Javon ‘Ja’Moon’ Jones is a conjurer of movement, channeling ancestral memory through ritual, dance theater, and immersive experiences. His work invites audiences into the liminal—where history, fabulation, and the present converge. Ja’Moon’s performances have spanned Senegal, NYC, Colorado, and California. He is the inaugural Resident Choreographer at Ballare Carmel. A Juilliard graduate, he has performed in Sleep No More NYC and danced works by Crystal Pite, Bill T. Jones, and Kyle Abraham, among others. Honored with the Max Mara Young Visionary Award, YoungArts Gold Medal, and a residency at École Des Sables, he continues to shape new futures through motion.
Ballet Nepantla
Ballet Nepantla originated from a series of pláticas between founders Andrea Guajardo and Martín Rodríguez, two artists whose early professional identities emerged from distinct genres: Andrea from classical ballet and contemporary dance, and Martin from traditional Mexican folklórico. They envisioned a new form of expression that fused the two modalities, and they envisioned an aesthetic that would speak to the historical, cultural, and social realities of a broader narrative of being Mexican, Mexican American, immigrant, and trans-cultural.
Drawing inspiration from Gloria Anzaldúa’s borderlands theory, Andrea and Martín imagined they could create performances that spoke to the “in-between” qualities of being from both sides of the borderland. They found the idea of Nepantla, a Nahuatl term of the indigenous people of Mexico. Nepantla provides a historical, intellectual, and artistic framework through which to explore the “in-between” spaces of history and culture by exploring new artistic expression that fuses different traditions on stage. Thus, Ballet Nepantla was born in January 2017.
“We believe in the inspirational power of the arts and fashion a journey that is ingeniously, socially and artistically transformative to best serve the world of excellence in dance.” Chiara Ajkun, Artistic Director.
The Ajkun Ballet Theatre is a vital part of New York City’s culture and thriving arts scene and has been a cornerstone of the American arts community since its founding in 2000. Our mission to promote dance is woven through the performances of the Ajkun Ballet Company.
Striving to enrich and preserve the dance heritage with its repertoire of new choreographies (The Originals) and traditional productions (The Classics), the company places great emphasis on the Dancers for it’s their passion and dedication that sustain the art of dance. Classic and Original Ballets are performed during our season in New York and on tours across the Globe. Summer tours for 2025 include Italy, Australia, Argentina and New York State.
