Ms. Jemima

Born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Ms. Jemima began her dance training at the age of 9 in classical ballet and modern dance at The Ballet Studio, Kuala Lumpur. To further pursue dance as a professional career, she came to the U.S. and continued her dance training at Idyllwild Arts Academy. She then went on to study dance at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) where she received her Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Dance Performance and Choreography and was awarded the Honors Award of Excellence in Dance Choreography. During her time at UCI, she was able to further develop herself as an artist, choreographer, and educator. Upon graduating, she received her American Ballet Theater (ABT) teaching certification from Pre-primary Level to Level 5 and has taught in various dance studios. As a performer, she has had the pleasure of working with many respected choreographers including Lar Lubovitch (Lar Lubovitch Dance Company), Yin Yue (YYDC), Noa Wertheim (Vertigo Dance Company), and Dante Puleio (Limon Dance) just to name a few. She recently received her Masters of Fine Arts degree in Dance with distinction at Arizona State University (ASU) focusing on dance pedagogy and choreography.

"As a dance educator, I teach with passion and energy while creating an environment that promotes discovery through dance. I seek to instill the joy of dancing to my students to create dance experiences that are enjoyable and meaningful to them. I strive to create an inclusive and respectful environment by supporting and promoting collaboration between students from diverse backgrounds. My teaching is informed by my various experiences: dance studio training, dance workshops/intensives, collegiate dance training, and my experience dancing and performing at different events in the U.S. and internationally. My approach to teaching is very diverse and my movement practice is informed and inspired by studies in ballet, Black and Brown social dance forms, Limón technique, Release-based technique, Countertechnique, somatic practices like Laban Movement Analysis and Alexander Technique, and improvisation. I use this wealth of experiences and knowledge learned to illuminate technique and artistry, provide historical insights, and expose students to the vast knowledge of dance. "

" Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion. " 

                                                                                                                                     -Martha Graham