experience, Damon discovered Ngoma Center for Dance’s social media and reached out. Knowing of his 33-year-old dancer status, he thought it was hopeless. Ngoma didn’t think so. Through mentorship and personal investment in Damon, Ngoma paid his travel, food, and housing expenses. Damon apprenticed and became a Soloist with DDT. Additionally, he became a writer in Ngoma’s magazine, Ngome Reader, and Ngoma’s first Communication Manager.
“My whole world changed for the better due to Ngoma and its Founder Shawn Short, I was lost and felt hopeless in TX. I truly found purpose here.” - Damon F.
Testimonial
A Late Start To The Dream
Sean Burns
A first-generation college graduate from a working-class family, Sean wanted to be a Broadway star. At the time, DC didn’t have many spaces for theatre artists to train intensively in dance. Sean furthered his dance understanding through Ngoma’s community dance workshops for boys. He received a DDT Apprenticeship, which led to stage experience and, ultimately, the skills he needed. Sean became the “Barnaby Tucker” and one of the lead characters on the 2019 Dolly national tour. He is now in the national tour of Wicked as “Boq”.
“My dream would never have come true without DDT, Ngoma, and Shawn Short. The Dolly audition alone proved that my Ngoma training afforded me the tool to pursue my professional theatrical dreams” - Sean B.
Testimonial
Tools for A Dream
Caitlin Granville
“You’re too tall, we have no work for you.” That was the reality for Caitlin. An emerging talent eager to start her career, she didn’t fit the type for many places. Ngoma’s Founder, Shawn Short, saw her potential and provided her with her first professional job. Caitlin performed on stage and TV. After five years with the company, she enjoyed a 10-year tenure with Virginia Ballet Theatre.
“Shawn will always be family to me. He saw my talent and ability when no one else did. The dance career I wanted came true. Thank you, Ngoma ” - Caitlin G.
Testimonial
They Saw Me
Olivia Crosby
In the early 2000s, DC had few professional dance opportunities for Black dancers. Olivia understood and experienced that. With a passion for dance, she auditioned for DDT. Through the mentorship of Founder Shawn Short, Olivia developed a love for theatre and film. After DDT, Olivia became a performer with UniverSoul Circus, a professional stuntwoman, an Actor on Netflix and ABC.
“I was so glad that DDT was around when it was. There weren’t many arts spaces that wanted someone who looked like me. Not only did I find a family, I also found purpose and a different vision I didn’t have before. Thank you, Ngoma” - Olivia C.
Testimonial
Black Girls Are Magic
Awards and Recognition
Dissonance Dance Theatre
“One of the 11 small-but-mighty dance companies outside of LA and NYC”
- Dance Spirit Magazine
Ngoma Center for Dance
Recognizd and worked with an array of distinguished partners and supporters, including:
• Netflix
• DC Mayor’s Office
• DC Commission on Arts & Humanities
• New York Foundation for the Arts
• United Way of the National Capital Area
• Carmax Foundation
• Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation
• Eugene M. Lang Foundation
• International Association of Blacks in Dance
• DC Black Fund
• PG County Arts & Cultural Heritage Division
• Brite Funds Foundation
• Actionsprout
- Washington Post
- Washington Post “Ambitious and Evoking”
“Incredibly connected emotional/physical choreography with stunning and engaging performers.” - Artists’ Bloc “...varied and entertaining”
- CriticalDance
“You name it, his dancers did it:Ballet! Hip Hop! Traditional African! Modern solos! There was no telling what was coming onstage each time the lights came up, but by golly, the dancers Short has working for him are good.”
“The company’s multi-racial makeup, youthful exuberance, and high quality professionalism, gives it a solid place as something to be proud of within the District dance scene.”
- DC Journalism Project
Founder Highlights
Shawn Short, MFA, PGC in Business Management
Howard University | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | University of Liverpool
1. A Princess Grace Award in Choreography Nominee – 2014 – Missouri Ballet Theatre
2. Black Enterprise Magazine (BE)” Modern Man 100 List of Extraordinary Men” Awardee (2016)
3. Dance Teacher Magazine, “ Dance Teacher of the Year” Nominee – 2021
4. Multi-Year Washington, DC Artist Fellow
5. Alan Cooper Leadership in the Arts Award – Nominee - 2021
By 44 Shawn Has:
1. Launched the only nationally-recognized Black-managed contemporary ballet company between NYC and ATL
2. Acquired $1.6 million towards Ngoma programming from 2012 – to 2022
3. Garnered $2.6 million collectively in in-kind service from community, businesses, and stakeholders
4. Created 120 dance works for Dissonance Dance Theatre
5. First toured Dissonance Dance Theatre at 30 years old
Ngoma Center for Dance operates through its small but mighty staff of full-time volunteers, part-time employees, and contractors.
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and Ngoma Center for Dance develops its team structure through professional development and development training to further increase the organization’s capacity.
We all believe in a creative vision that makes the world better through dance.
Together, Ngoma staff manage education programming, theatrical production, the back office, and the backstage.
Staffing And Volunteers
“Just their personal progression from within a year of them being here has been amazing.”
- Sherise Jenkins
Brooke & Bailey’s Mom
The Ngoma School Program
We believe in the power of creativity to harness job creation and education. We are changemakers who work with communities, customers, and anyone who wiggles their toes. The change of tomorrow begins today. Come grow with us. Arts reimagined.
Thank You For Your Time, We Appreciate It! Ngoma Center for Dance www.ngcfddt.org 202-540-8338
IG: Ngoma_DDTDC
FB: DDTNgoma