BIO

Jesse Phillips-Fein grew up dancing at the Brooklyn Arts Exchange, in the Young People's Performance Workshop with works by Christopher Beck, Martha Bowers, Christopher Caines, Maia Claire Garrison, and Dani Nikas. Jesse also studied choreography with Randi Sloan at the Dalton School.  Jesse earned a B.A. in Dance & Anthropology from Smith College in 2001.  At Smith, Jesse studied with Wendy Woodson, Amie Dowling, Yvonne Daniel, Augusto Soledade & Nia Love.  Jesse received a Diploma in Dance Studies from the Laban Centre, London, and danced there for Rosemary Butcher.  Since 2007, Jesse has studied Cuban & Haitian Folkloric dances with Baba Richard Gonzalez, traveling to Ayiti/Haiti in 2010 with Peniel Guerrier (Artistic Director, Kriye Bode), in 2012 to Cuba with Danys La Mora Perez (Artistic Director Oyu Oro Afro Cuban Experimental Dance Ensemble).  Jesse participated the 2012 EMERGENYC program at the Hemispheric Institute for Performance and Politics, and in 2015 Jesse earned a M.A. in Interdisciplinary studies from The Gallatin School/NYU.

Jesse has collaborated with Box By Three Dance Co., Shana Bloomstein and Women’s Works in Maine,  Adam Matta, White Folks Soul, an experimental dance collective using movement and language to challenge internalized white supremacy, Nia Love and {dance}withoutWalls, and the Square One Collective, a landscape-based movement meditation practice with Danny Johnston & Cassie Mey. Jesse has danced with Shannon Hummel/CORA Dance, Cassie Mey, and Layard Thompson. 

ARTIST STATEMENT

In choreographing, performing, writing, teaching, and a commitment to collective study, my work is to trouble the (ill)logics of value accrued by the forces of gender & sexuality, race, and capitalism.  How do these constraints move through us to shape the fabric of living?  How do we respond to, and how are we responsible for, our entanglements with each other through generations of violence and catastrophe?

PRODUCTIONS
Produced at: Available Space, Brooklyn Arts Exchange/BAX, Dance New Amsterdam, DraftWork at Danspace Project, Dixon Place, Dance Conversations at The Flea, Take Root at Green Space Studio, Performance Mix at HERE Arts Center, Reparations365 at JACK Theater, Movement Research at Judson Church, One Arm Red, Dream Up Festival at Theater for the New City, Triskelion Arts, White Wave at the Jay Ryan Theater and the Gelsey Kirkland Theater.

Self Productions: 15 Nassau St/LMCC, BRICstudio, Connelly Theater, The FAR Space, Flux Factory, Williamsburg Arts NeXus

In Collaboration with Adam Matta: PS 122, Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center

In Collaboration with Box By Three: SWEAT Series at DeBaun Auditorium,  Newsteps at Chen Dance Center, dumbo dance festival at White Wave

GRANTS & RESIDENCIES
2017 Brooklyn Arts Council

2013 Brooklyn Arts Council

2008 Outer/Space Grant fromDance Theater Workshop 

2007 Artist-In-Residence at National Havurah Institute 

2006 Puffin Foundation 

2005-06 Brooklyn Arts Council 

2005 Brooklyn Arts Council Individual Arts Re-grant 

2005 Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Swing Space Grant

TEACHING

Currently Middle & High School Dance at the Brooklyn Friends School.  Previously with Arts Connection, Brooklyn Arts Exchange, Dancewave, East Harbor Performing Arts, Phipps Community Center, Road Recovery,  Sadie Nash Leadership Project