Role: Project Manager

Client: Jean Appolon Expressions

Year: 2019-Present

Project management of a new Haitian folkloric and contemporary dance studio for rehearsals and performances in an emerging black cultural arts district.

 PROBLEM

Over the course of 30 years Jean Appolon built a community, a professional company, and non-profit organization around his Saturday community dance classes. However, a lack of dedicated space for the company, and for dancers writ large throughout Boston, has hampered the organization’s growth and the company’s ability to expand its offerings.

While JAE struggled to find space to rehearse, perform, and run classes, black cultural arts remained fractured across Boston. There was no one area that contained numerous cultural facilities to act as a hub for the diverse community.

SOLUTION

In 2019 Jean Appolon Expressions joined a development proposal from New Atlantic Development to build out a dance studio and performance space in a new building that would house affordable housing units for artists, makerspace, and a retail cafe for Haley House. Construction on the building began in 2021, at which point JAE’s campaign to develop its space kicked off in earnest. The project is currently under construction with an expected opening date in January 2026. 

OUTCOME

The JAE DC will become a vital piece of social infrastructure in Nubian Square, an emerging black cultural arts district in Roxbury, MA. While there are many arts organizations that are planning to develop spaces in the area, the JAE DC will be the first to open its doors. As such it plans to be both a haven for people with roots in the African diaspora (specifically Haiti), and a hub for people from across different backgrounds to connect. Having Haley House next door and access to a courtyard meeting space in the building will also establish the third piece of infrastructure - a hang-out - where people can just be. The JAE DC has situated itself in this unique location to play a role as convener in the neighborhood, and its spill-over effects are intended to positively impact the entire neighborhood.