Jean Appolon Expressions (JAE)

We'd like to extend our gratitude to for a fantastic week of JAE in Martha's Vineyard!

Thank you to our incredible JAE Team on the ground, our dedicated Professional Company dancers, for a beautiful collaboration, and to our JAE Community for participating! We cannot wait to reconnect back in Massachusetts in the fall.

Stay connected with us here for updates from the DR for our Summer Dance Institute! 💃

Earlier this week JAE and Native Earth Teaching Farm held a drum circle to kick off our residency with !

We are so excited to perform TOMORROW June 28th at the MV Performing Arts Center!

Tickets can be found on our website!

JAE will be performing on Friday, June 28th at the MV Performing Arts Center for our residency with !

JAE will partner with Haitian electronic music composer, drummer, and turntablist Val Jeanty, also known as Val-Inc. A professor at Berklee College of Music and 2024 United States Artist Fellow, Jeanty is a pioneer of the electronic music sub-genre called Afro-Electronica (also called “Vodou-Electro”), incorporating Haitian Folkloric Culture with digital instrumentations, creating a dream-like expressionism of Afro-Electronica Soundscapes.

Jeanty & JAE will present a medley of three stirring pieces from their repertoire: Black is Black, an improvisational performance featuring Haitian folkloric rhythms and dance; Traka, meaning “troubles” in Haitian Kreyòl, explores how dance, culture, and community are pathways to healing for victims of traumatic events; and a new piece in development called Pouvwa, meaning empowered.

Get your tickets on our website at the link in our bio!

Photo Credit: Julia Cumes

Our JAE Community Dancers were incredible in their performance this month at Cambridge Arts River Festival! We are so grateful for this vibrant and passionate community that continues to share the healing powers of Haitian Folkloric Dance.

Until next time! 💃

Join us on Wednesday, June 26th for a Public Workshop with from 11 am - 12:30 pm at the Vineyard Arts Project in Edgartown!

JAE works with students of all movement backgrounds, exploring dance as a form of communication and connection, focused on the universal benefit of moving together and expressing oneself from the inside out. This class blends Haitian folkloric and Afro-contemporary techniques and is accompanied by live drummers. Participants experience several different rhythms from Haitian Folklore, including Yanvalou, Ibo, Mayi, Kongo, and Nago.

You have one more chance to dance with Jean and the JAE Team before we head to the DR in July!

We are thrilled to have our last Haitian Folkloric Dance class of the Summer on June 22nd, 1:30 - 3:00 PM at The Dance Complex.

We ask that participants wear white to show their love to Haiti and spread hope for peace to the communities JAE holds dear to our hearts.

Register in advance for this special class on our website!

JAE's Residency with The Yard begins next week! JAE will be in residency teaching class and performing with Val Jeanty at The Yard in Martha's Vineyard.

JAE will partner with JAE Musical Director and Haitian electronic music composer, drummer, and turntablist Val Jeanty, also known as Val-Inc. A professor at Berklee College of Music and 2024 United States Artist Fellow, Jeanty is a pioneer of the electronic music sub-genre called Afro-Electronica (also called "Vodou-Electro"), incorporating Haitian Folkloric Culture with digital instrumentations, creating a dream-like expressionism of Afro-Electronica Soundscapes.

Jeanty & JAE wil present a medley of three stirring pieces from their repertoire on June 28th:

Black is Black, an improvisational performance featuring Haitian folkloric rhythms and dance; Traka, meaning "troubles" in Haitian Creole, explores how dance, culture, and community are pathways to healing for victims of traumatic events; and a new piece in development called Pouvwa, meaning empowered.


Photo Credit: Olivia Moon Photography

There is just one class left of African Dance Workout with Bisi until the JAE Team heads to the DR for July! Don't miss your chance to take class by signing up in advance on our website.

In this hour-long class, you will get a great cardio warm-up through African dance movements and be guided through a series of stretches and strength-building exercises. Class will finish with a combination for all to learn and dance together.

Dancers of all backgrounds and experience levels are welcome!



Photo Credit: Olivia Moon

Meet Emily, JAE's Intern!

Emily is joining us from Vanderbilt University for the Jean Appolon Expressions Summer Learning Intensive pilot, June 13-16. Emily will shadow JAE staff and help with this weekend's events to get an inside look at the world of Arts Administration. Emily was awarded funding from Vanderbilt University to make this possible. If you see Emily at a JAE event this weekend, please say hello! Welcome, Emily, we are thrilled to have you!

Emily Feingold-Fisher (she/her) is a rising senior at Vanderbilt University majoring in English and Secondary Education with a minor in Theatre Design and Technical Production. She is from Skokie, Illinois, and spent her childhood and high school years dancing at a variety of studios in the Chicagoland area. She is currently the Co-President of Vanderbilt VIBE, one of Vanderbilt’s hip hop companies, as well as a choreographer for Tap That, Vanderbilt’s tap dance organization. She has been performing and training in hip hop for 14 years and always enjoys training in and learning any style of dance! At Vanderbilt, she is employed as a carpenter in the Vanderbilt University Theatre and she has also worked as the Assistant Technical Director for a variety of productions. She is passionate about how dance can create community and connection, as well as the technical aspects of bringing a dance to life. Emily is so excited to be a part of the JAE Learning Intensive and greatly admires the work of everyone involved in JAE.

Although there is no Haitian Folkloric Dance this week, you have one more chance to dance with Jean, Raphaëlle, and the JAE Team before we head to the DR in July!

We are thrilled to welcome back Raphaëlle François, JAE's Outreach and Creative Arts Manager to co-teach Jean's Haitian Folkloric Dance class on June 22nd, 1:30 - 3:00 PM at The Dance Complex.

We ask that participants wear white to show their love to Haiti and spread hope for peace to the communities JAE holds dear to our hearts.

Register in advance for this special class on our website!

Our Fundraiser with Lamplighter CX is this weekend on June 15th! Grab your tickets now at the link in our bio and join us for a night of fundraising, community connection, and performances to support JAE’s dance education programs for youth in the Greater Boston area.

Find more information on our website!

Photo: Olivia Moon Photography

There's just a few classes left of African Dance Workout with Bisi until the JAE Team heads to the DR for July! Don't miss your chance to take class by signing up in advance on our website.

In this hour-long class, you will get a great cardio warm-up through African dance movements and be guided through a series of stretches and strength-building exercises. Class will finish with a combination for all to learn and dance together.

Dancers of all backgrounds and experience levels are welcome!



Photo Credit: Olivia Moon

JAE's Summer Dance Institute in the DR is fast approaching! For the month of July, the JAE team will be making their way to the DR for our free youth programming. This programming for young JAE students was made possible from our generous donors and community members like you! Stay connected with us here on social media to get all the updates from our trip to the DR!

You have two incredible opportunities to connect with your JAE Community next weekend! Join us on June 15th at both the Charles River Festival to watch our community dancers perform at 12:30 PM and 3:30 PM, and our JAE Fundraiser at Lamplighter CX at 6:30 PM!

We can't wait for a day of performance, reflection, and hope with our JAE Family. Register now for these events on our website!

There are only a few more chances to dance with JAE in Jean's Haitian Folkloric Dance class before we head to the DR for our Summer Dance Institute. Register in advance and stay connected with us on social media to be in the know on all things JAE for this summer. 🌴

1:30pm – 3:00pm
The Dance Complex Studio 3
536 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA, 02139
United States

Get your workout in at Bisi's African Dance Workout class this Monday!

In this hour-long class, you will get a great cardio warm-up through African dance movements and be guided through a series of stretches and strength-building exercises. Class will finish with a combination for all to learn and dance together.

Dancers of all backgrounds and experience levels are welcome!

Join JAE this weekend for Jean's Haitian Folkloric Dance class! We can't wait to see you!

Register for class in advance on our website!

1:30pm – 3:00pm
The Dance Complex Studio 3
536 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA, 02139
United States

JAE Family~

We have an exciting class planned for June! We are thrilled to welcome back Raphaëlle François, JAE's Outreach and Creative Arts Manager to co-teach Jean's Haitian Folkloric Dance class on June 22nd, 1:30 - 3:00 PM at The Dance Complex.

We ask that participants wear white to show their love to Haiti and spread hope for peace to the communities JAE holds dear to our hearts.

Register in advance for this special class on our website!

Dear JAE family,

We want to keep you informed regarding matters close to our hearts. Due to the ongoing social and political unrest and security issues in Haiti, we will not be able to lead the Summer Dance Institute in Okap this year. This decision prioritizes the safety of participants who live in Haiti, our partners there, and the JAE team.

JAE will be lengthening its programming in Santo Domingo for both Dominican and Haitian youth and adults. We also plan to lead additional programming in Boston for Haitian refugees this summer and fall when the team returns. JAE is keeping a very close eye on the current situation in Haiti and plans to return as soon as possible to lead our free programming.

If you know of any opportunities where JAE can work with Haitian refugees and community members in the Boston area, please let us know. We are eager to expand our reach and provide support wherever we can. We continue to stand strong in our pillar of Kiltirèl Conexiones (Cultural Connections), using dance to highlight our shared connections and foster hope for a bright, new future.

With love,
Jean and the JAE team

Photo Credit: Nadia Todres

Ready for Jean's Haitian Folkloric Dance class this Saturday at The Dance Complex? We are too!

Register for class in advance on our website!

1:30pm – 3:00pm
The Dance Complex Studio 3
536 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA, 02139
United States

WE DID IT! We met our fundraising goal for this year's Summer Dance Institute!

To our community,

We are overjoyed and filled with immense gratitude to announce that we have reached our fundraising goal for the Summer Dance Institute! This is truly incredible—our community came together in such a powerful way, and we couldn't have done it without each and every one of you.

Your generosity has helped us raise a total of $100,000! A special thank you to Movement Arts Creation Studio (MACS) and the Social Equity Access Fund for their generous matching gifts. And a heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who contributed—your donations, big or small, made a monumental difference.

Your contributions will enable young dancers to foster connections, build resilience, and heal from trauma through the transformative power of dance.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for being a part of this journey and helping us achieve this remarkable goal. We look forward to sharing incredible stories as the dance unfolds.

With gratitude,
Your JAE family

Photo Credit: Nadia Todres

Happy Haitian Flag Day JAE family! Celebrate with us tomorrow on May 19th at Port Arts Fest from 11 - 12:30 ! 🇭🇹

Join us for African Dance Workout this Monday with Bisi!

In this hour-long class, you will get a great cardio warm-up through African dance movements and be guided through a series of stretches and strength-building exercises. Class will finish with a combination for all to learn and dance together.

Dancers of all backgrounds and experience levels are welcome!

Happy Tuesday JAE Family! Do you have a favorite JAE Performance memory? Share with us below!

We can't wait to move together and witness more professional company performances through the rest of 2024!

Photo Credit: Wayne Lake

Last month, we had our second unforgettable The Natural Connection Experience retreat in the Dominican Republic. We are still glowing from the sunshine, community, dancing, nature, people, and so much more. Aventura Rincon Ecolodge (ARE) was our stunning retreat home and we look forward to next year's TNCE there from April 22nd to April 27th 2025!

JAE will be leading an Outdoor Class at Port Arts Festival on May 18th, 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM in honor of Haitian Flag Day! 🇭🇹

Port Arts Festival (formerly the Home Port Block Party) was established on June 15, 2018 as an annual community-wide event. It’s a celebration of the vibrancy of the Port community and of the families and neighbors who live here. The Port has historically been one of the most culturally rich and diverse areas in Cambridge. In the Port, one can overhear languages spoken from around the world, enjoy foods from every part of the planet, and see beautiful public murals that help to identify this unique stretch of neighborhood. Port Arts Fest is an opportunity to interact with our community through art-making, activities, music, and food. Three blocks of Windsor Street are closed down so that Community Art Center's Teen Public Art Crew can paint it’s Port Ground Mural, building on the national trend of establishing “neighborways” to increase physical safety in urban neighborhoods.
​​
We can't wait for community friends and supporters to swing through to enjoy
all of the activities and live art-making!