About Us
The story of two interconnected institutions — Ngoma Center for Dance and Dissonance Dance Theatre — built from the ground up in Washington, DC to serve Black and Brown artists, families, and communities.
Our Story
Named "One of the 11 small-but-mighty dance companies outside of LA and NYC" by Dance Spirit Magazine.
Dissonance Dance Theatre
Dissonance Dance Theatre (DDT) is a Washington, DC-based professional dance company founded in 2007 by Shawn Short. As the Resident Ballet of Ngoma Center for Dance, DDT is the only Black-managed, nationally recognized contemporary ballet company between New York City and Atlanta.
DDT presents innovative dance works rooted in the African American contemporary modern tradition — blending ballet, modern, and jazz with cultural storytelling. The company has performed in 9 states and 2 countries, earning recognition from Dance Spirit Magazine as one of America's essential small companies.
This season, DDT celebrates 20 years with three world premieres at the Publick Playhouse and Atlas Performing Arts Center — marking two decades of breaking barriers, developing artists, and centering Black concert dance in the nation's capital.
Ngoma Center for Dance
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose name — Ngoma (N-Go-mah) — comes from the Bantu word meaning "drum," representing the heartbeat of community.
Ngoma Center for Dance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to cultivate equitable opportunities and creative career pathways through professional training, essential performance, and entrepreneurship development. As a vital bridge between multicultural dance artists and their communities, Ngoma fosters artistic excellence across generations and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Ngoma serves as the parent organization and home to Dissonance Dance Theatre, The Ngoma School, and a portfolio of programs designed to support artists, educate youth, and preserve the cultural legacy of Black concert dance in Washington, DC and beyond.
As a six-figure-budget organization founded in community, grounded in excellence, and built to last — Ngoma represents a new model for Black-led arts institutions: one that operates with the discipline of a professional company and the heart of a community organization.
To be a catalyst for equitable change in the dance industry by:
- Presenting a performing dance company known locally, nationally, and internationally for artistic excellence in contemporary ballet and innovative dance works
- Providing world-class dance education and professional development that creates pathways to creative entrepreneurship, particularly for underserved communities
- Building sustainable community partnerships that expand access to dance training, performance opportunities, and arts administration careers for Black and Brown artists
- Fostering the next generation of dance leaders through culturally responsive education, mentorship, and business development programs that strengthen the creative economy
- Preserving and celebrating Black dance history while innovating new models for equitable arts ownership and representation
Dissonance Dance Theatre is the resident professional ballet company — the flagship artistic program.
The Ngoma School, Artist Incubator, FilmWorks, and community programs operate as program arms of Ngoma.
Our Values
Every design and communications decision flows from our foundational beliefs about culture, community, and the transformative power of Black concert dance.
Every program is designed with structural equity — not charitable accommodation. Belonging is built into how we operate, from tuition assistance to programming access.
We exist specifically to affirm Black and Brown identity — in every classroom, on every stage, and through every piece of programming.
We hold ourselves and our artists to the highest standard — with world premieres, original scores, nationally recognized productions, and rigorous pre-professional training.
Our work is not observed from a distance — it invites people in. Talkbacks, open rehearsals, school partnerships, and outreach are core to what we do.
Artists, families, and patrons are treated as peers — not audiences to be managed or demographics to be served.
We document, preserve, and build — because Black artistic culture deserves institutions that endure beyond any single season or leader.
Artistic Team
The people who build the work, develop the artists, and hold the vision.
Founding Artistic Director of both Ngoma Center for Dance and Dissonance Dance Theatre. Former Faculty, Washington Ballet. Former Soloist, El Teatro de Danza Contemporánea El Salvador. Bolton/Smith · KT Dance. Principal Choreographer & Fight Choreographer, Folger Theatre's Julius X. Post-Graduate Certificate in Business.
Full bio
DDT Resident Choreographer and Guest Choreographer for Road of Angled Turns. Dallas Black Dance Theatre commission at Publick Playhouse. A trusted artistic voice in Ngoma's creative ecosystem, Kareem brings contemporary vision to the company's expanding repertoire.
Full bio
Technical Director and Lighting Designer for all Ngoma Center and Dissonance Dance Theatre productions. Chris's lighting design has shaped the visual identity of DDT's performances across two decades of world premieres.
Full bioOur History
From a single vision in Washington, DC to a nationally recognized institution — two decades in the making.
Shawn Short founds Dissonance Dance Theatre in Washington, DC with a mission to center Black concert dance in the nation's capital. The company presents its first season, establishing a new voice in the DC dance community.
Dissonance Dance Theatre premieres in New York City at Brooklyn Arts Exchange, marking the company's first major out-of-market presentation and signaling its arrival on the national dance scene.
Ngoma Center for Dance is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, providing DDT with an institutional home and launching community programming, youth education, and artist development programs across the DMV.
Dance Spirit Magazine names DDT one of "11 small-but-mighty dance companies outside of LA and NYC" — placing the company in national conversation alongside the most respected emerging companies in American dance.
DDT Principal Choreographer Shawn Short collaborates with Super Bowl Choreographer Cynthia Margeaux and dancers during the United States Conference on AIDS 2017, bringing dance to one of the nation's most significant public health platforms.
Dissonance Dance Theatre performs at the Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center — one of New York City's most prestigious performance venues — bringing DDT's contemporary ballet vision to a landmark national stage.
Ngoma organizes the inaugural Black Dance Festival DMV — the first regional festival of its kind in the DC metro area, celebrating the full spectrum of Black concert dance tradition and innovation.
Dissonance Dance Theatre premieres in Philadelphia at the Kimmel Center during the International Association of Black Dance Conference 2020, performing alongside the nation's leading Black dance companies.
DDT Founding Producing Director Shawn Short works with Netflix to cast The Queen's Ball: A Bridgerton Experience. DDT dancer Daniel Moore is selected, bringing Ngoma's artist development work directly to one of streaming's most celebrated productions.
Shawn Short serves as Principal Choreographer and Fight Choreographer for Folger Theatre's Julius X — a reimagining of Julius Caesar set in contemporary Washington, DC, bringing DDT's movement language to one of the city's most prestigious stages.
DDT marks twenty years with three world premieres — Through the Dark, The Light Beckons at Publick Playhouse, Until Love Comes Knockin' at Atlas Performing Arts Center, and Road of Angled Turns — a NEFA National Dance Project touring production co-choreographed with Kareem B. Goodwin with an original score by Michael Simmons.
Where our artists go
DDT alumni have gone on to perform with some of the world's most recognized dance companies. Their careers are proof of the caliber of artist development that happens inside Ngoma's walls — and a testament to the standard set by Shawn Short and the DDT creative team.
Meet the CompanyOur Impact
Help us dance forward.
Your gift sustains professional artists, keeps youth tuition affordable, and preserves the legacy of Black concert dance in Washington, DC. Every donation to Ngoma Center for Dance is tax-deductible and directly supports our programs, artists, and community.