Biography & Class Description

Jessica Rizzo is a native New Yorker and grad student in NYU's Dance Education Masters Program. She is also a cum laude graduate with her BFA in dance performance from the University of Massachusetts Amherst 5 College Dance Program. Since then, Jess, a Chancellor's Talent Award Scholarship alumni has been fortunate to have graced stages all over the world and the United States.  Favorite works include, the national tour of Guys and Dolls dancing alongside Maurice Hines, the European tour of Grease, West Side Story, Cabaret, Sweet Charity, Salute to Dudley Moore at Carnegie Hall, guest dancer with IMPULSE Modern Dance Company as well as lyrical and modern works by Suzi Taylor and Megan Brazil.           

Currently Jess is on faculty at The D’Valda & Sirico Dance and Music Centre in Fairfield, CT and can be seen in the “how to” teaching segments on the newly celebrated danceteacherweb.com. Besides recently teaching the cast of Dragone’s LA REVE at the Wynn Las Vegas, she also serves as choreographer and teacher in the NYC area while conducting Master Classes and Workshops all over the country; specializing in the genres of contemporary/modern and musical theatre. Jess is also master teacher and adjudicator for various national dance competitions and is the creator of her CARDIO BURLESQUE CLASS for adults, which has been a hit across the country!

Because of Jess’ time at the Joffrey Ballet summer intensives while training, all of her own professional dancing, choreography and teaching is rooted in the belief that solid technique is the basis and fundamental necessity for any successful dancer.  She also places great emphasis on performance technique urging every class to be danced as if on stage.  “Being a good dancer comes from a solid technique, being a great dancer comes from one’s gut!” She challenges every student’s strengths and weaknesses in the road to becoming a well rounded, “smart” dancer.  Jess believes in providing a light, encouraging yet focused, challenging and ambitious environment while instituting positive reinforcement and the creative process. It is her goal that her dancers maintain a strong work ethic and passion for their craft while always having something to feel good about at the end of the day!

Modern

Jessica’s class places a contemporary spin on the modern genre and touches upon styles and techniques from multiple dance idioms. Along with emphasis on ballet technique, warm-up, across the floor and centre work also integrates full-release technique, pedestrian movement and the nuances of weight transfer and breath. Special attention is given to the differentiation of these opposing techniques and how they seamlessly combine; while style, performance quality, intent and attention to detail is stressed. Known for her play on musicality, Jess’ center combinations showcase her own extensive background ranging the gamete of raw and edgy to lyrical and fluid to traditional modern phrases with hints of the jazz influence.

Class is structured as a light, encouraging, yet focused, challenging and ambitious environment while instituting positive reinforcement. It is the goal that dancers feel comfortable, maintain a strong work ethic and passion while in class and always have something to feel good about at the end of the day.