Memphis Jookin Urban Ballet

This dance company, in 10 short years, has graced the big stage while maintaining a humility that keeps it rooted in the communities where it first started to blossom. MJ Urban Ballet, formerly UDIG Dance Academy, thrives primarily because of its organic ability to meet the needs of popular celebrity clients and also, the youth within the Greater Memphis communities.

Evolving to offer more classical training, performing art curriculum and multi-dimensional interdisciplinary endeavors, MJ Urban Ballet is forging a respected reputation for providing youth and young adults a plethora of opportunities to develop physically, culturally and socially. 

To date, the unique training offered by MJ Urban Ballet has provided professional dance instruction to over 7,500 youth and young adults in the south via the Shelby County Schools, the Boys & Girls Club of Memphis, St. Francis Catholic School, and Hutchison School. With appearances on So You Think You Can Dance, The Ellen Show & Dancing with the Stars, MJ Urban Ballet gained national attention garnering celebrity video choreographic appearances with stars including Janelle Monae, Big Boi of OutKast, FreeSol and Justin Timberlake. 

During our journey we realized that there are at-risk youth in Shelby County that we're not able to provide the programming due to underfunded schools, youth based organizations, and underserved communities. We have positioned this art form as an international genre of dance while training and developing urban dancers for professional careers and personal growth. 

Our ETE2 Pathway is designed to disrupt the school to prison pipeline by exposing youth to education, training, entertainment and entrepreneurship so that they learn to develop, cultivate, expand and monetize their talents.