Welcome
Jessica Miller Tomlinson Choreography
"...Tomlinson's work revealed an artist of daring and maturity" -Hedy Weiss : Chicago Sun Times.
· About Jessica miller tomlinson · (JMt) ·
Artist Statement
I have made it a personal goal to challenge myself to create a body of work that is recognizable as my own, but also varies in style, range of perspective, and shows versatility as an artist. I hope to innovate without self-consciousness and to be new and new again, to have the ability to lead an audience effortlessly from beginning to end, no matter how imaginative the journey between. I am fascinated by working with different energies and the multitude of possibilities that can emerge from collaboration. I eagerly work in a collaborative environment for some of my creative processes, while others I choose to take a leadership role. I enjoy utilizing both my curiosity for movement exploration and development, as well as watching the energy of the room unfold as a spectator. I utilize my background in both classical and contemporary ballet as well as jazz and contemporary dance styles to create work that is diverse in vocabulary and pushes the boundaries of definition.
Choreographer Bio
As a young dancer, Jessica apprenticed with NC Dance Theatre under the direction of former New York City Ballet principals Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and Patricia McBride. Tomlinson graduated from the University of NC School of the Arts with a BFA in Contemporary Dance. Upon moving to Chicago she collaborated with Lauri Stallings (formerly of Hubbard Street and current Artistic Director of gloATL) and performed with her company NANDANSE. Jessica was a dancer, choreographer, assistant rehearsal director , director of the Thodos Youth Ensemble and teacher for Thodos Dance Chicago from 2005-2017, where she performed and toured both Nationally and Internationally. Jessica continued developing her own choreography through the Thodos New Dances Performance Series, with several works becoming part of the company’s repertoire. She produced her first evening length performance JMT/JLS Choreography following a Grand Prize Win/Grant from the Joyce Theater Foundation’s A.W.A.R.D. Show! 2009.
Jessica Miller Tomlinson’s Award Winning Choreography has been commissioned or produced by the Chautauqua Ballet Company, NC School of the Arts, Aerial Dance Chicago, Take Up Space Dance Fest, Unearth Virtual Arts Festival, Moonwater Dance Project, Alluvion Dance Chicago, Hot Crowd, The Universal Ballet Competition, Dancing To Dream Fundraiser, DanceWorks Chicago, Chicago Repertory Ballet,The Joyce Theater Foundation, The Inconvenience Performance Group,The Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Idaho Dance Theatre, Regional Dance America, Columbia College of Chicago, Spring To Dance Festival St Louis, Washington and Lee University, The Edinburgh Fringe Festival , Forum Dance Theatre, Nomi Dance Company, Common Conservatory, Dance in the Parks, The Dance Gallery Festival, Visceral Dance Chicago, Nebraska Contemporary Dance Theatre, Eisenhower Dance Detroit, The Harvest Dance Festival, The HSDC Youth Ensemble, Northern Illinois University, SHIFT DANCE | FESTIVAL Albuquerque, Dance For Life, Water Street Dance Milwaukee and Thodos Dance Chicago. She has collaborated with Dance For Life's Our Voices Dance, Jacqueline Stewart/JAXON Movement Arts, Joshua Manculich, local Chicago band District 97, and the Andy Warhol Silver Clouds Exhibit at the MCA.
Jessica was the Winner of Idaho Dance Theater’s Inaugural New Visions Choreography Competition as well as a Winner of DanceWorks Chicago’s Inaugural NewMoves Choreography Competition. She has been a Finalist for the Avant Chamber Ballet Women’s Choreography Competition 3 times in addition to being a Finalist for the METdance Emerging Choreographer Competition.
Jessica was a Faculty member for the Hubbard Street Youth Dance Program, as well as the Joffrey Academy of Dance, where she taught Contemporary for the Joffrey Studio Company and Trainees. She was Adjunct Faculty at Northern Illinois University for two years. Jessica was a Guest Alumni Choreographer/Teacher for UNCSA, and has been a Guest Artist in Residence for Eisenhower Dance Detroit, Columbia College of Chicago, and Washington and Lee University. Jessica currently teaches company classes for Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, South Chicago Dance Theatre, Visceral Dance Chicago, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Additionally, Jessica served as the Rehearsal Director for South Chicago Dance Theatre for the past four years. She is also currently a Faculty member for Pure Vibe Dance Center and The Rooted Space.
Awards and Recognition
2025
Water Street Dance Milwaukee-Guest Choreographer
2024 - Present
Company Instructor for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
2021-2025
Water Street Dance Milwaukee Festival Guest Artist/Faculty
2022, 2019, 2015
Selected Choreographer for Dance in the Parks
2022
Guest Choreographer Moonwater Dance Project
2022, 2019, 2018, 2015
Selected for Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival
2021-Present
Company Instructor for South Chicago Dance Theatre
2021-2025
Rehearsal Director South Chicago Dance Theatre
2021
Guest Choreographer Common Conservatory
2021-
Guest Artist in Residence
Eisenhower Dance Detroit's NewDANCEfest.
2020
Selected for The Spring to Dance Festival St Louis
2020
Guest Choreographer for Alluvion Dance Chicago
2020
Guest Choreographer for Hot Crowd Dance Company
2019
Selected for the Dance Gallery Festival Texas
2019-
Artist in Residence
Washington and Lee University Repertory Dance Company
2018
Selected for the MidWest RADFest
2018
-Winner
College of DuPage Choreography Showcase
2018
Guest Choreographer SHIFT DANCE | FESTIVAL in Albuquerque, NM
2017-Present
Ballet teacher for Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre
2017-
Selected for “Dance For Life”
2017-
Finalist
METdance Emerging Choreographer Competition
2017, 2014
Choreographer for Visceral Dance Chicago SOLUS Project
2016,2017, 2018-
Finalist
Avant Chamber Ballet Women’s Choreography Project
2016-
Artist in Residence
Columbia College of Chicago
Repertory Performance Workshop
2015-
Guest Artist in Residence
Eisenhower Dance Detroit's Great Lakes Dance Festival
2014
Guest Choreographer for Chicago Repertory Ballet
2013-
Winner
DanceWorks Chicago’s Inaugural NewMoves Choreography Competition
2013
Presented work at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival
2012
Presented work at the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival
2012-
Winner
Idaho Dance Theatre’s Inaugural New Visions Choreography Competition
2011
Self -Produced Dance Gallery
JMT/JLS Choreography
2010
Self-Produced first evening length performance JMT/JLS Choreography
2009-
Grand Prize Winner
Joyce Theater Foundation’s A.W.A.R.D. Show
2008
Choreographer for Dance For Life "Our Voices Dance"
2007
Guest Choreographer for the Andy Warhol "Silver Clouds" Exhibit at the MCA Chicago
2007
Guest Alumni Choreographer
NC School of the Arts Summer Scenes
2000
Guest Choreographer for The Chautauqua Ballet Company
· Photo Gallery
"Crimes D'Amour"
JMT/JLS Choreography 2010
· Videos (Links to additional works available upon request)
Choreography Reel
Select works
"Berseluk-Beluk" excerpts
"Something To Do With Five" excerpts
Upcoming AND PAST Events
Water Street Dance Milwaukee- Guest Choreographer in Residence
December 2025
Event Details
Water Street Dance Milwaukee- Guest Choreographer in Residence
Jessica has been commissioned to create a new work for Water Street Dance Milwaukee.
December 2025
Moonwater Dance Project- Restaging
July 2024
Event Details
Moonwater Dance Project- Restaging
Jessica restaged her 2022 work "Montage" for Moonwater Dance Project in July 2024.
July 2024
The Universal Ballet Competition
March 2023
Event Details
The Universal Ballet Competition
Students Matti Kitz and Sophia Carbonara will be performing Contemporary solos created by Jessica for the Chicago regionals.
March 2023
The Universal Ballet Competition
March 2023
Event Details
The Universal Ballet Competition
Students Matti Kitz and Sophia Carbonara will be performing Contemporary solos created by Jessica for the Chicago regionals.
March 2023
Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival
September 2022
Event Details
Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival
Hot Crowd Dance Company performed Jessica's 2020 work "Tierspuren" September 23-24th, 2022
September 2022
More Events
Select Press · Additional Below
· Contact Us
For inquiries about booking Choreography, When/Where to take classes, Master Classes or upcoming events, send a message. Also, links to additional works available upon request. Please follow on FaceBook and Instagram. Let's work together!!
Phone: 312.550.9413
I will get back to you soon!
Jessica Miller Tomlinson Choreography
This website uses cookies.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.