Detroit is known for its cars, Motown music, and 8 Mile (the district and the movie). But now, it wants to be known for its dance.
And Joori Jung is the woman for the job. When she moved to New York from South Korea to dance, she realized the city wasn’t for her. In a city so large, it felt to her like there was little community. So instead, she followed her now-husband to Detroit, where she settled down and founded ArtLab J.
The lab is a dance company, but it’s also more than that.
According to the ArtLab J mission statement, the organization strives to “create unity between the city’s dance companies, educational institutions, individual artists, and beyond.” It’s long been said that dance brings more than just performance to a community, but now, ArtLab J is out to prove it.
Watch below:
When we talk about supporting the arts, there’s no denying the positive ripple effect that activities like dance can have.
On an individual level, dance provides people with an outlet to express themselves, which promotes spiritual and emotional health. That can translate to less violence, stronger community ties, and better interpersonal relationships.
