School Director

DMV native Alexis Johnson began her dance training at the age of eight under the tutelage of Fabian Barnes at The Dance Institute of Washington (DIW) studying various styles of dance. She later began training with The Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Pre-Professional Residency Program at the Kennedy Center under the instruction of the company’s Founder and then Artistic Director, Arthur Mitchell. Alexis continued her training at The Baltimore School for the Arts while simultaneously perfecting her craft training with various prestigious pre-professional companies such as The Dance Theatre of Harlem Summer Intensive, Orlando Ballet Summer Intensive, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Summer Intensive and more. After graduating from Baltimore School for the Arts, she attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA where she studied Ballet and Arts Administration. Upon graduating from the university, Alexis returned to the Dance Institute of Washington to work as the organizations Registrar/Program Manager and taught students Ballet and Modern dance. In Spring 2019, she began working in the Executive Office at Kirov Academy. Alexis later began working as a Grant Manager at The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) under the Post-Secondary Career and Education Division. In this position, she managed the DC Futures Grant and the College Rising Grant totaling to over three million dollars to support students in need achieve academic success. Amid balancing her professional career, Alexis founded her company Confi.DANCE where she provides free recreational ballet classes to students ages 3-8 and works to help youth gain confidence within numerous recreation centers across the District of Columbia. Alexis’ partnership with D.C’s Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) has rapidly grown to over 10 classes per week at 11 sites in less than 5 years.

In December 2022, Alexis proudly returned to The Dance Institute of Washington where she now serves as the School Director.