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BIO:
Jessica Miller Tomlinson graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in contemporary Dance. As a young dancer, Jessica had the fortunate opportunity to apprentice with the NC Dance Theatre under the direction of former New York City Ballet principals Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and Patricia McBride. She has performed works by Warren Conover, Paul Taylor, David Parsons, Neta Pulvermacher, Mark Morris, Zac Whittenberg, Lar Lubovitch, Francisco Avina and Stephanie Martinez, Lucas Crandall and Bob Fosse. In the summer of 2002 Jessica performed in the Taos, New Mexico Dance Festival where she worked with Gail Gilbert and Kevin Wynn. Upon moving to Chicago, she was on scholarship for a year at the Lou Conte Studio. It was during this time that Jessica was honored to collaborate with Lauri Stallings of the Hubbard Street Dance Company. Jessica has choreographed professionally for the Chautauqua Ballet Company, NC School of the Arts and for Thodos Dance Chicago. Jessica's work “Forget What You Came For?”, which premiered at Thodos Dance Chicago's New Dances 2006, and her most recent work “Architecture: Splintered and Cracked” from New Dances 2009 were selected to become part of the repertoire of Thodos Dance Chicago. In the summer of 2008, Jessica was selected as the Guest Alumni Choreographer for NC School of the Arts summer scenes in Manteo, NC, where her work “Die Lieder Tanzen” was performed. In June 2009 Jessica was awarded the Grand Prize, a $10,000 grant from the Joyce Theater Foundation, for her work “Forget What You Came For?” in The A.W.A.R.D. Show 2009! Chicago hosted by the Dance Center of Columbia College. In June of 2010 Jessica self produced her first full length concert of works at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts. Her work "Architecture: Splintered and Cracked" was presented at the prestigious Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in August 2010. Jessica has also collaborated with The Merchandise Mart of Chicago, The Dance Center of Columbia College's 1306 Ten Years Later Project, Dance For Life's "Our Voices Dance", and local Chicago band District 97. In June 2011, Jessica presented work at The Joyce Soho as part of The A.W.A.R.D. Show! All-Stars performance series. In July 2011 "Dance Gallery" premiered and in August 2011 Jessica presented work with The Inconvenience Performance Group. "Triptych: 3 Dance Voices" premiered in March 2012 with new works by Jessica, Jacqueline and Winifred Haun. Look for new JMT works in June 2012 and July 2012. Jessica is in her seventh season as a dancer, choreographer and teacher with Thodos Dance Chicago, where she has performed both nationally and internationally. She currently serves as Co-Artistic director for Thodos/Menomonee Club Youth Ensemble in addition to teaching ballet, dance medley and jazz for the youth dance program at the Menomonee Club for Boys & Girls.
ARTIST STATEMENT:
As a young choreographer 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. As an active, independent choreographer, I feel a responsibility to help maintain a well-rounded sense of culture in the Chicago dance community in order to preserve the performing arts. My professional choreographic career was elevated to a new level with the Grand Prize win at The A.W.A.R.D. Show! 2009: Chicago. Since receiving this grant from the Joyce Theatre Foundation, I have been taking on various projects to help further the community in Chicago and other independent artists like myself. For instance, in June 2010 I self produced a full-length choreographic showcase that presented an eclectic mix of dance professionals from the Chicago dance community. In addition, I have combined forces with other organizations such as: Chicago based musicians District 97, The Fashion Department of the Merchandise Mart, Dance For Life and The Dance Center of Columbia College’s 1306 Ten Years Later Project in September of 2010, and Chicago based performance group The Inconvenience in August 2011. In March of 2012 I will be presenting work alongside Chicago choreographers Jackie Stewart and Winifred Haun which is generously supported by a grant from Audience Architects New Stages Dance Initiative. Look for a new work by Jessica as part of The Live To Move Showcase, a fundraiser by colleague Joshua Manculich on June 30th,2012. Also, keep an eye out for a new collaboration with Chicago choreographer Michael McDonald in July 2012.
