Presenting Jordan Breen, the last choreographer in this series! Our virtual production launches June 26th! Need tickets? Find them here.
Jordan (Jay) Breen is a young artist and a lifelong resident in Providence. Being connected to a number of realms within the art world, both in Rhode Island and elsewhere, has made her passionate about using artistic voice to build and bridge communities. She uses her dance experience as a means of connecting with others who are passionate about the arts. Jordan has been immersed in the world of dance since the moment she was able to stand on two feet. She has worked with Part Of The Oath, choreographed and performed in Rhode Island Women’s Choreography Project since their premier year, presented choreography through Raw Artists, choreographed music videos for local artist, Wonyáe, and has worked and set choreography on the students at JMW School For The Arts in the past two years.
Over the years, she has learned from many major names within the dance industry, such as Stacey Tookey, Teddy Forance, Dana Wilson, Alexandra Damiani, Mijo, Martha Nichols, and a number of other well respected artists and educators. She has diversified her sources, in hopes of pouring all of her accumulative knowledge into those that learn from her. In her home community she has worked with kids of all ages, from 2-18 years old, as well as involvement in the collegiate world, as a teacher’s assistant for Mande at Brown University. Her teaching has most commonly been brought into public elementary schools and a number of dance studios throughout the state of Rhode Island. The goal in her approach to teaching is to facilitate a space and ongoing conversation, focused on emotional intelligence/awareness, articulation in expression, mindfulness, and the development of empathy within communities. Jordan believes that by implementing and normalizing these things, we can provoke a more honest, organic, and fruitful creative process and learning experience for students of all ages.
Jordan on emerging into society post-pandemic: “My one and only goal, as we reenter a revised society, is to show up as myself. I’m gonna throw people off. I’m gonna come as a surprise. I’m more than likely gonna make people feel uncomfortable sometimes. Because truthfully, dance was always my escape from my day to day reality, but now, it IS my reality. So, it’s my job not to show up as the alter ego I’d imagined myself to be as a child, but to share with my communities the nuanced dichotomy which I’ve learned myself to embody. Over time. Slowly.”
Rapid Fire Questions with Jordan:
How long have you been choreographing?
For fun…since ever. Officially…since I was 16.
If you could have any choreographer, dead or alive, create a new work on you, who would you choose?
I’m truthfully much too indecisive to answer this question. There are so many with whom I’d be over the moon with and endlessly gratefully to share this experience.
When you’re not choreographing, how do you like to spend your time?
Painting, writing, meditating, eating, sleeping…basically any form of indulging and / or reflecting.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from being a performing artist?
You can be a performing artist for your own fulfillment or you can be a performing artist to please others. Both are valid and can even coexist. Ideally, for me, they coexist.
What was your first job?
In life… an underwhelmed retail associate. As a dancer… I believe it was a guest performing as a soloist for a small community-based company. Both jobs were worked when I was 16.
Favorite emoji?
✨ the twinkly little star cluster ✨
Favorite food?
Lately, I crave cauliflower tacos from the Cheesecake Factory ALL the time.
Dog person or cat person?
I love both dearly. I’m also highly allergic to both. An unforgivable curse.
Ideal travel destination?
I want to see as much of the world as I can. So long as it’s warmer than a winter in New England.
What are you most looking forward to in 2021?
Expansion, always. Whatever that might look like.
Don’t miss Jordan’s piece, “Wildest Dreams,” in our Virtual Production!
Interested in receiving monthly updates from our organization? Sign up for our newsletter to get sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes views, and more.