Dancer JENNA PURCELL attended UCSC 2007-2011, graduating cum laude with a BA in Literature and a minor in Theatre Arts (Dance Emphasis). She enjoyed the unique, hands-on dance education offered at UCSC, studying and performing with both the Theatre Arts and Physical Education Departments all four years of her college experience.
Favorite productions include The Princess and the Pea directed by Paul Whitworth through Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Mixed Nutz! (Clara) with Tandy Beal & Co., the musicals Hair and ORESTES TERRORIST (choreographer and performer) directed by Danny Scheie, and four years of performing and creating dances for The Physical Education Department’s Spring Showcase and Random with a Purpose (Director, 2011). After graduating from UCSC, she had the pleasure of working with dance scholar and former UCSC Dance Professor Mark Franko with the Center for Visual and Performance Studies as well as Dance Research Journal. She went on to complete a summer Archives/Engagement internship at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival with Director of Preservation Norton Owen prior to relocating to New York City. In NYC she has performed with Donofrio Dance Company, Mare Nostrum Elements, Beth Liebowitz & Artists, ChrisMastersDance, Megan Bascom & Dancers, and Anne Zuerner, among others. She currently performs with caitlin+dancers and in Third Rail Projects’ Bessie Award-winning immersive production Then She Fell.