Our Story
In 2009, Jasper C. Reed became the Dance Coordinator for Proviso West High School’s Diamond Dancers Dance Team, which is the auxiliary dance team for the school’s marching band and the team naturally acquired a dance style that pays tribute to the dance style traditionally performed by dance teams at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). In an effort to desegregate the HBCU style of dance from that of industry professionalism, Reed founded The Diamond MVMT dance company in 2017.
Through his own dedication and tenacity, Reed established a platform for The Diamond MVMT that is distinguishable across the country. After over 14 years of creative directing in Chicago, Reed began to notice that there was a lack of visibility, suitable platforms, and resources specifically for dance artists of color in Chicago, Illinois. In response to that need, Reed founded The MVMT Foundation in 2022 to help bridge the gap between persons of color and accessibility to industry standard dance training and exposure.
About Us
The MVMT Foundation (501c3) is a dance organization dedicated to utilizing dance to build community, camaraderie, and connections among Black and Brown artists throughout the Midwest. Our vision is for Chicago to be illuminated as one of the nation’s premier locations for dance training, dance instruction, and dance performance. We aim to captivate the dance industry and generate feasible career opportunities for aspiring dance professionals regardless of cultural background, racial inequities, or ethnicity.
Organization Objectives
Provide support for aspiring dance artists, including scholarships and access to education and professional resources,
Coordinate events and programs that are pertinent to the mission of the organization,
Utilize the dance and artistic performance to strengthen diversity, promote equity, and illustrate inclusion throughout the Chicago community
What We Offer
Community Events
The MVMT Foundation hosts a variety of events centered around and highlighting the unique diversity of Chicago dance artists. One of the foundation’s most popular events is the MVMT Dance Festival (MDF). MDF is an annual event that unifies Chicagoland dancers and ensembles on one stage, where they can freely express their style of movement publicly for the entire community to appreciate.
Dance Training & Masterclasses
We pride ourselves on the in-depth dance training we provide through our in-studio dance company and masterclasses, not in the city of Chicago but across the country. The Diamond MVMT dance company provides a low-barrier safe space, for girls and women, to bond socially, release emotionally, and express creativity through various styles of dance. Originating in Chicago, The Diamond MVMT expanded to Cleveland, Ohio in 2019 in partnership with Buck Out Cleveland. This partnership also birthed Away Dance Camp (ADC) in 2022.
Aside from the devotion and development dancers within the company receive, we continue to offer community masterclasses taught not only by MVMT affiliated dance instructors, but professional dancers and choreographers as well. Ashley Everett, Kiira Harper, Kaylenn Harris, and Kayla Fardo are just a few dance industry choreographers and performers that have partnered with us to provide high quality training and exposure to attendees.
Accessibility to Resources & Connections
Our most valuable objective is to provide support for aspiring dance artists, including scholarships and access to education and professional resources. Our internship program is one way we develop creatives within our community and prepare them for real-life artistic experiences. In addition to real-world experience, we understand that real-world circumstances can hinder the continuation of dance training and growth within the arts. The MVMT Dance Fund is a scholarship program funded by the support of monetary donations and local grants to assist with providing financial support to dancers in families in need.
Join Our Board of Directors
We are continuously accessing the needs and wants of the Chicago dance community. Guidance from Chicago locals, industry and business professionals, and supporters of the arts helps us move our organization forward. Please consider supporting us by joining our Board of Directors. Click the button below to complete an interest form.
MVMT Testimonies
Our foundation has truly made an impact for several young ladies, adults, and parents. Please take a moment to review their unique experiences below. As you can see, the MVMT is rooted in sisterhood.
