Jessica Denson

Bio

Jessica Denson is a DC-based, interdisciplinary performing artist/director, educator, arts administrator, and community organizer whose interests reside in crafting opportunities for authenticity, dialogue, and healing through creative expression, particularly as they relate to historically marginalized populations.

Her directing, performance, and design experience includes: Contradiction Dance Theatre*, MK Abadoo/MKArts, Deborah Riley Dance Projects at the Georgetown Lombardi Arts & Humanities Program (AHP) at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Krystal Collins/New Growth Collective, darlingdance, HollyBass360, Claire Alrich, Gesel Mason Performance Projects, Maida Withers Dance Construction Company**, Sydnie L. Mosley/Dances (dancer swing, Purple), Victor Provost, Nick Cave (the American sculptor/dancer), Lesole’s Dance Project, Blues Alley Jazz (headlining vocalist), Fieldwork@Dance Place (show director, facilitator, and performer), and various other projects.

Jessica is currently on dance faculty in the Theatre & Dance Program at the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design at The George Washington University, faculty at Sitar Arts Center^, yoga instructor, administrator at CityDance Conservatory, co-organizer of the Women Dance Artists of Color-DMV, and Fieldwork facilitator. She has trained at the Urban Bush Women Summer Leadership Institute and received certification researching dances of the Southern Region of Africa from École des Sables, in Toubab Dialaw, Senegal. Her graduate research on creating a community-based intervention exploring embodied discussions on mental health was presented at the Shades of Resilience Conference for Mental Health in Communities of Color at Loyola University, the DC Coalition for the Homeless, and at Hillcrest Child and Family Center. Jessica is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park with a BA in Dance and GWU with an MFA in Dance (Maida Withers Impact Award).

* director/co-choreographer for Little White Lies, 2018 Capital Fringe “Best Dance” winner.
** “50 Years of Dance in DC” panel curator for Maida Withers’ “Legacy: 50 Years of Dance on the Edge” at Corcoran School of the Arts + Design
^ member of the board of trustees and chair of DEIB Committee.