Originally from Timmins, Ontario, Jessica began her dance training at the age of four, in Tap and Ballet, and later in Jazz, at the Mick School of Dance. After graduating from high school, she attended the Ryerson University Dance Program where she studied under the artistic direction of Nadia Potts. From there, she pursued Musical Theatre training at the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts. Under the guidance of working professional faculty members including George Randolph and Ron Singer, she graduated with a Diploma in Musical Theatre in December of 1999.
Throughout the years since Jessica’s arrival in Toronto she has had the pleasure to meet and study with tap dancers, Gregory Hines, Dianne Walker, and Anita Feldman. Jessica was a member of the National Tap Dance Company of Canada for five years. On tour, the company travelled across Canada showcasing the works of Dora award-winning choreographer, William Orlowski; three shows included Oliver Button Is A Sissy, The Tin Soldier, and a choreographic collaboration, Feats of Feet.
Jessica is currently a member of What’s On? TAP!, a Mississauga based tap dance company under the artistic direction of Kim Chalovich. They have performed at various venues across Southern Ontario including the Living Arts Centre and the Fleck Dance Theatre (formerly Premiere Dance Theatre), in Toronto.
When not performing you can find Jessica teaching around the Greater Toronto Area. She has guest taught at the Randolph Dance Theatre, the Canadian Children’s Dance Theatre, TDS Dance Space, Martha Hick’s School of Dance, Innovative Rhythm Dance Studio, Dance with Alana, The Swing and Tap Academy of Toronto, MBS Performing Arts Industry, and Dance Extreme. Jessica has been on the dance faculty at the Randolph Academy since 2002 and has acted as Head of the Dance Department. She is also on faculty at the Port Credit Tap Studio and choreographs for DeGazon Music Studios’ Musical Theatre program.
In February 2004, Jessica accepted the role of Interim Artistic Director of Dance Alive Productions, a workshop-focused dance producer. Later in November of 2004, Jessica presented Muskoka Dance Weekend 2004, at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ontario. The unique weekend workshop presented thirty-three dance classes over two days. Professional dancers and instructors from across Canada came to teach classes in: Jazz, Lyrical Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Modern, African Dance, Breakdance, Hip Hop, Flamenco, Yoga, and Pilates. The well-received workshop was appreciated by students aged five to adulthood, from all over Ontario.
In 2007, Jessica headed back up to Northern Ontario to choreograph for Lock and Keynote Productions. Led by Founder and Musical Director, Shari Porter, the three week Musical Theatre workshop welcomed children from Cochrane, Timmins, and the surrounding area, and gave them the chance to sing, dance, and act in a professionally directed show.
In addition to performing and teaching, Jessica is the Program Manager for Dance Ontario and Administrative Assistant for DanceWorks and The CanDance Network. Jessica is proud to take on new challenges in the dance world. She assists Executive Director, Rosslyn Jacob Edwards, and Dance Curator, Mimi Beck. She has programmed two satellite events for Dance Ontario’s DanceWeekend at the Fleck Dance Theatre, including a Tap Dance Series (2004) and a Latin Dance Series (2005). Also in 2005, Jessica programmed and performed in, Dance Ontario celebrates TAP: Mr. Bojangles and Friends; a one-night only Tap gala held at the Harbourfront Studio Theatre, Toronto, with Dance Ontario members, T.O. Tap, Turn on the Tap, What’s On? TAP!, and the late Kimberley Timlock.
In May 2007, a proposal Jessica submitted to the selection committee of Dance Ontario’s Creative Partnerships Program was accepted; she was commissioned to mount an original choreography. Her first modern dance choreography was performed to two sold out audiences at the Fleck Dance Theatre in Toronto, in January of 2008.
Jessica has been heard on CIUT FM Radio promoting dance, and was also the principal actress in a television commercial for Royal Taxi, in 2004.
Jessica and her husband, Richard, welcomed their first child, Jacob, on July 25th, 2005, and their second, Anna, on February 5th, 2010. She is thrilled to be a mother and has embraced this new and exciting role.
