Jenny Rocha is the artistic director/choreographer and producer for her Brooklyn-based dance company, Rocha Dance Theater. She is also a costume designer, teacher and dancer. Rocha has created over 50 works and 10 evening-length productions for her company since 2001. Her choreography has been presented by numerous venues and events such as Danspace Project, Joyce Soho, La Mama ETC and Galapagos Art Space where she is a currently a resident artist. She has self-produced and co-produced many of her productions. In addition to choreographing for her own company, she also creates work for theater directors, off-broadway productions, music shows, commissioned events, films and college companies. As a dancer, she has been performing in NYC and nationally. Noted mentors that she has worked with include Kelli Wicke Davis, Sean Curran Company and currently Heidi Latsky Dance. Rocha has performed in formal theaters, cabaret stages, operas, films and video, NBCs America's Got Talent, outdoor festivals, and many other performance mediums. As a teacher, she has been a guest artist at West Virginia University, ACDFA at Connecticut College and a revisiting artist at Roger Williams University (2001-2011). Jenny also teaches children in NY public schools for the organization CREATE and has been a guest artist at Dance New Amsterdam in NYC. Jenny graduated with a BA in Dance from Roger Williams University in 1996 where she received the Thomas Paolino Scholarship and The Outstanding Achievement in Dance Award. Rocha has received funding from The Emerging Artist Award by Greenstreet Studios in Boston, the Thomas Moore Foundation, Danspace Projects Commissioning Initiative and the Puffin Foundation.
Costume design is an important part of Rocha's work. It adds a necessary visual element that is usually conceptualized in the beginning of each creative process. At times, the costumes are manipulated, transformed or used as a prop. Collaborators that Jenny has worked with include Fatima Rocha, Sandra Rocha, Jillian Hollis and Laurie Tyrol.
Class Description
Classes are designed to bring attention to technique and the physical intent of movement. Jenny believes that in order for the dancer to embody a character or emotion in performance, he or she has to learn to move with a clear purpose. During a thorough and active warm-up, students will focus on the pelvis, alignment and breath. Center phrasing will emphasize athleticism, floor work and moving horizontally through space. The students will be asked to investigate the physical intent of the movement through an exploration of imagery, dynamic direction and specified rhythms. Students will also be challenged with the concept of not acting but rather becoming a character.
Classes include:
Intermediate and Advanced Modern Dance
Contemporary Jazz (all levels)
Movement for the Actor
Dance Technique for Variety Performers (circus, burlesque etc)
Costume & Prop Design
Step/Stomp
To hire Jenny for college residencies, workshops, private lessons or other teaching positions, please email her at: jenny@jennyrocha.com
Resume
Colleges & Universities
ACDFA at Connecticut College, 2008
Guest Artist teacher - Advanced Modern Technique
West Virginia University, 2007
Guest Artist Residency - Intermediate Modern Technique, Beginner Modern Technique, Costume Design for Dance, Movement for the Actor
Roger Williams University, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011
Guest Artist Residency - Beginner, Intermediate & Advanced Modern Technique
Public & Private Schools
PS 103 CREATE Program, Staten Island, 2011
Albee's School of Dance, Brooklyn NY, 1998-2011
PS 108 CREATE Program, Brooklyn NY, 2009
PS 170 CREATE Program, Brooklyn NY, 2009
CREATE Program, Brooklyn NY, 2007
PS 58 After school Program, Brooklyn NY, 2002
Weston Middle School, CT, 2002
Stonington High School, CT 2000
St. Georges Middle School, RI, 1997
Performance Credits
Rocha Dance Theater 2000-present
Includes over 50 individual works and 10 evening length productions. See Choreography for detailed outline.
Kelli Wicke Davis
Whisper Into The Glass - Joyce Soho, NYC, 2005; The Carriage House, RI, 2004; Greenstreet Studios, Boston MA, 2004
Anicca - Danspace Project at St. Mark's Church, NYC, 2007
Heidi Latsky Dance 2003-present
Project Gimp: If, La Mama, NYC, June 2011
Project Gimp: If, Jewish Community Center, NYC, November 2010
Luxury Suites, White Wave at John Jay Theater, Brooklyn NY, 2009
Luxury Suites, The Mansion, NYC 2009
Disjointed, Danspace Project at St. Mark's Church, NYC 2007
Club Riot, The Club at La Mama, NYC, 2006
Balletto Stiletto, La Mama, NYC, 2005
Bound, Drew University, 2003
Sean Curran Company 1998-1999, 2008-2009
Dance Theater Workshop, 2009
The Guggenheim, 2008
Lincoln Center, 2008
Colorado Opera House, Nixon In China, 2008
Dance Theater Workshop, Each Of Both 1999
Celebrate Brooklyn, 1999
As producer of many of her shows, Jenny oversees all components of putting her productions together. She balances budgets; creates fundraising events; hires technical staff, collaborators and casts. As a producer, she also secures rehearsals, venue dates, front of house staff, press and promotion as well as any other aspects of fully realizing her vision.
Rocha is currently seeking producers who enjoy and believe in her work. If you are interested in producing and/or co-producing any production of Rocha Dance Theater, please contact manager, Eric Sosa at: eric@monarchpresents.com.
Internships for marketing/fundraising and/or general company assistance are also available! Please contact jenny@jennyrocha.com with a letter of interest.
Choreography/Direction for evening length productions:
Mandorla
Premiered at La Mama's Ellen Stewart Theater, NYC, May 2011
Jenny Rocha & Her Painted Ladies
Galapagos Art Space, Brooklyn NY, 2006,2007, 2009, 2010, 2011
Le Poisson Rouge, NYC, 2009, 2010
Public Assembly, Brooklyn NY, 2010
The Slipper Room, NYC, 2007
Symphony Space, NYC, 2006
Mo Pitkin's House of Satisfaction, NYC 2006
Pistol Pretty
The Club at La Mama, NYC, May 2008
Just Barely
Danspace Project at St. Mark's Church, NYC, 2007
Trembling In The Balance
BRIC, Brooklyn NY, 2006
Not So Soft
Joyce Soho, NYC, 2005
Ponder Me
The Carriage House, Providence RI, 2004
Greenstreet Studios, Boston MA, 2004
Proper Thang
The Williamsburg Art Nexus, Brooklyn NY, 2002
Gaining Voice
Chashama Theater, NYC, 2001
Individual Works selected for the following venues & events
Joyce Soho Presents, Danspace Project's Draftwork Series, Danspace Project's Food For Thought Series, Dancers Responding To Aids, Underexposed at Dixon Place, Mulberry Street's Newsteps Series, DanceNow at Joe's Pub and Dance Theater Workshop, La Mama's It's a Dance Thing Too Series, 92nd St Y's Fridays At Noon, Dumbo Dance Festival, The Improv, The Medicine Show Theater, Cool New York Gala Performance, Outback Series at BAX, Dance Conversations at The Flea Theater, The House of Yes, In God We Deliver Benefit, Grand Opening of The Brooklyn Arts Council, RAW at Dance New Amsterdam and others.
Choreography set on college students
Roger Williams University
Half-Heard 2002, Breath 2003, Trembling In The Balance 2006, Breaking Her Fall 2006, Just Barely 2007, Mandorla 2011
West Virginia University
Beauty Operator 2007
Off-Broadway Productions
La Sombre, Shirley At The Tropicana, Fishbowl, Your Mom's Feet and Juniper Queen - all directed by Christine Henry
Film & Video
Choreography/Direction of 2 short films for Mandorla, 2011
Choreographer for feature film, Ode, directed by Gary Shore, 2004