the start of a journey
Est. April 2016
Main Attraction Performing Arts Center formally known as Main Attraction Divaz Dance Team was founded in April 2016. Jonnika Parker and her sister Tiffany Nolen originally thought of the idea of her starting her own dance team based off the TV show, Bring It!, her extensive background, and love for dance.
They later presented the idea to their grandmother, who was the excited and the most supportive person during Jonnika's dance career. Since then Jonnika's grandmother, Rosalind Parker who is now the Chief Financial Officer for MAPAC, they continue to run the program together as family. Her sister is still supportive of her dreams and continues to assist.
The name changed in July 2021 to Main Attraction Performing Arts Center because she had a bigger goal and that was to place her students in larger arenas. She has incorporated other categories of the performing arts for expansion. She knew that she could offer more styles of dance based off her background and decided to take a turn to achieve a goal and vision that was God-given! That's to bless the youth with the same experiences or better in the performing arts!
meet the ceo
Jonnika "Coach JoJo" Parker
Since 3 years old her dream has always been to open her own dance studio. Her dance career started at Cindy King Dance Studio at age 3, now known as, Artistic Dance Academy. She then auditioned for the competitive dance team at age 6 and that was the start of her competitive dance career. There she performed Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Production and was also certified in Cecchetti which is a form of Ballet. Jonnika has won many competitions as a soloist and with her dance group under the instruction of Cindy King, Jedon Russ, Ms. Sharmaine, and Ms. Vicki.
Later on she moved her focus to another studio, Joyce LaVerne School of Dance, owned by the late Joyce LaVerne. There she took classes under master instructors such as Dr. Amanda Standard, Linda Darr, Mya Harrison, Toni Lombre, Karen Mendez, Adrian V. James, Peter Romero, and many more. There she picked up classes in Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Liturgical, Hoofing Tap, African, and Hip-Hop. She has travelled the East Coast learning, training, performing, and auditioning for huge names such as Savion Glover, Adrian Bolton, Jason Samuel Smith, Chloe & Maud, and Debbie Allen.
By the age of 14 she was teaching at Joyce LaVerne as a Junior Instructor and was later promoted to a Senior Instructor, now she is a Master instructor. She continued her studies at Largo High School on the Dance Team and as an Auxiliary dancer for the Ladies of Sapphire, Largo Marching Lions. She was also a member of Taps & Co., ran by the late Toni Lombre. Chloe & Maud were her tap sisters as members of Taps & Co. They all performed in many arenas and for the DC Tap Fest together.
Throughout her career she taught at Marcellus Dance Studio, Alexander Company & Dance Group, ZD Dance Academy, Northeast Performing Arts, and many other studios as a Master Instructor. Now her focus is strictly on taking care of her children and family, remaining an Educator for public schools, and the growth of Main Attraction Performing Arts Center. She has built Main Attraction's foundation on God, love, compassion, and professionalism.