Support the next generation of artists

3% Cover the Fee

When you choose to give, you become part of something bigger. Your support fuels progress and brings hope where it's needed most. Consider making a monthly or one-time donation!

  • 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


  • “My name is Sicily Maria Mwanabaraka Reizeck, and I am a member of the Ja’LUUM company. A few months ago, I received a text message from Ms. Natalya that I had no idea would completely change my life. She reached out to invite me to join her company an opportunity that would not only support our artistic growth, but also serve as an investment toward our college funds. Without hesitation, I said yes, knowing how rare and meaningful an opportunity like that truly was.

    Training under Ms. Natalya’s guidance and being part of Ja’LUUM has been one of the best decisions I have made for my growth and training. The environment she created pushed me in ways I never expected while also providing a strong, supportive community. Through Ja’LUUM, I have learned to step outside of the box and challenge the boundaries I once placed on myself. Since joining, I have grown tremendously not only as a dancer, but as a young black woman learning who she is and how she wants to move through the world with confidence, intention, and authenticity.”