Jessica John

An ardent movement researcher, Jessica was a competitive tennis athlete, teenage “rockette,” and ski bum, before finding a passion for circus in 2009. After the 2016 US presidential election, she left her job as an intelligence officer with the CIA, to pursue a fulltime coaching, performing, and directing career.  In her personal practice, she specializes in rope</span></span><span class="s2"><span class="bumpedFont20"> and</span></span><span class="s2"><span class="bumpedFont20"> rope loop, aerial fabric, and dance trapeze. She is the founder and director of Alter Circus, a feminist contemporary circus</span></span><span class="s2"><span class="bumpedFont20">, dance, </span></span><span class="s2"><span class="bumpedFont20">and performance company. </span></span></p> <p class="s4"><span class="s2"><span class="bumpedFont20">Jessica’s</span></span> <span class="s2"><span class="bumpedFont20">progressive technical </span></span><span class="s2"><span class="bumpedFont20">coaching and choreographic style emphasizes efficiency, strength, and innovation. </span></span><span class="s2"><span class="bumpedFont20">She</span></span><span class="s2"><span class="bumpedFont20"> uses her skills as a GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS® trainer</span></span><span class="s2"><span class="bumpedFont20">, a mobility specialist, and a peak performance and nutrition coach </span></span><span class="s2"><span class="bumpedFont20">to safely push students beyond their perceived limits.</span></span> <span class="s2"><span class="bumpedFont20">Jessica </span></span><span class="s2"><span class="bumpedFont20">also </span></span><span class="s2"><span class="bumpedFont20">coaches professionals in solo act creation for performances and competitions and helps aspiring artists develop compelling auditions for camps, professional programs, and competitions and festivals. Previous students have been accepted into Circus Smirkus, Ecole Nationale de Cirque, New England Center for Circus Arts, and San Diego Circus Center, and competitions and festivals like Cirque de </span></span><span class="s2"><span class="bumpedFont20">Demain</span></span><span class="s2"><span class="bumpedFont20">, Circus Stars USA, and the Aerial Acrobatic Arts Festival. </span></span></p> <p class="s4"><span class="s2"><span class="bumpedFont20">Jessica </span></span><span class="s2"><span class="bumpedFont20">also enjoys</span></span> <span class="s2"><span class="bumpedFont20">improving her ground skills (</span></span><span class="s2"><span class="bumpedFont20">footjuggling</span></span><span class="s2"><span class="bumpedFont20">, </span></span><span class="s2"><span class="bumpedFont20">cyr</span></span><span class="s2"><span class="bumpedFont20"> wheel, and handstands), writing, and spending time with her three kitties (Mia, Lola, and Penny).</span></span></p> &nbsp;