Resume
Teaching Experience
Bodies In:Motion 2016-current
Founder and owner. Working one-on-one with pre-professional and professional dancers, specializing in pre- and post-rehabilitation strengthening programs. Training dancers through a Pilates-based conditioning program as well as private ballet coaching, addressing technique dysfunctions and biomechanical imbalances. Areas of expertise include dance injuries, hypermobility disorders, and addressing common issues such as turnout, arabesque height, pirouette imbalance, dancing with scoliosis, and more.
Group class guest teaching 2008-current
Tailoring group classes for individual dance studios or companies as a part of summer intensives or special sessions throughout the year. Original classes include ballet or theatre dance technique, strength training for dance, injury prevention, performance enhancement, stretching, and recovery classes. Clients include Texas Ballet Theatre, Regeneration Company, Classical Training Program of TDC, Elon University dance program, Ballet Academy of Texas, Hathaway Academy of Ballet, Chamberlain Performing Arts, and Dance Industry.
Guest lecturing and workshops 2008-current
Writing and delivering customized workshops for summer intensives or company lectures. Workshops written around studio needs; see below for a partial list of past workshops. Clients include American Ballet Theatre school, Cary Conservatory, United Ballet Theatre, CLI Conservatory, Regeneration Company, Ballet Academy of Texas, Louisiana Delta Ballet, Dance Industry, and Chamberlain Performing Arts.
Dance educator workshop series 2018-current
Creating, planning, marketing, writing, and delivering workshops centered around specific themes or ideas, often for dance educators, physical therapists, or other movement specialists. Please see below for a partial list of workshops.
The Lion King North America 2021-2023
Working with cast members of the various “The Lion King” North America casts on a weekly basis as a contractor with The Dance Ready Project. Designing the weekly conditioning classes as part of the DRP team, and teaching over Zoom. Classes geared toward addressing unique cast needs and maintaining healthy instruments.
Westside Dance Physical Therapy 2002-2006
Trained private clients with some connection to physical therapy, using Pilates as an additional rehab tool. Worked extensively with top-level dancers and athletes looking to cross-train for their sport: trained dancers from New York City Ballet, ABT, Kirov Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Royal Ballet, and more. Also trained medal-winning Olympic athletes, professional baseball players, tennis players, triathletes, golf players and more. Mentored under Marika Molnar.
The Kane School of Core Integration 2002-2008
Worked extensively with long-term clients, training one-on-one once, twice, or three times a week as desired. Specialized in “special populations” such as osteoporotics, hip replacements, or complex movement patterns while also earning a reputation for aggressively difficult workouts. Developed an extremely loyal client base. Conceived, created, and taught a Pilates for Dancers group class designed to cross-train professional dancers in a Pilates setting. Utilized Feldenkrais roller, physioballs, small balls, and bands.
Pilates for Life 2008-2016
Worked one-on-one with long-term clients, creating long-term goals and programs within the dance profession. Successfully trained clients through a variety of complex issues such as vertebral stress fractures, Achilles tendinopathies, talar stress fracture, extreme hypermobility, shoulder reconstruction, Osgood Schlatter, and diagnoses such as EDS and Lupus.
Workshops conceived, researched, written, and administered for dance companies, studios, and summer intensives include:
“Injury Prevention”
“Hypermobility in Dancers”
“Post-Performance Recovery Class
“Designing a Personal Maintenance Plan for Summer Intensives”
“Foot and Ankle Care”
“Proper Turnout Technique”
“Safe Stretching”
Presentations and Public Workshops
Presentations
"Psoas and Iliacus Skill Acquisition for Strength IADMS 2024
And Stability"
sole presenter
"From Abstract To Action: Practical Ways to Bring IADMS 2024
Physical and Mental Health Support Into
the Studio"
Lead presenter
“Conditioning for Strength, Proprioception, and IADMS 2023
Movement Efficiency”
sole presenter
“The Importance of Having Strategies for IADMS 2023
Neurodivergent Dancers”
Lead presenter
“Turnout in Motion” IADMS 2021
sole presenter
“Post-Surgical Hip Rehabilitation” IADMS 2021
Lead presenter
“A Fresh Perspective on Standing Leg Training” IADMS 2021
co-presenter
“Integrative Approach to Symptomatic Hypermobility” IADMS 2021
co-presenter
“Training the Hypermobile Dancer” IADMS 2019
sole presenter
“Hypermobility Disorders in the Dancer” IADMS 2019
co-presenter
“Post-performance recovery class for dancers” IADMS 2017
sole presenter
“Multidisciplinary Approach to Dancer Maintenance” Dansemedica 2022
co-presenter
Public Workshops
"Pilates for the Hypermobile Population" 2024
Sole writer and presenter, with guest
expert Dr. Linda Bluestein
“Hypermobility, Flexibility, and Strength” 2024
Sole writer and presenter, with guest
expert Dr. Linda Bluestein
“Raising the Mental Health Barre: A Series for Teachers” 2022, 2023
co-organizer under Minding the Gap
“Refining Arabesque: Optimizing Movement Strategies” 2023
collaboration with Dance Medicine Education Initiative
“Refining Turnout: Optimizing Movement Strategies” 2022
collaboration with Dance Medicine Education Initiative
“Spot on! Pinpointing the perfect turns” 2021
collaboration with Dr. Katie van den Heuvel
“One-Day Workshop for Teachers” 2018
sole writer and presenter
Teacher Training Experience
The Kane School of Core Integration 2002-2008
Taught for the Kane School’s teacher certification program, specializing in “Biomechanics” and “Special Populations”. Duties included teaching a large group of students from a written curriculum, having a thorough knowledge of the information being taught, and being able to impart the information in an easy-to-understand, memorable way, as well as being available for follow-up questions.
Staffed supervising teacher training hours, when students practiced teaching techniques on volunteers. Duties included observing students, making notes on their progress, writing mini-workshops to “brush up” on a topic as needed, stepping into a session when a safety risk or incorrect technique was observed.
Participated in the teacher training mentoring program. Duties included being observed by teacher trainers for several private sessions; being available via phone, email, and in person for follow-up and clarifying conversations; observing student in question and giving feedback over a long period of time.
Conceived, wrote, and administered the following series of teacher training tutorials:
Foot and Ankle, Knee, Pelvis and Sacrum, Spine I and II, Shoulder
Conceived, created, and taught a Pilates for Dancers group class designed to cross-train professional dancers in a Pilates setting. Utilized Feldenkrais roller, physioballs, small balls, and bands.
Class/Workshop Development 2008-current
Over the course of my professional Pilates career I’ve developed a number of continuing education classes for Pilates teachers. I’ve conceived, researched, written, advertised, and administrated the following courses:
Pilates for the Hypermobile Population
Pilates and Dancers: Building and Maintaining a Healthy Instrument
Guided Stretching for Pilates
The Bum Rap: Targeting Glutes in A Pilates-Based Workout
Working With Rotational Discs
Special Populations for Mat Teachers
Beyond Basics: Ass-Kicking Exercises on the Reformer
Beyond Basics: Ass-Kicking Exercises on the Cadillac
Sweating the Small Stuff: Beyond Basics on the Chair and Barrel
Workshops conceived, researched, written, and administered for dancers include:
Post-Performance Recovery Class
Injury Prevention
Designing A Personal Maintenance Plan for Summer Intensives
Hypermobility in Dancers
Working with Hyperextension
Foot and Ankle Care
Proper Turnout Technique
Safe Stretching
Pilates Training and Continuing Education
Mat Certification Kane School of Core Integration, 2002
Advanced Equipment Certification Kane School of Core Integration, 2002
Dance Medicine Certification Marika Molnar and Westside Dance PT, 2016
Teacher Training Program level 1 Lisa Howell, 2019
Level 2 Flexibility Intensive Lisa Howell 2020
Level 3 Flexibility Intensive Lisa Howell 2022
Smart Spine Certification Marie-Jose Blom, 2014
Parasetter workshop (online) Marika Molnar & Physical/Mind Institute, 2016
Progressing Ballet Technique Certification Marie Walton-Mahon, Progressing Ballet Technique, 2017
Polestar Pilates Rotational Sports workshop Brent Anderson, 2010
Pre-Natal Certification Debbi Goodman, 2003
Post-Partum Certification Debbi Goodman, 2004
Gait Analysis Debbi Goodman, 2004
Physioball Certification Lesley Powell, 2004
Pelvic Imagery Workshop Erik Franklin, 2003
Pointe shoe fitter certification The Perfect Pointe, 2016
Participant in ongoing monthly UT Southwestern-based sports medicine journal review
Jennifer is a Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher
IADMS world conference attendee 2002-present
Equipment Experience
Certified on the following:
All Pilates equipment, including the reformer, Cadillac, high barrel, arc, chair, and more
Physioball
Foam roller
Smart Spine tools
Trained on the following:
Parasetter and Mini Parasetters
Franklin Balls
Tye4
Functional Footprints
Turnout discs
Yamuna balls
Affiliations
Nationally Certified Pilates Trainer #15754 2017-present
Bendy Bodies podcast, co-host 2020-present
International Association of Dance Medicine and Science 2002-present
Minding the Gap advisory board 2020-present
Doctors for Dancers, member 2019-present
Dansemedica, founding member 2020-present
The Bridge Dance Project, member 2020-present
Personal Training and Background
Professional ballet and musical theatre dancer for 15 years, performing nation-wide. Studied Pilates privately since 1997, taking all across the country from a variety of teachers and styles. Also studied gyrotonics and yoga. Certified dance medicine specialist with Westside Dance Physical Therapy. Completed several Lisa Howell certification courses, and certified in Progressing Ballet Technique. Took non-certification classes in Franklin Balls, Feldenkrais, Alexander Technique. Completed college Anatomy and Physiology. National Pilates Certification Program-certified pilates trainer. Member of Doctors for Dancers. Founding member of DanseMedica/The Pointe Shop +. Member of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science, 2003-current. On the advisory board for Minding the Gap.