Employed Since:
Fall 2024Educational History:
B.A., Shanghai Theater Academy; M.F.A., The University of Iowa
Professional Highlights:
Jiaxi Jesse Li is an adjunct professor of dance at Shenandoah University, specializing in ballet technique, pointe, dance theory, pedagogy and choreography. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in dance choreography from the University of Iowa and a Bachelor of Arts in dance performance from the Shanghai Theater Academy.
As a professional dance artist, Jessie was the only dancer promoted to soloist within her first year working at City Ballet of San Diego,under leadership of Steven Wistrich, acclaimed former Boston Ballet principal dancer. She later performed with Ballet Arizona under the artistic leadership of Ib Andersen, acclaimed former principal dancer of New York City Ballet and protégé of George Balanchine. Her stage experience, combined with training in the Vaganova method, informs her comprehensive and student-centered teaching, blending technical excellence, artistry and academic inquiry. Moreover, Jessie’s comprehensive modern dance training is from working with José Limón technique professor Alan Sener, Graham technique professor Armando Duarte and Merce Cunningham technique professor Charlotte Adam at the University of Iowa.
Li’s dance achievements include winning a full scholarship to the Australia Ballet School through the Youth America Grand Prix International Ballet Competition (YAGP) at 18 years old and a gold medal for choreography and performance in modern dance at the Guangzhou International Modern Dance Festival, hosted by Willy Cao, artistic director of Hong Kong Modern Dance Company, as a graduate student representing The University of Iowa graduate choreography track.
In higher education, Li served as a former teaching assistant at the University of Iowa, where she taught ballet and modern technique to sophomore-level dance students for two years. She was also honored as the only recipient of the Iowa Arts Fellowship for 2009 University of Iowa M.F.A. cohort. Her broader teaching experience includes faculty positions at Peridance Center in New York City and the School of City Ballet of San Diego. She also produced and choreographed student dance concerts for University of Iowa undergraduate students. Li is a certified yoga teacher (James Miller Yoga, Iowa City), supporting her holistic approach to dance education and her research interest in dance somatic study.