Joya Powell facts for kids

Joya Powell (born January 15, 1979, in Manhattan) is a famous choreographer, teacher, and activist. She won a special award called the Bessie Award. Joya Powell started her own dance group called Movement of the People Dance Company. She is known for making dance shows that talk about important topics like fairness and race.

Joya Powell's Early Life and Learning

Joya Powell grew up in Harlem, a neighborhood in Manhattan. Her mother was from Jamaica, and her father was Jewish. When she was young, Joya learned to play the violin at The Harlem School of The Arts. She also studied dance at Dance Theatre of Harlem.

After high school, Joya went to Columbia University. She studied Latin American history and creative writing there. Later, she earned a master's degree in dance education from NYU Steinhardt School.

Studying Dance and Culture Abroad

While at Columbia, Joya lived in Salvador Bahia, Brazil for two years. She wanted to learn more about different cultures. After college, she went back to Brazil for two more years.

In Brazil, she worked with a famous Afro-Brazilian Carnival group called Ilê Aiyê. She helped them as a translator and photographer. Their teachers taught her Samba Afro and dances of the Orixás. She also learned how art can be used to make a difference. This experience taught her a lot about using dance for social change.

Starting a Dance Company

Later, while studying at NYU, Joya learned about a peaceful protest group. They were called Las Madres de La Playa de Mayo from Argentina. This group inspired her to start her own activist dance company. She named it Movement of the People Dance Company (MOPDC). Through MOPDC, Joya wanted to share stories of people who didn't have a way to express themselves.

Joya Powell's Career in Dance

Even though people said Joya was a "radiant performer," she chose to create her own dance work. She wanted to make dances that focused on important social issues. She built her dance company in New York. Her choreography has been shown at many famous places. These include BAAD!, Bryant Park, and Lincoln Center.

Award-Winning Choreography

In 2016, Joya Powell became very well-known for her piece called Song And Dance You. This dance directly talked about the Black Lives Matter movement. Because of her strong work on justice and race, she won a Bessie Award in 2016. This award was for "Outstanding Emerging Choreographer."

Besides her own dance shows, Joya has also choreographed many plays. Her work in theater is often praised, especially in The NYTimes. She has choreographed plays like Job and The Trojan Women.

Teaching Dance and Art

Joya Powell is also a respected teacher. She has taught as a guest artist and lecturer at many well-known schools. Some of these include Pennsylvania State University, Teacher's College, Columbia University, and NYU. Currently, she teaches at Hunter College and SUNY Old Westbury. She also continues to create new dance pieces.

Joya Powell's Personal Life

Joya Powell is the third of four children in her family. She has two sisters and one brother. Her mother is Jo-Ani Johnson, who is known for her tea knowledge, style, and modeling.