Each performer has been on a journey of self-discovery and reclaiming her dancer identity through Jess Grippo’s You Can Dance Again program over the last 4 months.
The variety of dance pieces you'll see range from silly to sultry to spirited, and all of them are infused with a ton of passion and contagious positive energy.
Our intention is to welcome you into not only seeing beautiful dancing in action, but also to shed light on the process behind it so that you leave feeling inspired and empowered to dance YOUR dance - whatever it may be.
You may even get the chance to take a leap on stage yourself!
(We are known for encouraging audience participation ;)
See what happens when a group of women with diverse backgrounds & dance experience come together to revive dance in their lives & create a show.
Each performer has been on a journey of self-discovery and reclaiming her dancer identity through Jess Grippo’s You Can Dance Again program over the last 4 months.
The variety of dance pieces you'll see range from silly to sultry to spirited, and all of them are infused with a ton of passion and contagious positive energy.
Our intention is to welcome you into not only seeing beautiful dancing in action, but also to shed light on the process behind it so that you leave feeling inspired and empowered to dance YOUR dance - whatever it may be.
You may even get the chance to take a leap on stage yourself!
(We are known for encouraging audience participation ;)
Joanne Kim trained in classical ballet, contemporary dance, Korean dance and "integrated dance" that is inclusive of people with disabilities. In 2008, she moved to New York with the intention of becoming a professional dancer and taught dance in a community centers and social service settings. However, after struggling with injuries, back pain and other medical issues, she took a hiatus from dance between 2011-2015. During this time, she rekindled her career interests in healthcare, which she is now pursuing through work and classes at the Spine Research Center at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases. Jo met Jess Grippo through one of Michael Roderick's networking programs and is excited to find a new place for dance in her life. She thanks her family, friends and of course Jess Grippo and fellow YCDA dancers for their love and support.
Julie Jewels Aponte's strengths are in administration, team building, and creating connections. She has substantial experience working in public service, mainly in creating programming to encourage, support, and develop the strengths and potential in youth, as well as, in the corporate world.
At 43 years of age, the You Can Dance Again program is the third time Julie Jewels has had any involvement in organized dance. Her one and only Ballet experience was a class she took when she was 8 years old. Fast forward to 8 years ago when she was expecting her seven year old son, she participated in a Ballroom Dance class with her partner of 11 years and rocked out at the Tango. Her dancing had only been taking place in her mind and then Julie serendipitously connected with Jess Grippo, You Can Dance Again creator, via social media, and took the leap into this YCDA Adventure. Julie Jewels is humbled by the experienced with this group of fierce, stunning, talented, and amazing women. She is forever grateful for the possibility she discovered and the marvelous season she was able to share.
Julie was drawn to dance and theater at an early age, but as the pressures of work and school in adulthood increased the time she spent dancing and performing decreased. She often found herself watching dance and theater videos on YouTube while she was supposed to be studying for an exam or preparing for a work meeting. After many years of pretending it was too late, too frivolous, too selfish to be a performer, she is thankful for the kismet in the series of mysterious events that led her back to the stage. She is so happy to be a part of the You Can Dance Again community and performing alongside them. Julie currently works at a global law firm and attends the Gabelli School of Business at Fordham University. She has become enchanted with the notion that we are all called to create in our own unique ways and looks forward to sharing her creations with the world.
Marikit started dancing and performing at the age of six and has studied jazz, tap, Filipino folk dance, and belly dance. Somewhere in her twenties, Marikit took a three year hiatus from dance until she connected with Jess Grippo and began rediscovering herself as a dancer. She is dancing again because dance gives her the opportunity to know her true self and be her true self.
Marikit is so passionate about sharing her love of dance with the world that she created a Youtube channel, IndepenDANCE, where she posts dance workouts and dance tutorials which encourage others to find freedom & joy through movement. Marikit would love to connect with you on Instagram @marikit_c
Victoria savors life through her senses, fervently experiencing joy and exploring her world through sight, sound, touch, taste, and scent. Dance, movement, music, and cuisine from around the world has always sparked her creativity. She began taking belly dance lessons in 1999, and it was the first dance form she naturally picked up with ease, later joining local troupes and performing at community and social events. In her professional life, Victoria has had a 16+ year career in helping others figure out "what they want to be when they grow up" (sometimes multiple times) and navigating the job search process. She is currently the Audience Development and Content Manager at Idealist.org, and the Editor of its online publication, Idealist Careers. Through Jess's YCDA program, she re-explores dance and the freedom movement brings to all corners of one's life. She is appreciative of the space Jess has created to explore dance as a creative outlet on and off the stage.
Jess Grippo is an award-winning dancer, writer, TEDx speaker, and creativity coach based in Brooklyn NY. After leaving her path as a ballet dancer almost 15 years ago, Jess Grippo now makes dance videos in the most random places, often with random strangers, and sometimes she makes shows on real stages. She does this because her life is more full, happy, and free when she's expressing herself, and that's exactly what her classes and programs are designed to do for other dancers-at-heart. Whether she’s facilitating a dance class or guiding you through a coaching session, she’s really just helping you get out of your own way so that creativity can flow freely through you.
This past spring & summer, Jess Grippo & Company competed in New York's Got Talent and made it to the finals with a 2nd place win. See an encore of 2 of their award-winning performances that tell a story of women's empowerment through comedy and dance.
Featuring: Jess Grippo, Ben Weston, Charlotte Blake, Joanne Kim, Julie McAlinden, Marikit Catalano, Meg Richwine, Salome Egas.