How do you describe your style of movement/ Dance?
My movement is derived from everything I was ever told “looks ugly”. To find interest in any and every possibility the human body has to offer is all the inspiration I need to discover new movement.
What do you want the students to feel in your class?
I want every person who takes my class to feel provoked. Whether that be technically through dance steps, mentally through concepts and musical interpretation, and most of all emotionally with anything from laughter to anger. Class is never one sided, but a dialogue with every person in the room.
What do you focus on when you teach and what will they expect?
I focus on sharing how I came to find the movement of that moment. I feel it is so important to know where the choreographer was coming during the creative process, so we can all get the most out of the short time we have together. It is also my greatest enjoyment to have each dancer contributing their own style and creativity to my choreography, as their choices always inspire me to move in completely new and unique ways.
How should the students be prepared for your class?
Comfortable clothing with a great freedom of movement. Usually bare feet or long tube socks. An open mind and a sense of adventure.
Clothing?
Thoughts?
What are your 3 favorite moments as an Artist/ Dancer/ Choreographer? As a dancer, living and working in NYC for 7 years. Every day was an unbelievable adventure!! As an assistant to Mia Michaels, working on the Cirque De Soleil show “DELIRIUM”. The most artistically inspiring and mentally demanding experience of my life thus far. As a teacher/choreographer, every time I finish a class and see dancers leave inspired to become creators themselves.
Training
From an early age Jason has been inspired by the sounds around him, pushing and pulling his mind and body in so many directions. Having attended PSB private school in Palm Springs, Florida, he began an intense arts program that involved music (classical piano, French horn, and percussion), acting, dance, graphic arts and design. Performing in Community Theater from the age of 5 until graduating high school at Santaluces CHS, Jason developed a great understanding and appreciation for the dramatic arts. At 17, with a full scholarship, he continued his training at Southern Ballet Theater and The Demetrius Klein Dance Ensemble, followed by summer intensives with New World School of the Arts, The Miami City Ballet, and Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, California. All helping to build an incrediblydiverse classical, modern, jazz, and hip hop education.
Performing
Jason’s transition to the professional world came first with an apprenticeship to The DK Modern Dance Company in south Florida. Then moved to the corps de ballet, and eventually a soloist position with SBT in Orlando, Florida. After three years as a professional in the ballet world, Jason embarked on a 10 yr. working relationship with The Walt Disney World Company in Orlando, Florida. He was a dancer/principal in 7 full-length shows (including Beauty & the Beast, Lion King, Tarzan Rocks, Pleasure Island, etc.) as well as countless commercial and industrial special events. While in Orlando, Jason was co-creator of the prestigious Firestone hip-hop/jazz company, the first interactive dance experience catering to up and coming dance artists like BT, Moby, Deborah Cox, and Basement Jaxx.
Moving into 1996, Jason was asked to travel to Japan and work for Tokyo Disneyland under a special artist visa, which was awarded to only 5 male dancers every year. Then in 1999, the Walt Disney Company asked him to help create an incredible new spectacular, entitled “Tapestry of Nations”, celebrating the new millennium. During this time Jason also freelanced as a young choreographer for many projects, including “Sunsation” at the Atlantis Resort in Nassau, Bahamas, “River Walk Festival” in San Antonio,
Texas, and on numerous corporate launch’s across America for companies like Mercedes Benz, Nike, Adidas, Tupperware, BMW, etc. Rounding out 2001, as associate producer, he helped to mount the Superbowl, the Academy Awards and The Grammy Awards, all in the same year, with artists such as U2, Madonna, Elton John, N’SYNC, Christina Aguilera, Aerosmith, Mary J. Blige, etc. Today, Jason’s class is one of the most challenging and inspiring experiences for dancers in the world of contemporary movement. “Sharing a passion for this special art form that has both physically and emotionally moved our species since the dawn of time, we come together to fly high and be free!” – J.W.
As assistant choreographer/dancer in the exclusive dance company of acclaimed choreographer MIA MICHAELS, Jason had the pleasure of working with Odyssey Dance Utah at the Jazz Dance World Congress, The New York Summer Dance Festival, and numerous other performances in North America. For the next 4 years Jason would continue to assist Mrs. MICHAELS on many global projects including Greek superstar Anna Vissi’s national concert tour “Nylon”, and the renowned Cirque de Soleil’s “DELIRIUM”, their largest touring production to date.
