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 that shows versatility as an artist. My hope is 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 in working with different energies and the multitude of possibilities that can emerge from collaboration . I eagerly work within a collaborative environment for some of my creative processes while others I choose to take more of 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 like to 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, 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 most recently 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 is currently in her fourth season as the Ballet Mistress for Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre. In addition, Jessica is the Rehearsal Director ,Company Liaison and Ballet Instructor for South Chicago Dance Theatre. She is also currently a Faculty member for Alma Dance School, Pure Vibe Dance Center, and The Rooted Space.
Awards and Recognition
2022- Rehearsal Director
Jessica was appointed as Rehearsal Director for South Chicago Dance Theatre
2021-Guest Artist
Eisenhower Dance Detroit's NewDANCEfest.
2019- Artist in Residence
Washington and Lee University Repertory Dance Company
2018-Winner
College of DuPage Choreography Showcase
2017-Ballet Mistress
Jessica was appointed as Ballet Mistress for Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre
2017- Selected for “Dance For Life”
Chicago AIDS Benefit
2017- Finalist
METdance Emerging Choreographer Competition
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
Eisenhower Dance Detroit's Great Lakes Dance Festival
2013- Winner
DanceWorks Chicago’s Inaugural NewMoves Choreography Competition
2012- Winner
Idaho Dance Theatre’s Inaugural New Visions Choreography Competition
2009- Grand Prize Winner
Joyce Theater Foundation’s A.W.A.R.D. Show
2007- Guest Alumni Choreographer
NC School of the Arts Summer Scenes
· 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
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
Water Street Dance Milwaukee Festival
August 2022
Event Details
Water Street Dance Milwaukee Festival
August 2022
Dance in the Parks
July 2022
Event Details
Dance in the Parks
Jessica's new work "Recurring Mosaic" premiered in July 2022.
July 2022
Commission for Moonwater Dance Project
July 2022
Event Details
Commission for Moonwater Dance Project
Jessica created a new work for Moonwater Dance Project in Fall 2021. Jessica's work "Montage" premiered July 1st, 2022.
July 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
Copyright © 2020 Jessica Miller Tomlinson Choreography- All Rights Reserved.
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