Jessie Jewell (she/her) is a dance studio owner, choreographer, and educator located in central Nebraska. Growing up, her training began in the competitive studio circuit. She continued her dance education at Oklahoma City University and, in 2019, graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance and choreography, as well as her 300hr Yoga Teacher Certification. During her time in the program, she studied ballet, contemporary, and improvisational techniques under Charlotte Adams, Eloy Barragán, Kristin Marrs, Jennifer Kayle, and George de la Peña. She performed in works for Melinda Jean Myers and Michael Sakamoto.

Jessie’s greatest love lies in the creative process of choreography and in sharing dance with others. This inspired her to move back to Kearney after college to take the position of co-director at a local studio, where she gained teaching experience and continued developing her creative process and individual voice under the guidance of Krisa Smith.

She is now in her 5th year of co-owning her own competitive and recreational studio, PowerHouse Dance Academy. She has won multiple choreography awards and finds joy in the collaborative process of making work with her students that feels meaningful and empowers them to commit to being seen. Her dancers have gone on to work professionally, pursue dance education and training programs, and dance on collegiate teams.

At her studio, she teaches jazz, ballet, and contemporary technique, as well as contemporary improvisational practices. She has a special interest in improvisation as a tool for developing style, breath, connection, and clarity in movement. When done in a supportive environment, it tethers a room together in a beautiful way.

Her passion is combining a technical dance training through an anatomical lens with the individual, unique artistry each dancer holds in their body. She believes that everyone has something valuable to bring to the table, and the room is changed with each dancer that enters. Jessie feels her purpose in life is to help dancers become confident in their bodies through the rigorous, technical, and cathartic practice of dance.