Jessica Gaynor Dance, a modern dance company based in Brooklyn NY, was founded in 2003. The company, hailed for its "risk-laden" (DIY Dancer) choreography and "sophisticated approach to pure dance," (The New Yorker), performs Gaynor's works that utilize kinetic physicality, intricate patterning, and formal structures in an exploration of the complexities of human experience.
Over the last decade, JGD has created seventeen works, including eight evening length pieces, and has performed at venues such as The Skirball Center/NYU, Jacob's Pillow Inside/Out, Danspace Project, Ailey Citigroup Theater, Dance Theater Workshop, The 92nd Street Y, The Kitchen, Peridance, Gowanus Art + Production, Hudson Guild Theater, Brooklyn Arts Exchange, Dixon Place, White Wave, Brown University, Built on Stilts Dance Festival on Martha's Vineyard and has been presented by Triskelion Arts for eight sold-out seasons, including an encore performance in 2011. Recent grants include a New Music/USA Commission, a Mertz Gilmore Late Stage Production Stipend and an Andrew W. Mellon Space Subsidy. JGD was a Gotham Arts Exchange Emerging Artist in 2010 and a a member of Pentacle's (DanceWorks, Inc.) Gallery Roster from 2013-2015.

Jessica Gaynor holds a BA in American Studies from Brown University, where upon graduation she received the Weston Award for excellence in dance, and an MFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from California Institute of the Arts. Gaynor's repertory has been set on students at Brown University, Grand Canyon University, the Fieldston School, Young Dancemakers Company and the Brearley School where she was on faculty from 2007-2014. She was a guest choreographer for Amalgamate Dance Companies Guest Artist Showcase in 2015. In addition to her work with JGD, Gaynor is Associate Director of Young Dancemakers Company and serves as Secretary of Triskelion Arts' Board of Directors.

Photo by Sam Polcer