Ja’Moon and The Dancing Spirit, photo by Skye Varga
Javon ‘Ja’Moon’ Jones is a New York City-based performer, teacher, choreographer and creator whose work centers on themes of identity, storytelling, and collective healing. As the Resident Choreographer at Ballare Carmel (2024-present), Ja’Moon infuses his innovative vision into a variety of projects while continuing to develop solo works like The Ghetto Shaman: That Which Lurks in the Shadows. His performances have been featured at Institut Français Senegal, Navel.LA, and Arts on Site NYC.
Ja’Moon’s unique style blends physical theater and movement, drawing inspiration from recent performances in acclaimed productions like Sleep No More NYC and collaborations with artists such as Robert Moses and Kyle Abraham. Ja’Moon has taught workshops at Stanford University, ODC, and LINES Ballet.
His accolades include the Max Mara Young Visionary Award, a YoungArts Modern Dance Gold Medal, and a prestigious residency at École Des Sables, Sénégal. With an education from The Juilliard School and years of international performance experience.
The Ghetto Shaman: That Which Lurks in the Shadows The Ghetto Shaman: That Which Lurks in the Shadows is a visceral dance-theater work that delves into the mental and emotional landscape of the radical and wayward spirit. It explores themes of fragmentation, conjure, trance, and exhaustion as they manifest in the reckoning with social and political shadows.
“My creative history with New Dance Alliance goes a way long. Since my friend, Chivas Sandage brought me to New Dance Alliance to rehearse in early 90’s, the place has become a part of my creative life. The long time existence of the studio and Performance Mix Festival are vital to the artists who seek and explore deep into their process. Whenever I step into the studio, it’s a new space with a lot of memories. I lie down on the floor, listen to my body, and I dance. It is valuable. The time in the space nurtures my practice and artistic vision. Karen’s vision of Lift-Off residency, feedback sessions, providing peer to peer connections are more significant than ever. It has been helping us to get through 2020 and we are going into 2021.”
– Nami Yamamoto
New Dance Alliance
182 Duane Street
New York, NY 10013