Jess Dance

February brought the beats! 🎶🔥 This month, our JK and elementary students dove into a Hip Hop dance unit — and what an incredible experience it was! A huge thank you to Kyle from @jess___dance for bringing the energy, creativity, and enthusiasm to our classrooms. The students looked forward to every session! From learning new moves to building rhythm and confidence, it was so much fun watching our students: ✨ Step outside their comfort zones ✨ Express themselves through movement ✨ Support and cheer each other on ✨ Grow in confidence week after week At our school, learning goes beyond academics — we nurture the whole child through movement, creativity, and community experiences. We are so proud of our dancers! 💛 #oakridgemontessori #montessorielementary #montessorieducation #montessori #montessoripreschool #independentschool #montessorielementaryschool #richmond #vancouver #vancouverschools #hiphop #dance #montessoricommunity

Wishing this absolutely incredible gem of a man Noah Gray a fantastically happy birthday! Pictured here with his sister, Chelsei, this Power duo both teach Powwow and Hoop Dance. Jess Dance is beyond honoured to work with these two, and connect schools with their offerings! Chelsei Gray and Noah Gray are sibling PowWow dancers and cultural educators offering Fancy Shawl, Grass Dance, and Hoop Dance with demonstrations and workshops for schools and community events. Their sessions blend performance, teaching, and storytelling, giving audiences a deeper understanding of regalia, movement, and cultural meaning. Presentations / Performances: 20–30 minutes – A short introduction followed by dance demonstrations with brief explanations. PowWow Styles Learning Circle: 40+ Minutes – A full interactive workshop featuring in-depth teachings on each dance style, regalia education, learning basic steps, participant involvement, and a Q&A. Perfect for schools, youth programs, community gatherings, and cultural events.

Fais bouger ton école ! Du 18 au 21 novembre, 74 élèves de l’école Entre-Lacs ont eu la chance exceptionnelle de participer à des ateliers de danse animés par Ivan Touko, danseur et chorégraphe bilingue, pluridisciplinaire et primé, venu spécialement de Vancouver, proposé par Jess Dance ! Spécialiste des Afro Styles et de l’Afrobeats, Ivan a accompagné les élèves dans un véritable voyage artistique : apprendre à travailler ensemble, pratiquer, créer, et donner vie à une chorégraphie qui leur ressemble. Le dernier jour, les parents et grands-parents ont pu assister à un spectacle et se sont joints aux élèves et aux membres du personnel pour participer à la dernière danse, partageant ainsi un moment convivial et mémorable. Danser ensemble, c’est aussi renforcer la confiance en soi, affirmer son identité et développer l’esprit d’équipe. Une expérience enrichissante et inspirante qui restera gravée longtemps ! Cette initiative a été rendue possible grâce au programme PassepART et à la Fédération culturelle canadienne-francaise (FCCF) représentée par le CCFO. — From November 18 to 21, 74 students from Entre-Lacs School had the incredible opportunity to take part in dance workshops led by Ivan Touko, a bilingual, multidisciplinary, and award-winning dancer and choreographer from Vancouver, proposed by Jess Dance! A specialist in Afro Styles and Afrobeats, Ivan guided the students through a true artistic journey: learning to work together, practice, create, and bring to life a choreography that represents them. On the last day, parents and grandparents were invited to watch a performance and joined the students and staff for the final dance, sharing a warm and memorable moment together. Dancing together also helps build self-confidence, affirm identity, and strengthen teamwork. An enriching and inspiring experience that will be remembered for a long time! This initiative was made possible thanks to the PassepART program and the Fédération culturelle canadienne-francaise (FCCF), represented by the CCFO. #CCFO #passepart #KidsDance #AfroBeats #AfroStyles #danseensemble #ArtsEducation #Francophonie #DanceWorkshops #FrancophoneCulture #CreativeLearning

New Blog Post: Celebrating creativity and collaboration! We’re excited to share our recent hip-hop workshop series led by the amazing Bruce Bryant at Denetia School in northern British Columbia. Big thanks to Jess Dance and everyone involved for making this happen! Check out the full story in our bio!

We are beyond excited to introduce you to Manisha! @sikkamanisha11 Manisha (Bollywood, Bhangra, and Semi-Classical Kathak are her forte, while also strong at Hip Hop, Jazz Funk and Popping,) is an Indian Canadian dancer and choreographer known for her dynamic fusions of Bollywood, Bhangra, and Semi-Classical Kathak. Originally from Punjab, India, she grew up immersed in a culturally rich environment, deeply influenced by her parents—both Bhangra performers in the 1980s. Her father’s legacy as part of Punjab’s official Bhangra team, representing India across the country and abroad, laid the foundation for her own artistic journey. Her formal dance training began in 2005 when a dedicated teacher recognized her talent and encouraged her to pursue Kathak competitively. Manisha quickly excelled, winning multiple district and state-level solo dance competitions, and earning a scholarship for her talent. In college, her passion for Bollywood dance blossomed into choreography, as she led and directed performances for annual cultural events. By 2022, she began marketing her choreography in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, focusing on wedding performances for Indian couples. Her engaging presence on social media soon opened doors to choreographing Punjabi music videos, elevating her visibility in the industry. One of her most notable accomplishments was performing as a backstage dancer during Diljit Dosanjh’s Illuminati Tour—a milestone that highlights her growing influence and versatility. Manisha’s work is rooted in the authenticity and cultural essence of each dance form. She is known for her expressive style, energetic presence, and the ability to adapt movements for all age groups. Her goal is to use dance as a means of free expression, mental well-being, and mind-body connection. She often creates vibrant fusions—combining classical or folk Indian dance with Western music—to make dance more accessible and emotionally resonant for diverse audiences.

By Chelsei Gray: “Truth and Reconciliation is part of our school curriculum I am proud to be supporting that by bringing cultural education and dance to the classroom💛 Greatful to be collaborating with Jess Dance to travel and share powwow teachings with students across schools.💃🏽

Get ready to groove! Artscan Circle and Jess Dance are excited to bring the vibrant energy of hip-hop to Atlin and Lower Post students with a workshop series led by the talented Bruce Bryant. Join us for an unforgettable experience from October 22-24 at Atlin School and October 27-29 at Denetia School. Let’s dance, connect, and celebrate the art of hip-hop together! 🎶✨ Bruce Bryant (aka B_Almighty) is a passionate dance instructor with nearly 15 years of experience in styles like hip hop, popping, locking, animation, and Memphis Jookin’. A childhood cancer survivor, Bruce brings deep insight into human movement and expression. He’s known for high-energy teaching that blends dance history, philosophy, and technique, inspiring others through his unique perspective and love for the art. #ArtscanCircle #JessDance #BruceBryant #HipHop #Atlin #LowerPost #Creativity #Connect

JESS DANCE IS HIRING! Operations & Communications Coordinator (Part-Time) Location: Remote / Metro Vancouver preferred Schedule: Part-time (15 plus hours/week) Compensation: $27.05/hour + Potential commission Start Date: April 1st! Jess Dance is a fast-growing dance education company that brings vibrant, movement-based programs into schools across Canada. We create unforgettable dance experiences that build confidence, connection, and community, with young people—one school at a time. We’re seeking an upbeat, super-organized Operations & Communications Coordinator to support our day-to-day operations, marketing execution, and school communications. This is an exciting role for someone who is self-motivated, loves checklists, systems, and making things run beautifully behind the scenes!

Workout for Women’s Day 2025! Instructor and DJ Spotlight! Meet Jess Dexter and AJ Yuetong Li! @ajjjli Jess will be teaching Female 80’s Artists Dance Party! Get your sweat on through this empowering dance class! You’ll be moving to 80’s hits that never quit with a live DJ! Date: Thursday March 6 Time: 5pm Location: The Stack, 1133 Melville St The charities we are supporting this year are: @dfsvancouver @causewecarefoundation @endingviolence Details on donation and registration can be found at: Thank you Jess, AJ and The Stack for joining Workout for Women’s Day! #yvrfit #yvrfitness #yvrfitnesstrainer #vancouverfit #vancouverfitness #vancityfit #vancityfitness #vancityfitnesstrainer #vancouverfit #vancouverfitness #workoutforwomensday #vancouverisawesome #community #kitsfitness #womensupportingwomen #iwd2025 #yvrdance #dancefitness #vancitydance #vancouverdance #dancefit #YVRDJ

Jess Dance is passionate to share the joy of dance within large school groups! From local communities with a single workshop to up to three weeks of touring remote areas by plane, floatplane, and boat taxi, we bring dance to schools far and wide. If you know any empowering and expressive individuals who are inspired to ignite the spark of creativity in others, we’d love to work with them! :) To be considered: Flexible schedule as our programs are contractual 9 to 3 PM locally OR travel. Jess Dance is hiring 10 Dance Educators and 5 Teacher Assistants! Our group audition will give you the opportunity to demonstrate your skills by leading us through simple warm-up movements (both facing and turned away as school gymnasiums don't have mirrors) and teaching an 8-count, clearly and incrementally. We believe warmth and patience are key to helping students—many of whom are beginners—flourish in our programs. Reach out if you're interested or have any questions! Sincerely,Jess Dance. DM to Register to the audition. March 18 1:30 - 2:30 Mount Pleasant, Traditional Unceded Territories of the Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh), xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), & Skwxwú7mesh Squamish Coast Salish Peoples.

Hi friends, I'm Jess Dexter, the Creative Director of Jess Dance. We're growing, so I'm so excited to announce we're holding our first ever auditions! We're looking for energetic, empowering, and expressive dance educators and assistants! Let us know if you’d like to come to our audition! March 18 1:30 - 2:30 pm Mount Pleasant Traditional unceded territories of the Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh), xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), & Skwxwú7mesh Squamish Coast Salish Peoples.

Hi all! I’m looking for a (self-identifying) woman DJ who would like to contribute to a fantastic cause! I’ll be teaching a dance class on March 7 (more details to come,) and would love to have a fantastically talented live DJ accompany me! This will be the seventh annual Workout for Women’s Day (WWD), which will run March 5-8, 2025. Last year’s event featured almost 50 incredible classes around the city and raised over $49,000 for the selected charities! About Workout for Women’s Day: Workout for Women’s Day is a coming together of Vancouver’s movement studios and instructors around International Women’s Day to offer by-donation classes for charities that support girls, women, and other marginalized genders. The campaign has raised more than $194,000 since it began in 2019. They are excited to be supporting these 3 charities this year: Battered Women’s Support Services Cause We Care Foundation Dress for Success Vancouver Do you want to contribute to the event? Workout for Women’s Day! IG - @strongertogethervancouver We acknowledge, with gratitude, this beautiful place where we come together - the unceded territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations.