BIOGRAPHY
Jessie Jeanne Stinnett is a Climate Reality Leader trained by former US Vice President Al Gore as well as a dancer, choreographer, and the founder and co-artistic director of Boston Dance Theater (BDT). Her current project, SURGE, is created in collaboration with ocean scientist Dr Larry J. Pratt of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the dance artists of Boston Dance Theater. SURGE addresses the crisis of sea level rise, and the role that arts + science collaboration can play in creating a sustainable future.
She received a BFA in Dance Performance from The Boston Conservatory and an MFA in Creative Practice: Dance Professional Pathway from Trinity Laban Conservatoire, in conjunction with Independent Dance/Siobhan Davies Dance. Most notably Jessie has performed for the Metropolitan Opera, Tate Britain (UK), Prometheus Dance, Institute of Applied Systems Analysis (Vienna), The Boston Baroque Opera, and Bard College’s SummerScape Festival.
Her choreographic work has been described by Hannah Chanatry of WBUR as “conceptually driven performance that unpacks the complexities of being female, and pushes the academic boundaries of choreography” and has been sustained in part by grants from National Endowment for the Arts, The MAP Fund, supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, and Mellon Foundation, NH State Council for the Arts, Combined Jewish Philanthropies, The Boston Foundation with support from The Barr Foundation, New England Foundation for the Arts, Assets4Artists at MASS MoCA, and Fidelity Charitable.
Some of Jessie’s recent teaching and choreography credits include: Harvard University, Nazareth College, Newport Contemporary Ballet, Seattle International Dance Festival, The Trustees of Reservations, Rose Kennedy Greenway, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, TEDxCambridge, Boston Ballet School, Concord Academy, Dean College, Keene State University, Providence College, Endicott College, Goethe Institut Boston, Museum of Fine Arts with Jewish Arts Collaborative, Emerald Necklace Conservancy, and Emmanuel Music. She was the recipient of the 2020 Boston Dancemakers Residency grant award and the 2020 Choreographer in Residence at Boston Center for the Arts and Boston Dance Alliance. In 2023 Jessie served as a Visiting Lecturer in Harvard University’s Theater Dance & Media Department.
CLASS DESCRIPTION
Contemporary Repertory Workshop with Jessie Jeanne Stinnett of Boston Dance Theater
Join us for an immersive Contemporary Repertory Workshop led by Jessie Jeanne Stinnett, co-director of Boston Dance Theater. This workshop is designed for dancers seeking to deepen their understanding of contemporary movement and explore innovative choreography. Participants will start with Stinnett’s signature warm-up and learn material from BDT’s touring program “Pinnacle Works,” featuring choreographers Marco Goecke, Itzik Galili, and Alessandro Sousa Pereira. Additionally, Stinnett will teach excerpts from her 2022 work “Legacy.” Each day will focus on a different choreographer, and participants can attend any or all days.
What to Expect:
Technique Training: Enhance your movement vocabulary through a series of rigorous exercises designed to improve your strength, flexibility, and artistic expression.
Choreography Exploration: Engage with original works from Boston Dance Theater's repertoire, learning the nuances of contemporary choreography.
Collaborative Environment: Experience the joy of collaboration as you work alongside fellow dancers, fostering a supportive and inspiring community.
Whether you’re looking to refine your skills or explore new creative avenues, this workshop promises to be an enriching experience. Don’t miss the chance to learn from one of the leading figures in contemporary dance!