photo by Jamscid Eb © 2010

Hello and welcome to my website!

I'm a professional modern choreographer/dancer/teacher, actor, and singer in New York City. I primarily live as a freelance artist by creating my own work, teaching, and guest performing with other artists across the globe. I'm originally from Denver, Colorado, and have attended the University of Utah (1996 MFA Dance Program).

I'm also a current member of Doug Varone and Dancers (2001) in New York City and Keith Johnson/Dancers (2008) based in Long Beach, California. I serve as a guest artist with the José Limón Dance Company (2008), also based in New York City, as well. It's an honor and privilege to participate in such a vibrant body of inspiring work and processes.

Some other performance credits include: Shapiro and Smith Dance, Brian Brooks Moving Company, ARENA Dances, Gallim Dance, Company XIV, the Aquila Theater Company, the Music Theater of Wichita, and the Metropolitan Opera.

I've also had the pleasure of staging dances made by Joanie Smith, Daniel Shapiro, Rob Scoggins, and Doug Varone.

So why have I chosen contemporary dance as a profession? Firstly, let me say that I pay homage to all of the various art forms in the world, some of which include film, music, and painting... without any of them, dance as a performance art wouldn't be possible. I believe dance, however, is one of the most underestimated and important means of self-expression. It is a collaborative process which translates to the sharing of ideas. I dance because I love it. I choose dance because I believe it has a unique power to heal people. For me, to be connected to people in that way gives me great happiness. It is a true gift.

As a choreographer, I aspire to create work that reverberates and awakens the senses; to give audiences an introspective look into their own subconscious. I want to ultimately encourage people to ask questions about their own perceptions of their own realities within their own world.

Some questions for you to ponder: Why does an artist choose to communicate through dance? Why does a choreographer make the dances that he or she creates? More importantly, what is dance-making's social connection and how does the process hold its own relevance in the world? Is product really important? If so, why? What responsibilities do we have as artists to help ensure that dance continues to have a voice? These are but a few things that hold a lot of weight for me. The joy, for me, in the creative process is in making discoveries (whether they're isolated or collaborated processes), witnessing them unfold, and then knowing that somewhere and somehow the act of performing the work will educate new audiences.

As we continue journeying into the 21st century, it's my hope that my contribution to dance as an art form will help bring people together, to help create a bridge for those that may not be so inclined to be involved and/or support it. Whether if you're a politician, an athlete, a school teacher, or a fork-lift driver, I firmly believe that there's always something to gain from learning through art, especially when movement is used as the expressive medium. What can YOU learn from dance?

In regards to teaching: I've held classes at various universities, festivals, and studios throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. I've also had the pleasure of serving on faculty for the University of Minnesota's dance program in the twin cities (St. Paul/Minneapolis). Currently, I teach classes in NYC as part of Dance New Amsterdam's Modern Guest Artist Series, whenever my schedule permits.

In the classroom, I always encourage students to play while maintaining a large respect for technical discipline. I emphasize expansive circular movement concepts with constant shifts of direction to help bring awareness and efficiency with one's dancing. Attention to detail is complimented through the integration of breath and musicality. In a culmination to an end, simple-humanness is casted off the ground with a sense of physicality that holds no boundaries. Like in life, our experiences are what we make of them, and if you're a student of mine, I will ask you to take risks.

For each student that I have the opportunity to teach, my hope is that he or she will not only gain a more physical sense of a stronger self, but also develop a truer understanding of their own potential and value to the world as a unique creative artistic being.

I am extremely humbled to be doing what I love for a living.

While you're here, please make sure to visit my "photos" page from the tab listed above.

Peace and best wishes,

John

Member of:

MSA

Fractured Atlas

AGMA 

Dancenow/NYC

DNA

The Field