As a performer, teacher, choreographer, and practitioner of hip-hop, street dance, club dance, and contemporary dance forms, Jennifer (she/they) emphasizes the benefits of training in African American vernacular dance techniques and enhances the interactions between these dance forms and queer culture.
Jennifer obtained a B.A. in Dance from Slippery Rock University and a M.F.A in Dance from The Ohio State University. They currently serve as an Assistant Professor of Dance at Ball State University. She has served as a faculty member at West Chester University, Cuyahoga Community College, Northampton Community College, and the University of Dayton.
Jennifer actively pushes the boundaries of physicality as a founding performer of the modern dance company, Abby Z and the New Utility, directed and choreographed by Abby Zbikowski. The company has performed at various well-recognized national venues and festivals including Dance Umbrella at Sadler’s Wells (London UK), Jacob’s Pillow (MA), New York Live Arts (NY), American Dance Festival (NC), Kelly Strayhorne Theatre (PA), Whitebird Festival (OR), University of Washington (WA), and Fusebox Festival (TX).
Their choreography was presented at The American College Dance Association, Gibney Dance Center, Detroit City Dance Festival, Cleveland Dance Fest, RADfest, Aimed Dance Summer Fest, West Chester University, Slippery Rock University, and Ball State University. Her choreography is a fusion of movement from breaking, house dance, waacking, vogue, and contemporary dance, and, most importantly, her identity as a queer person motivates the content for her work. In 2023, Jennifer was the director of the Queer Spaces For Queer Faces arts festival in Muncie, IN, bringing awareness of queer culture to the Midwest and highlighting queer performing artists. Jennifer hopes to continue to advocate for queer artists through her pedagogy and choreography.
Jennifer hails from Muncie, IN
Website: www.jennmeck.com
Follow: @jennmeck
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