May-Lisa Chandler

Co-Founder & Executive Artistic Director

Born in El Paso, Texas and raised in Sharon, Massachusetts, May-Lisa Chandler began learning gymnastics at age two at the Cathy Corrigan School of Gymnastics, where she later competed in the junior Olympics. As a teenager, Chandler shifted her focus to dance, training in ballet and modern styles at the Roxbury Center for the Performing Arts.

After just a few years, Chandler joined "A" Major Dance Company, performing a range of lyrical-jazz and modern-ballet pieces. This experience led to a role as a classroom dancer in the film "House Sitter" alongside Goldie Hawn and Steve Martin. Chandler then had the opportunity to work with renowned choreographers like Gregory Hines and Alvin Ailey. At age 22, Chandler joined the IDT Dance Company and shortly after began training at the Ailey School, followed by becoming an original member of Phunk Phenomenon Dance Company. Throughout her performing career, Chandler has also been a dance and movement instructor for the Boston Public Schools, private organizations, and community centers, including BalletRox, Roxbury Center, Sharon Dance Center, JP School of Dance, and Bird Street Community Center. This work has allowed her to provide arts education and mentorship opportunities to inner-city youth.

Most recently, Chandler served as Artistic Director of One Luv Dance Company before co-founding and serving as Executive Artistic Director of Jo-Mé Dance Theatre under Jo-Mé Dance Arts Inc. In this role, Chandler plans to help grow her community's arts education and self-awareness by providing performance opportunities for dancers of all ages and embrace their artistic voice.