THE FOUNDER
ABOUT
JOY HARPER
Choreographer. Educator. Founder.
JDACIO was created to help dancers grow in technique, confidence, expression, and purpose — while developing the gifts they've been entrusted with through intentional training.
Encourage. Uplift. Inspire.
Some had been dancing in ministry for years without ever being taught technique. Others had trained before and weren’t sure how to return, or had plenty of passion but little understanding of what their bodies were already doing.
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Passion and calling matter. They are a great starting point, but they can’t be the finish line if you want to produce your best. Growth requires training, knowledge, discipline, repetition, and a willingness to be taught.
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JDACIO was created as a space where technique and worship, artistry and storytelling, excellence and encouragement can exist together.
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A dancer should not have to choose between developing her craft and honoring her faith. There is room for both.
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— Joy
IN HER WORDS
Why I Created
JDACIO
I kept meeting dancers with real gifts...
An Orange County native, Joy began dancing at four years old and went on to graduate from the Commercial Dance Department at Orange County High School of the Arts. She earned her bachelor's degree in Dance from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and later received a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.
Following college, Joy was represented by Clear Talent Group and built a professional performance career spanning television, stage, film, live performance, and commercial work. Her credits include Idlewild, Los Angeles Opera's The Grand Duchess, and the Chaka Khan U.S. Promo Tour. As a choreographer, she has created work for musical artists, dance companies, competition teams, liturgical dance ministries, and professional basketball dance teams, with choreography presented at venues including The Kia Forum, USC Galen Center, and the Skirball Cultural Center.
THE SHORT VERSION
JOY ANTOINETTE HARPER
Joy Antoinette Harper is a dancer, choreographer, educator, and the Founder and Artistic Director of J.D.A.C.I.O — Joyful Dance And Choreography Inspiring Others.
Known for a sharp eye for detail, Joy has often been affectionately called “The Cleaning Lady.”
Whether through private training, coaching, choreography, or dance cleaning, she helps dancers move with greater clarity, confidence, and purpose.
Joy's work as an educator has taken her into studios, performing arts programs, workshops, and classrooms both in the United States and abroad. She has taught ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, and hip-hop to dancers of varying ages and experience levels, and has also led dance workshops in Uganda introducing participants to modern and contemporary dance.
Through J.D.A.C.I.O, Joy helps dancers strengthen technique, build confidence, deepen their expression, and better understand the story behind what they perform. Her teaching is rooted in the belief that strong technique creates greater freedom, while authentic storytelling gives dance depth and impact.
At the heart of Joy's work is a desire to encourage, uplift, and inspire dancers to continue developing both their craft and the gift they have been entrusted with.
TEACHING PHILOSPHY
How I Approach Dance Training
Four principles shape every class, every correction, and every piece of choreography.
TECHNIQUE CREATES FREEDOM
01
A stronger foundation gives dancers more freedom to express, adapt, and perform with confidence.
GROWTH REQUIRES TRAINING
03
Passion and calling matter, but development requires discipline, knowledge, repetition, and a willingness to be taught.
STORY MATTERS
02
Dance should communicate something. Choreography should have intention, clarity, and depth.
FAITH AND EXCELLENCE BELONG TOGETHER
04
Worship does not remove the need for technical growth. Developing your craft can be an expression of stewardship.
BACKGROUND
Experience Highlights
26+
Years in dance, choreography, instruction, and performance
Founder & Artistic Director, JDACIO
Teaching experience in ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, and hip-hop
BA
Dance, University of California, Santa Barbara
Former representation by Clear Talent Group
Private training, choreography, performance preparation, workshops, and dance cleaning
MBA
University of Phoenix
Professional television, stage, film, live performance, and commercial experience
Teaching experience in the United States
and abroad
FOR DANCERS LIKE YOU
Who I Love Working With
If you see yourself in this list, you're the dancer JDACIO was built for.
01
Praise dancers ready to strengthen technique​
02
Beginning-intermediate and intermediate dancers
03
Dancers returning after time away
04
Dancers who want greater confidence and clarity
05
Dance ministry members
06
Dancers who want to become stronger storytellers
07
Creatives who desire training rooted in excellence and purpose
JOY HARPER · FOUNDER & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
“My goal is not simply to teach choreography. I want dancers to understand what they're doing, why they're doing it, and how to grow with confidence, clarity, and intention.”