Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe Gonzalez, May-Lisa Chandler, and Diaman Wood.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
We (May-Lisa and Joe) started teaching in different schools and communities and we realize how many youths with so much talent could not afford to be a part of an organization to help further their growth in the Arts. So in 2011, we originally started the company for just teenagers who couldn’t really afford dance and started a company with just them. This involved training and performances. In 2013, As the youth started getting older and realize that they wanted to continue their growth in the arts and make a career out of it, and not only for the Youth, we were noticing that there were a lot of unemployed artists in the city of Boston so we started the first Company, our professional Company. Here we would offer a job for dancers to dance, rehearse, teach and also choreograph. Diaman Wood, who had joined us as a dancer, took interest in give young and old artist their own voice in dance, thus finding our youth companies in 2014. We all realized that we wanted to keep the cycle going and we noticed a lot more younger kids who wanted to dance from the age 12 and under. So our organization was really based off of what the community needed in the Arts and for those who couldn’t really afford it and those who really wanted to learn how to have arts in their life whether they pursued it or not. Today, all of our companies have either toured nationally and internationally to perform and share their voice with new audiences. Bands have become better human beings. Diaman Wood, May Lisa Chandler and Joe Gonzalez really take pride in the Mentorship the creates just good human beings and the dancers that learn how to share this passion and voice through movement.
Has it been a smooth road?
The road has been quite a struggle and continues to be but at the same time satisfying and rewarding. One of the biggest challenges is finance and locating a home to have this organization run. As an artist, another struggle for us was learning the method to running a business but quickly became accustomed to it. One of the smooth parts about this journey is the amount of support compassion and eagerness that we received from every dancer from every level and background that comes through our organization.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Jo-Mé Dance Arts Inc is a dance organization with different times companies for different levels which is different from being school. We offer dance in a professional setting and we try to emphasize technique and movement both as one and not just one or the other. Our goal is to specialize in creating humans with the ability to share their voice in the arts. To seek in bringing back the true feelings and passion in their own Arts. Some of the things that we are most proud of as a company would it be the kind-hearted human beings that come out of our organization. We may be known for being beautiful Movers but also as kind and open people. If anyone ever wanted to see Jo-Mé perform We have performances every year in Boston and other cities and one coming up at Boston University dance theater on September 16th 2017. That is open to the public.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
We believe that our city is definitely a good place to have our organization because Boston can use an art Organization for all backgrounds at an affordable price because the Arts not only creates culture but it helps improve our personal life no matter what field we are in. We would absolutely recommend starting an organization like ours here to create more resources, our only hesitation would be the struggle to find funding in creating an organization such as this one, as we still struggle ourselves to seek financial support.
Pricing:
- INTRINSIC by Jo-Mé Dance Theatre: (Sept 16t). $15-25
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jo-medance.com
- Email: info@jo-medance.com
- Instagram: @jo_me_dance
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/JoMeDance/
- Twitter: @jo_medance
Image Credit:
Aura Jakiz Ortiz and Amara Dailey
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