Jean Appolon Expressions Dance Center
A New Home for Dance is NOW OPEN in Nubian Square
“Having a physical home for JAE means our wildest dreams are coming true. We’ll have space to be more creative than ever before! I want to invite our entire community to come to our new home, savor the space, and dance with us every day!”
2153 Washington Street, Nubian Square, Roxbury, MA
Welcome to the Future Home of
The JAE Dance Center in Nubian Square!
An Historic Milestone:
JAE is thrilled to announce the development of our first permanent home in Boston! Thanks to the support from the City of Boston, Barr Foundation, MCC Cultural Facilities Fund, and Shlomo Fund, we fitted out a 2,846-square-foot ground floor retail space at 2153 Washington Street into a new dance studio and performance space in the heart of Roxbury’s vibrant Nubian Square.
A Cultural Haven and Hub:
The JAE Dance Center is a haven for people of Haitian and afro-Caribbean descent, and a hub for people of all backgrounds to visit Nubian Square. It's a place where JAE will develop new programs and foster partnerships with like-minded local organizations that'll boost the health and well-being of our community.
Strategic Location for Greater Accessibility:
Nestled in Nubian Square, JAE Dance Center offers easy access for residents across Boston. Our proximity to the beloved Haley House Bakery & Café opens doors for exciting partnerships that further enrich the community. Although Roxbury will be our primary base, JAE will continue to serve the Cambridge area, ensuring that our broader community remains connected to our programs.
Take a Look at our New Studio!
We invite you to share this transformative space with hope and joy that our new home represents for all of us at JAE.
Our Future at Nubian: JAE Dance Center Programs
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Take an expanded suite of community dance classes, JAE youth programs, and guest artist classes with JAE and our partners!
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Watch the company, youth, and JAE Community Dancers rehearse — or book the space for your own company's rehearsals.
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Enjoy performances, showcases, fundraisers, and community events in JAE Dance Center. Maximum occupancy is 80-100 people.
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Partner with JAE, joining Haley House, Children's Services of Roxbury, the Haitian immigrant community, and Boston Public Schools to offer programming to your constituents.
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JAE seeks to nurture the Nubian Square community by developing deeper relationships with select individuals and companies to be in residence at JAE Dance Center where they can have consistent access to the space.
2153 Washington Street, Nubian Square, Roxbury, MA
JAE Dance Center is Available for Community Use
Marley dance floor
Mirrors
State of the art sound system
2,846 square foot storefront space
Comfort + Style
How to get to JAE DANCE CENTER
at 2153 Washington Street, Nubian Square, Roxbury, MA
Nubian Station
3 Minutes walking distance (.3 miles) from buses SL4, SL5, #1, #8, #14, #15, #19, #23, #28, #41,#42, #44, #45, #46, #47, #66, #171
Orange Line - Ruggles
10 Minutes walking distance (.7 miles) from Ruggles T stop
Orange Line - Roxbury Community College
15 Minutes walking distance (1 miles) from RCC stop
I-93 North/South
10 minutes drive from Exit 18, VERY limited on street parking
Parking
Bike racks are available on the street.
Car parking is also available on Washington street, and there is free parking in the Blaire lot which can be accessed via a driveway on Harrison Street. There is also parking behind the building (via a driveway next to the office) for Haley House and the liquor store which is recommended only for short visits like pick-up and drop-off.
“Rarely does a project provide such a multitude of positive benefits for the community—Passive House affordable apartments, homeownership and workspace opportunities for artists, an art gallery, retail, and a new home for Jean Appolon Expressions and Haley House Bakery & Café.”