About Ajia
Ajia Maximillian is a trained dancer, choreographer, and fitness instructor
who joins Washington, DC from New York City with 20 years of professional experience. Ajia has taught at Shockra Studios (NYC), Cumbe (NYC), Debbie Reynolds Dance Studios (LA), Uforia Dance (SF), and for Equinox Gyms (NY, LA, SF).
She has performed and trained as a Sambista for Oba Oba International under Sydney Maria in Los Angeles, as a West African dancer for Abeo Drummers and Dancers under Idrissa Kelly in NYC, under Broadway choreographer George Faison, for various underground hip hop artists across the country, and as a pole dancer in avant-garde shows and venues across NYC.
She began her dance training at 6 years old in her local Boys and Girls Club in the Bronx and then graduated to instruction at Broadway Dance Center (NYC), Peridance (NYC) , Djoniba Dance and Drum Center (NYC), Body and Pole (NYC), and Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio (LA). Ajia loves sharing dance with the world and hopes to continue spreading joy with movement every single day of her life.
MA- Exercise Science, Teachers College, Columbia University
AFAA- Group Fitness Instructor
“So fun! Ajia is one of the best teachers I’ve had at Uforia - her class is challenging and sweaty, but she is very thorough in teaching the counts and super positive. The cool thing about Uforia is that you never feel bad if you can’t quite get some of the moves, you just keep dancing, feelin[sic] yourself and having fun. The music is always on point, none of that bad sped up pop music that makes some classes a drag. You can *almost* trick yourself into forgetting you’re exercising and thinking you went to the club on a Saturday am :-D”
—Quote from student on Classpass from Hip Hop - Twerk it! Werk It! Class at Uforia Studios in San Francisco
“Pole Series @ Shockra w/Ajia – Shockra Studio is amazing and full of diverse classes taught by encouraging teachers. I have had the pleasure of taking pole dancing classes with Ajia the last couple of months. A talented dancer always smiling and excited to be there, Ajia delivers a fun nonjudgmental environment that invites you to let loose and express yourself. She is extremely attentive to your needs and tailors her classes to your level – making it unintimidating [sic] and accessible. Classes begin with a warm-up, followed by conditioning work, pole instruction/choreography and ends with time to free style (I love the time to freestyle at the end of class because it really allows you to integrate everything you have learned and make the moves your own.)! Ajia’s classes have helped me improve in strength and confidence significantly. Key to this is her dedication to her students. She is always available during class for questions and assistance but goes the extra mile to work with you outside of class time. I can’t begin to count the times she has spent talking to me before or after class about training tips or new things I can work on. A great teacher with so much to offer, I couldn’t ask for better support and would highly recommend Ajia's classes!”
—Quote from I1ana on CitySearch from Pole Class at Shockra Studios in New York City