Jessica Miller Tomlinson apprenticed with NC Dance Theatre under the direction of former New York City Ballet principals Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and Patricia McBride. Tomlinson graduated from the University of NC School of the Arts with a BFA in Contemporary Dance. Upon moving to Chicago, she collaborated with Lauri Stallings (formerly of Hubbard Street and current Artistic Director of gloATL) and performed with her company NANDANSE. Jessica was a dancer, choreographer, assistant rehearsal director and teacher for Thodos Dance Chicago from 2005-2017, where she performed and toured both Nationally and Internationally. Jessica continued developing her own work through the Thodos New Dances Performance Series, with several works becoming part of the company’s repertoire. She produced her first evening length performance JMT/JLS Choreography following a Grand Prize Win/Grant from the Joyce Theater Foundation’s A.W.A.R.D. Show! 2009.

Jessica Miller Tomlinson’s Award Winning Choreography has been commissioned or produced by the Chautauqua Ballet Company, NC School of the Arts, Aerial Dance Chicago, Take Up Space Dance Fest, Unearth Virtual Arts Festival, Moonwater Dance Project, Alluvion Dance Chicago, Hot Crowd, Dancing To Dream Fundraiser, DanceWorks Chicago, Chicago Repertory Ballet,The Joyce Theater Foundation, The Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Idaho Dance Theatre, Regional Dance America, Columbia College of Chicago, Lee University among others. She has collaborated with Dance For Life’s Our Voices Dance, Jacqueline Stewart/JAXON Movement Arts, Joshua Manculich, local Chicago band District 97, and the Andy Warhol Silver Clouds Exhibit at the MCA.

Jessica was most recently a Faculty member for the Hubbard Street Youth Dance Program, as well as The Joffrey Academy of Dance, where she taught Contemporary for the Joffrey Studio Company and Trainees.  She was Adjunct Faculty at Northern Illinois University the past two years. Jessica was a Guest Alumni Choreographer/Teacher for UNCSA, and has been an Guest Artist in Residence for Columbia College of Chicago and Washington and Lee University. Jessica is currently in her fourth season as the Ballet Mistress for Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre. Jessica has been a guest rehearsal director for South Chicago Dance Theatre. She is also currently a faculty member for Alma Dance School, Pure Vibe Dance Center, and The Rooted Space.