The Masterz (with a Z)

#FIDanceFriday | As we count down to #FIDance 2026, we'll be sharing some of our favorite performances through the years. Last summer, MasterZ at Work Dance Family (@_masterzatwork ) lit up the stage with an excerpt from Courtney Balenciaga Washington's "The 24/7 Diner," an electrifying work fusing elements of voguing, ballroom and contemporary dance. Tickets for this summer's festival are on sale at our link in bio. 📸: @e.mertz.photography and @uncledanny1

A Masterz At Work session with The Legend As the founder of @_masterzatwork , I’ve always believed that growth starts at home. Our training, our mindset, our movement, most of it is built in-house. But every now and then, I bring someone in to challenge the crew in a new way, to shake up their thinking, and to push them beyond their comfort zones. Yesterday was one of those nights. After years of back-and-forth, scheduling conflicts, and near-misses, we finally had the pleasure of welcoming Soraya into our space. And let me tell you it was worth the wait. She brought us something different. A track we wouldn’t usually move to (half crazy by @musiqsoulchild ) A tempo that made us uncomfortable in the best possible way. But that’s the beauty of what we do. It’s not just about dancing it’s about being vulnerable, especially with family. It’s about letting go of ego, breaking old habits, and trusting the process. Soraya gave us that space. Thank you, @solundy 
You are simply amazing. An artist in every sense of the word.
Your teaching style is powerful—direct, clear, yet filled with so much grace. You command the room not just with your movement, but with your presence. You challenged us, and at the same time, filled us up. Your choreography is intricate, musical, intentional and it speaks. Every detail has a purpose. You make dancers think, feel, and listen—not just to the beat, but to themselves. You are truly one of a kind.
Thank you for pouring into us. This won’t be the last time. With love,
Masterz At Work

July 10, 2025
The Masterz – Disco Fever
Summer Stages 2025 This happens to be one of my favorite dances from The Masterz. Honestly, every time they do it, it just gets better and better. The extended version. It gets me so hype. It feels like the party’s not over and that’s exactly what we I wanted. When we added that extended section, we were literally just vibing, workshopping ideas, seeing what stuck. I knew it would turn into something good. @diamonnnnnd this is your part. I knew she had it in her. She stepped up and delivered, no surprise there. P. S. In that second slide Choreography by @itsactuallyjor_dan @powerhousedancecompany_

May 2, 2024 Sound Check + Performance The Masterz Performed at the BTFA Gala BTFA held their second annual gala, and The Masterz had the honor of opening the evening. The Masterz is a performance group founded by a Black trans femme who has been deeply rooted in the community since birth. The event was beautiful, and the energy was amazing. It's always a pleasure to show up and support her, the community, and the powerful movement for Black trans femmes. To @btfacollective — thank you for always supporting us.

Masterz at Work
Jacob’s Pillow – July 13, 2024 Jacob’s Pillow is known as a historic landmark in American dance a place where legends have trained, performed, and made history. From its stunning outdoor stages to its deep-rooted commitment to diversity and innovation in movement, “The Pillow” is where dance lives, breathes, and evolves. So for us Masterz at Work to return here and take part in that legacy means everything. Jacob’s Pillow stands for excellence, inclusivity, and pushing the culture forward. That’s what we stand for, too. That’s why we had to be here. It’s important that we warm up and pray before every show. When they say “it’s the little things,” it truly is. The discipline, the intention, the gratitude — all of that is part of the performance. Loving what you do and sharing it with the world is a blessing. Warming up.
Getting ready for our showing at @jacobspillow . Dance: All Inclusive

The Masterz at Work Dance Family Performance: “Disco 2024”
Event: @sybariteproductions 2024 – Sound Check “Disco 2024” is more than just a performance. It’s a return, a celebration, and a continuation of a journey. This piece was conceived and directed by Courtney Washington, who dove deep into her musical roots. Having explored House music concept in a previous work, Courtney was drawn to go even further back to Disco, the origin point for so many of the sounds that shaped House music. It’s a full-circle moment: honoring the past, celebrating the now. Choreography for this electrifying piece was brought to life by @craiggyweggy and @jayparel.xoxo , the lead choreographers on the project. Music by @arturo_thaengineer Together, they infused the stage with rhythm, soul, and an unstoppable groove. I LOVE THE MASTERZ #DanceFamily #DiscoRevival #HouseMusicRoots #Sybarite2024 #MasterzAtWork #CourtneyWashington #CraigParel #JayParel #ChoreographersOfInstagram #NYCdance #DanceCulture #DiscoVibes #HouseToDisco #DanceLife #PerformanceArt #BlackDanceExcellence #DanceLegends #ChoreographyShowcase #SoundCheckSeries #DanceRevolution Expect nothing less than a dance revolution. The Masterz are always pushing boundaries and this time, they’re taking Disco to the future.

Nobody: Me: Byrell Forrest flipped Tom’s Diner into a track called “Sitting.” Let’s build a full dance around it but with a twist: 🪑 The chairs are the characters. All movement happens around them, with them. No random props they carry the story. @_masterzatwork : 😐 Me: They’re gonna hate it or love it. Either way we doing it. @_masterzatwork : if looks could kill Me: The sample is iconic. That melody is instantly recognizable but the flip is fresh. “Sitting” is the perfect title. It’s static vs. motion, stillness vs. urgency. Chairs universal. Everyone knows what sitting means, but we flip it — make it feel tense, alive, unexpected. It’s different. And different gets remembered. @_masterzatwork :

Check out this clip featuring @_masterzatwork ’s “The Diner” by @thebakedcookie from the @worksandprocess at @summerstage performance tonight at Herbert Von King Park. - Commissioned by Works & Process, MasterZ at Work Dance Family’s new work has been developed in Works & Process residencies at @modernaccorddepot (2024) and @bethanyartsorg (2025).

This Thursday — The Legend Returns Home Where it all began...
Courtney Washington @motherbalenciaga , Brooklyn’s own, is coming back to Von King Park with @_masterzatwork for a FREE show you don’t want to miss. Joining the celebration:
💥 Big Freedia
🎧 DJ @butchish 🗓 Thursday, 5 PM
📍 Von King Park, Brooklyn Courtney, a true Brooklyn native, began her dance journey right here in this very park. She’s not just a performer—she’s community royalty. Pull up and show love.
It’s going to be legendary.

Exclusive video drop of the ICONIC @_masterzatwork piece from Club NYC: Pop Show — May 20th at @3dollarbillbk ! 🎥✨🔥 This @janetjackson moment was CRAZY — the energy, the execution, the choreography… everything! 💃🏽🕺🏽⚡ Get into it! Much love to this incredible cast of artists ❤️‍🔥 and big shoutout to @thebakedcookie for this production 🎬💯 You already know — when it comes to MASTERZ at Work, the artistry is always next level 🎭⭐ Cast : @thebrycefarris @courtneyjanelle_ @jaylenthegr8 @j.venus.mp4 @joshu1sun @b.starke_ @jayparel.xoxo @gabrieljmusic @diamonnnnnd @ty_made_to_perform @janolibres @hellomsstarr @mi.gxnte_ 🎥 by @ajfilmss_ 🎬 Show Produced by @kingchuckaduck for @charlessmithandcompany 📍 Venue : @3dollarbillbk Watch, share, and let Janet know you’re feeling it! 💌🎶👑 #ClubNYC #PopShow #MasterzatWork #JanetJacksonVibes #NYCDance #DancersSupportingDancers #DanceLegends #Icon #janfam @janfammovement

Producing #DanceFest2025 has been the highlight of my year. The power and possibilities of community, art and movement blows my mind 🤯. Thank you so much to Greg Miller and the team at @danceparadenyc for believing in me every step of the way! Full recap coming soon to my YouTube Channel. Huge thanks to @_masterzatwork and @thebakedcookie for twirling the function! Yall are incredible! #DanceFest2025

May 20, 2025. THE MASTERZ WILL BE BACK IN THE FIELD.