Joye Thomas (she/her)

Joye Thomas is an accomplished dance teacher, choreographer, and dancer from the Washington DC Metropolitan area. Her decades of experience and dance journey began with the Fairfax Ballet under the guidance of Illona and Thomas Russell, who themselves graduated from The Julliard School and danced with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet. Her other teachers danced with prestigious companies such as the Joffrey Ballet and Ballet Austin. Joye pursued her formal dance education at Point Park University and Virginia Commonwealth University, where she majored in dance.

Renowned for her innovative approach, Joye has earned numerous awards for choreography from arts organizations and dance competitions. She specializes in teaching advanced ballet, contemporary, jazz, and tap, striving to elevate each student she mentors. Throughout her career, Joye has benefited from guidance and mentorship from notable figures in the dance world, including Melanie Lalande, former artistic director for "Love" by Cirque du Soleil.
​Joye's dedication to education is reflected in the success of her students, many of whom have pursued professional dance careers—from cruise ships to Broadway. Her influence extends to those enrolled at esteemed institutions such as Point Park University and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Additionally, her students have achieved recognition on dance teams like the University of North Carolina: Charlotte Gold Dusters and the Virginia Commonwealth University Gold Rush Dancers.

Her performances, including "Sky Warriors" at the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival and the Curefest 2015 Flash Mob on the National Mall, showcase her passion and creativity in dance. In addition to her teaching and choreography, Joye has danced in works by acclaimed choreographers such as Twitch, Tony Powell, and Lucy Bowen-McCauly. Recently, she was selected to star in a tourism commercial for the City of Fredericksburg, highlighting her versatility and artistry in the dance world. For the past 17 years, Joye has been pioneering her own dance technique. Recognizing a gap between competition choreography and the necessary foundational education, she developed what she has informally named Articulation Technique. This method aims to condition dancers' bodies for innovative movement that diverges from traditional modern, jazz, or ballet techniques.