Cierra Kaler jones

Cierra Kaler-Jones is an educator, artist, choreographer, researcher, and writer based in Washington, D.C. Cierra has been dancing for over 25 years and teaching dance for over 12 years to movers of all ages. She is trained in ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, pom, and modern. Throughout her collegiate career, Cierra was a member of the nationally-ranked Rutgers University Dance Team and competed on the jazz and pom teams at Universal Dance Association (UDA) College Nationals. After graduating, she danced professionally in the NBA for the Washington Wizards for two seasons. Currently, Cierra is a professional company member with Capitol Movement. She was cast in works performed at NACHMO DC, Intersections Festival, and a full-length show at Joe's Movement Emporium. Cierra runs a community-based arts program that supports Black girls in using art as a tool for research, organizing, and social change. She has a Ph.D. in education from the University of Maryland – College Park. Her research includes exploring dance and arts education as tools for social justice and movement as methodology. In her full-time role, Cierra is the Executive Director of Rethinking Schools, a publisher for racial and social justice in education. She seeks to create spaces where people are encouraged and celebrated to be free and liberated in their bodies.