Jo (she/her) trained at London Studio Centre and London Contemporary Dance School. She gained a BBO Level 6 Extended Diploma in Dance Teaching with Distinction and took part in the Clore Leadership Short Course. She is currently training to be a Comprehensive Pilates teacher with Polestar UK.
Jo has a varied portfolio career and has been involved in the dance industry for over twenty years. She worked as a dancer for fourteen years performing in performances on Broadway and in London’s West End and touring nationally and internationally. She is Creative Director of National Youth Ballet and ENB Youth Co-Connect, an accessible youth dance initiative developed for English National Ballet. She was Creative Director of ENB Youth Co for 5 years. She currently works closely with BA3 students at London Contemporary Dance School to support them on their unit about Transitioning into a Portfolio Career. Jo is an alumna of the National Youth Ballet and created seven ballets for the company. She is passionate about inclusive practice and worked at The Vale SEND School in Tottenham for seven years developing initiatives for young dancers to take part in dance activities. This led her to develop NYB All In! programme in association with partners South East Dance and Parable Dance.
Alongside her work in dance, Jo works internationally as a movement director in opera and theatre. Most recently she worked at Lyric Theatre, Chicago, Teatro San Carlo, Naples and with Canadian Opera Company in Toronto. She will be returning to work at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York this autumn.
Jo’s biggest inspiration is Jill Tookey, Founding Director of National Youth Ballet.
Photo (c) Mikah Smillie
