Alonzo Emmanuel Ajja Thompson

Artistic Director and Founder

Ajja Thompson is a dancer, choreographer, lecturer, and Mississippi Arts Commission Artist Roster artist specializing in African dance and its diaspora. Originally from Mississippi, he holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Texas Christian University and received professional training from the Joffrey Ballet School. His performance and choreographic experience includes work with the Joffrey Ballet School, Walt Disney, Royal Caribbean/Celebrity Cruises, and Les Ailes du Désir.

As Founder and Artistic Director of NZO Dance Theatre, Thompson’s academic and artistic practice centers the preservation, evolution, and contemporary expression of African diasporic movement traditions. His work bridges performance, education, cultural history, and community engagement, creating spaces where Black movement lineages are both honored and pushed forward.