The company was founded and is led by Natalya Janay Shoaf, a visionary Artistic Director, choreographer, and educator. An Alonzo King LINES BFA graduate, she has over 10 years of experience in the Bay Area dance community and is recognized for her "technically rigorous, emotionally resonant" work.

Ja'LUUM is a pre-professional dance company that serves young aspiring artists who have a strong technical foundation and are committed to pursuing careers in the performing arts at collegiate and professional levels.

The program centers a holistic approach to artistic development. A key distinction is the "mirrorless" training philosophy, which prioritizes internal kinesthetic awareness and embodiment over external visual affirmation. Beyond self-expression, the company teaches dance as a tool for sustaining a life, focusing on building "internal infrastructure," mental stamina, and professional connections. Each artist culminates from the program having transformed into a powerful soloist and disciplined ensemble member ready for the professional stage.

The trajectory for young artists in Oakland is being fundamentally reimagined through the intentional efforts of Natalya Janay Shoaf. Ja’LUUM’s existence creates a pathway for pre-professional artist to carve and build a vision for themselves after high school with a clarity that stems from self-awareness and an internal knowing. Dancers within Ja’LUUM transform into artist by accessing their personal power building a technical foundation rooted in internal confidence. Each receives professional readiness skills allowing them to be competative in the industry. Ja’LUUM artist learn to build life-sustaining skills and learn to build a mind and internal-infrastructure that supports them towards success. Ja’LUUM’s community has almost doubled in size since its inception, allowing its impact to reach a larger audience.

Your contribution will directly support long-term sustainability, direct investment in future leaders, and facilitate strategic growth.

• Long-Term Sustainability: Your support is the engine that will transition Ja'LUUM into a sustainable 501(c)(3) nonprofit, ensuring that this unique training model becomes a permanent fixture in the Bay Area arts community.

• Direct Investment in Future Leaders: Contributions act as a "monumental investment" in the professional growth of local youth, providing them with industry-standard opportunities that might otherwise be a significant financial sacrifice for their families.

• Facilitating Strategic Growth: Donor funding allows the company to double its impact—expanding its roster from four to eight artists—and supports upcoming performances, such as the showcase at Dance Mission Theater. Your support will also go towards inviting guest artists and speakers to support Ja’LUUM’s transformative mission