ABOUT PMDI

"Each student who takes the stage today will break barriers too. They will jump, turn, leap and push boundaries that exist within themselves and challenge how the world sees them. "

Princess Mhoon

The Princess Mhoon Dance Institute is an acclaimed dance institute located in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area. Having served thousands of families through our in-­studio and off-­site programs, we believe that dance is a catalyst for personal, professional and artistic development. 

Through the leadership and training of award winning Director & Choreographer Princess Mhoon, many students have realized professional careers on Broadway, the Concert Stage, and in Hollywood while others have developed self-esteem and life skills that translate their training from the studio, to the stage, to the real world. PMDI's impact has expanded to reach the White House. In February of 2016 the institute was invited to perform as a part of a Celebration of African-American Women in Dance hosted by First Lady, Michelle Obama. ​

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ABOUT PRINCESS MHOON

Founder & CEO

"With these legs, we are standing strong in our mission: to deliver art and culture that will educate, unite, transform and heal our community through the power of dance.  No matter what."

Princess Mhoon is a choreographer, producer, educator, and scholar recognized in 2015 by HUFFINGTON POST as one of 26 Female Choreographers "You Should Know" and Dance Magazine's 2006 "Top 25 to Watch" in the world for the Women's Choreography Project titled This Woman's Work.  Mhoon is a second generation artist and entrepreneur who has set her sights on enhancing the artistic landscape of the Nation’s Capitol. In 2016 she was invited to participate as one of the region's leading dance leaders by First Lady Michelle Obama during her Celebration of Black Women in Dance; she also served as a panelist for The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans during Women's History Month and acknowledged by the administration as Black Girl Change Maker.

Mhoon is also a 2015 Helen Hayes Award Nominee for Best Choreography in a Musical, a Helen Hayes winner for Best Musical, and one of 37 International artists invited to Lusaka, Zambia for solo performance and master classes at the 2015 Barefeet Theatre Festival for vulnerable youth sponsored by UNICEF. She is also a 2016 class member of Leadership Greater Washington (www.lgw.dc.org).

With work commissioned by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the DC Jazz Festival, Princess Mhoon has been called "A visionary of her generation." She is the Founder and Director of the Princess Mhoon Dance Institute with locations in DC and Maryland. Mhoon has served on faculty at Howard University, where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance and a Master of Arts degree in Public History. Her research focuses on Dance History and the African-American experience in dance. In 2015, she was awarded the Owen Dodson DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI award from her Alma Mater.  Mhoon is currently on faculty at American University and a guest Director and Choreographer to main stage productions nationally.

A native of Chicago, Illinois, she began her training with Alyo Children's Dance Theatre, Joseph Holmes Dance Studio, and Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago. Mhoon Cooper has received numerous awards and scholarships for her excellence in dance, including recognition from the American Dance Festival, Dance Magazine, Howard University, Career Transitions for Dancers, and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She has performed and toured with the world renowned Ronald K. Brown/Evidence Dance Company, Rennie Harris Puremovement, The Chuck Davis African American Dance Ensemble, Nathan Trice Rituals, and Deeply Rooted Productions. She is the founder of DANCING FEET, an integrated arts program that includes classes and workshops for schools and outreach institutions.

The opening of PMDI is the continuation of a life long commitment to the field of dance.

Meet Our Staff

Our team at PMDI is led by our founder, Princess Mhoon, and includes enthusiastic administrators and experienced dance professionals. Here are some faces you will see at our studio!

Katie Zimmerman

Executive Assistant & Special Projects Manager

Katie is a table setter who specializes in creative problem solving and organizational administration. Her work often takes the shape of constructing foundations, refining infrastructure, and envisioning scaffolding so that successful teams can be built and thrive in all areas of their work. Katie is proud to serve PMDI as Princess' Executive Assistant, helping the Founder & CEO stay organized, on track, and kicking butt!

Lisa Herd

Office Manager

Lisa joined the PMDI team in July 2020 and brought with her 15 years of administrative experience. She also has a background as a young dancer, having belonged to her local dance company from age 2-18. She graduated from The George Washington University in 2008 with her B.A. and a new home in Washington, D.C., that she continues to enjoy and share with her fellow GW alum husband, and her new son, born Valentine's Day 2019.

Tamisha Charles

Office Assistant

Tamisha is a recent high school graduate and is currently enrolled at the University of the District of Columbia where she plans to major in Psychology. She started volunteering at PMDI in 2016 and over time was promoted  by Ms. Mhoon to become her Office Assistant. She feels the experience she gains from working at PMDI is something she will never forget! 

Jaime Sutton

Dance Instructor

Jaime began her lifelong dance journey at the age of 3, where she learned Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, and Pointe at various Dance Studios within the DMV. Although she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design, she has always prioritized teaching. Jaime brings more than 25 years of technical experience and knowledge to the PMDI team. Besides sharing her love of dance with children, she is the Founder and Artistic Director of Soles in Rhythm, a percussive Adult Tap company. She leads our tap program, including advanced instruction of our Ensemble & Studio Company.

Oyuna Adams

Dance Instructor

Oyuna Nadmitova-Adams is a native of Ulan-Ude, Republic of Buryatia, Russia. She has studied at The Buryat State Choreographic School, The East Siberian Academy of Arts. She has performed with the Moscow Ballet, 13yrs with Buryat State Opera and Ballet Theater and the Moscow State Ballet. Oyuna has joined us to teach Ballet the Vaganova method and leads our Studio Company in their advanced training, including pointe.

Keith Thomas

Dance Instructor

Keith has had a wonderful career on Broadway and film, performing in such shows and movies as Ragtime, Red Shoes, Jellys' Last Jam, Harlem Song and Black and Blue, Malcolm X Stompin at the Savoy and The Producers. Mr. Thomas was an adjunct professor at Towson University, director of their Children's dance division, and he's had the pleasure of teaching, choreographing, assisting and consulting many seasoned and up-and-coming artists. He recently joined the PMDI team this summer, gracing us with his expertise in Ballet & Jazz.