CHOREOGRAPHY

Jessica Baynes is a Contemporary dance choreographer currently based in London, UK. Baynes has created over 40 works in her career ranging from large stage ensembles, to small group pieces, solos, and movement for film. Her choreography has been performed in New York City, Boston, Los Angeles, London, and more.

For enquiries or a full choreography CV, please contact JessicaBaynesDance@gmail.com

CHOREOGRAPHIC REEL

Music by Michael Wall/SoundFORMovement

For inquiries, please contact JessicaBaynesDance@gmail.com

EXPERIENCE

Working with varying cast sizes (1 dancer-50 dancers)
Creating for various settings (e.g. site-specific, theater, screendance, hybrid mix between live and onscreen, and educational settings)
Setting material for different populations with varying performance needs (e.g. professional companies, summer intensives, universities, dance studios, competitions, public schools, adaptive dance programs, etc.)
Operating with quick turnaround deadlines, varying budget sizes (corporate/commercial commissions to local/grassroots projects), and working remotely with rehearsal directors.
Collaborating with artists in other artistic disciplines (e.g. music composers, costume designers, lighting designers etc.)
Choreographing for different dance genres such as contemporary ballet, modern, or Flamenco.

PROCESS

Jessica Baynes brings elements of her performance background in American modern dance, American and British/European contemporary dance, and Spanish Flamenco to her choreographic process. Her choreographic interests span exploration of momentum, gesture, partnering, physical theatre, politics, floorwork, and cross-disciplinary collaboration (e.g. working with live musicians).

The in-studio process varies depending on the timeline, group, and nature of each project. However, Baynes often seeks to strike a balance between staging set material and inviting dancers to contribute their own artistic voice within a curated structure (i.e. via improvisational prompts inspired by theme, as facilitated by the choreographer).

VALUES

Transparency

As a choreographer, I value maintaining open lines of communication (e.g. ensuring accessibility) and accurate crediting (i.e. if a choreography was created in collaboration with the dancers then the playbill should say so).

Inclusion

While some processes will include different roles, that differently support the final product (e.g. soloists, ensemble members, etc.), inclusion is ensuring each participant has an intentional role regardless of dis/ability or other dimensions of identity. As a professional educator, I am also committed to facilitating a culture of care in the studio, and teaching material in a way that aligns with diverse learning styles.

Health & Adaptability

Though injury is an inherent risk of engaging in dance performance, I am committed to 1) thoughtfully considering the physical well-being of dancers in creation of material and the repetition of rehearsals, 2) adjusting or omitting any movement material that poses considerable risk (i.e. if a dancer has a physical or psychological vulnerability of which I was not initially made aware, then the information is communicated mid-process).

GALLERIES

Works

Ballet West Academy Professional Training Division (Salt Lake City, UT)

Youth America Grand Prix Finals (New York City, NY)

Harvard-Radcliffe Modern Dance Company (Boston, MA)

Ballet West with Ballet West Orchestra (Salt Lake City, UT)

Salt Lake City Arts Council (Salt Lake City, UT)

Youth America Grand Prix Semi-Finals (Salt Lake City, UT)

Ballet West Academy Training Division (Salt Lake City, UT)

Utah Division of Arts & Museums (Salt Lake City, UT)

Behind-the-Scenes

Ballet West Academy (Salt Lake City, UT)