At just twenty-two years old, Sydni Diane Brown stands at the intersection of talent, vision, and conviction — a young artist determined to reshape what it means to build a career in dance. A soon-to-be graduate with her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, she has trained via summer intensives and learned from some of the nation’s most respected institutions — including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Those experiences deepened not only her artistry, but her understanding of how narrow the pathway can be for new graduates stepping into the professional world.
From that realization, EXHALE Dance Company was born.
Founded by a dancer, for dancers, EXHALE was created as a bold alternative to the traditional post-graduation struggle — a place where artistry and opportunity meet. The company exists for dancers who are two years out of college or less, offering them a platform to perform, create, and grow as professionals without having to sacrifice their dreams or dance for free.
EXHALE’s purpose is deeply personal. The founder refuses to accept that artists must choose between passion and survival, between artistry and employment. She envisions a company where dancers can build sustainable careers from day one — where they can exhale, knowing that their training, talent, and voice are valued.
Blending modern, contemporary, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, and African dance, EXHALE’s multidisciplinary approach mirrors the founder’s own journey — diverse, dynamic, and unapologetically creative. What began as one dancer’s frustration with the “post-grad gap” has evolved into a transformative movement: not a school, not an apprenticeship, but a real professional dance company that redefines the entry point into the industry.
From the heart of Washington, D.C., EXHALE Dance Company will become a home for newly graduated dancers — a space to breathe, to move, and to become.
