ARTIST BIO
Jessie Novak has been sharing dance, Pilates and yoga in Chicago since 2002 including dancing professionally with Cerqua Rivera Dance Theater (Wilfredo Rivera, Dionna PridGeon, Eddy Ocampo), the Chicago Moving Company (Nana Shineflug), Jay-Son Dance Company (Derek Jay-Son Rusch) and The Humans (Rachel Bunting). She trained at the University of Iowa where she toured nationally with Charlotte Adams and Dancers, and discovered her passion for the human body in motion from an analytical and postural perspective. She has continued seeking out teachers to further her knowledge of anatomy, body form, and healthy, functional movement for people of all ages and has studied with Pilates master teachers Jen Zumann, Madeline Black, and Mary Bowen.
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Jessie directed the Dance Department at the School of Performing Arts in Naperville, IL (2005-2010), and the annual Keep The Smile Alive Katie Lunn Memorial Fund Spread The Smile concert and fundraiser (2011-2015) and teaches master classes throughout the Chicagoland region. Other wonderful dance homes have included Dance Motions Inc., Talent Forum, SPA and Chicago Ballet Arts. Her choreography has been consistently selected as Best of Dance Chicago and has won Best Choreography honors at regional and national competitions including BRAVO!, Kids Artistic Revue, and Starquest. Since retiring from the professional dance community she has also welcomed two daughters (both dancers!) who are all excited to be part of Visceral Dance Chicago.
While rehabilitating several common and not-so-common dancers' injuries, Jessie discovered the benefits of integrating Pilates and yoga into an overall strength and conditioning program. She finished Pilates teacher training with Pilates Chicago in 2008, 200 Hour Yoga teacher training and 85 hour Prenatal Yoga teacher training from Bloom Yoga Studio in 2013 and 2014. She also completed specialty training with Carolyne Anthony and the Center for Women's Fitness with distinctions as a Pre/Postnatal Specialist and Pelvic Floor Health, and The Center Method® for Diastasis Recti Recovery in 2016 and is on faculty for The Center Method®. Jessie has been on the Lead Teaching Faculty for Pilates Chicago Teacher Training since 2009, a Co-Lead Trainer for Bloom Yoga Studio Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training since 2016, and will Co-Lead Bloom's 200hr Yoga Teacher Training beginning fall 2018.
Whether working with groups or individuals, Jessie is a passionate, engaged teacher, applying a holistic and functional approach, while using creative imagery with a love for anatomy and physiology. She believes movement, music, and breath benefit every body, every age, in every stage.