Grace A. Johnson-Wright is an accomplished dancer, studio owner, published choreographer, dance educator, movement and dance team coach, and artist developer. She is the founder, owner, and artistic director of Neema Dance Collective, located in Temple Hills, Maryland.
Grace’s love for dance began at the young age of 4 when she started training at RJV Dance Studio in Washington, DC. Over the course of 28 years, she has honed her skills at renowned institutions such as Suitland High School’s Visual Performing Arts Dance Program, The Christian Dance Academy, Dance Theater of Harlem, The Ailey School Summer Intensive Program, the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Maryland Youth Ballet, The Washington Ballet, and the Greensboro Ballet. During her journey, Grace has become proficient in various dance genres, including ballet, tap, jazz, folk, African, Hawaiian, modern, Horton Technique, ballroom, and hip-hop, and has obtained certifications in the Cecchetti method.
Grace’s passion lies in investing in the lives of other dancers. She teaches ballet, Pointe, and Jazz, and contributes to competitive dance choreography at several dance schools in the DMV area. Grace has received multiple prestigious choreography awards and is an award-winning competitive dance choreographer. She has also been honored with the Studio Of Excellence award.
She also serves as the Artistic Director/Creative Director and choreographer for local DMV R&B sensations and church Dance Ministries. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and a Masters Degree in Public Health from George Washington University.
Grace is a trailblazer, exhibiting tremendous leadership and determination not only for herself but for her students and faculty. She is a proud Tory Burch Foundation Entrepreneur, Tory Burch Fellow, and 2023 Women of Color Grant Recipient.
Grace mentions her inspiration behind the business name, “My daughter, Dawsyn was the inspiration behind Neema Dance Collective. The month after she was born, I knew that my time working in the corporate industry was coming to an end. My pay and position were cut just before I entered maternity leave and that gave me all the passion I needed to jump start my business back in 2016. Neema means Grace in the Swahili language.”
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