Sylvana Christopher

Teaches at Joy of Motion Dance Center

Sylvana Christopher is a native Washingtonian, choreographer, performer, and teacher. She teaches adult modern and Afrobeat at JOMDC, and has taught for several local schools including Holton-Arms, Lowell, Mundo Verde, Sidwell Friends, St. Coletta, and at Wolf Trap. A graduate of Ohio State University, Sylvana holds a BFA in Performance and Choreography. She trained at The Washington School of Ballet and has danced professionally with Bowen McCauley Dance Company, Rincones & Company Dance Theatre, Arts United of Washington, Gesel Mason, BosmaDance, Contradiction Dance, and Kate Jordan Dance. Abroad, Sylvana studied dance in Cuba, France, and Senegal and performed in Mexico and Germany. She co-founded Glade Dance Collective (gladedance.org) and is their Outreach Chair. “My advice is to move with people who inspire you to grow and in places where you feel free to move. Learn new styles as much as possible but always return to your base. Expand your dance vocabulary. Clarify your style and embrace what makes you both different and the same.”Photo: Daniel Nathan