CHARLESTON MODERN COLLECTIVE, CREATIVE MOVEMENT, TINY TUMBLING

Jessie grew up in Raleigh, NC, and began dancing when she was 10. She attended public magnet schools that specialized in the arts, where she trained in jazz, tap, and modern dance. Throughout high school and college Jessie’s training was focused on modern dance. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Dance and Sustainable Development from Appalachian State University. During her time at ASU, Jessie choreographed and performed for the Appalachian Dance Ensemble and Freshman Showcase. Her work was also selected to represent her university at the American College Dance Association Festival, and she attended the summer intensive at the American Dance Festival during her time at college. 

Jessie moved to Charleston in 2011 and began teaching dance at Dance Moves. During her time at Dance Moves Jessie taught jazz, tap, ballet, and preschool dance. During this time, Jessie founded the Coalesce Dance Company. The Coalesce Dance Company was a collaborative modern dance company that performed at Piccolo Spoleto, the Charleston Dance Festival, and Jailbreak. Jessie took a hiatus from dance in 2013 to pursue a career as a flight attendant and later left that career to join her husband as co-owner of Artisan Tees and to start a family. 

As a new mom living through a pandemic in 2020 Jessie knew her life was missing something, and she found her new dance home at Dancefx. Jessie has since performed with the Apprentice Company and performed and choreographed with the Charleston Modern Collective, presenting works at the Queen Street Theater, The Pearl Theater, Tradesman Brewing Company, Untapped Arts Fest, the Coastal Carolina Fair, and the Charleston Children’s Day Festival. 

Jessie feels like through finding dance again, she has also found herself. She is filled with joy to continue dancing, performing, and choreographing at The Dance Space, and to be able to share her passion for dance with her students.