Jess Burgess IMPROVISATION Dance Master Class

IMPROVISATION Master Class: Tuesday, October 25, 2016, at 4:40 p.m. - 6 p.m.  Jefferson Street Dance Studio

Jess Burgess is a performer, choreographer and dance educator living in Richmond, Virginia. A James Madison University graduate, she has trained extensively with acclaimed professionals in the dance community in the United States and abroad, including Sonia Rafferty, Donald Laney, Toneta Akers Toler, Isabel Gotzkowsky, Scott Smith (Siobhon Davies) and Keith Thompson. Burgess is also the Artistic and Executive Director at Dogtown Dance Theatre. RVA Dance Collective operates as the company in residence at this historic Manchester arts building. She is responsible for conceiving, developing, and implementing the artistic vision and focus of the organization, and for major decisions about the ongoing development of the aesthetic values and activities. She is the Artistic Director and founder of her solo project, jessburgess|dance. Burgess' work has been seen by patrons of the arts at Jack Guidone Theatre (D.C.), Dance Place (D.C.), James Madison University and Courtsquare Theatre (Harrisonburg, Virginia), Mcvey Studio Theatre (RVA), Grace Street Theater (RVA) and Merce Cunningham Studios (N.Y.C.). Burgess also worked with Z Mullins Dance Company for three seasons as a company member, choreographer, and graphic designer. Her choreography piece of mind was selected to be a part of the 2009 Dance Place in Washington, D.C. A seasoned educator, Burgess has taught and choreographed for Dance & Company in Harrisonburg, Virginia, Little People's Creative Workshop (RVA), University of Richmond, Radford University, James Madison University and St. Catherine's School in Richmond. In 2008, she had the opportunity to reach at-risk adolescents in the Richmond community through a project she co-spearheaded with support from the Lifenet organization and Tara Mullins of Z Mullins Dance Company. The Utopia Project was designed to help teens find creative alternatives within the healing process through movement and self-awareness. Jess currently teaches advanced and intermediate modern technique classes, improvisation and choreography at The Dance Company in Mechanicsville, Virginia.