Meet the Teachers: Miss Jess Mortlock

Welcome to our 2023 Meet the Teacher series!

We have a number of new teachers joining the JOKSOD team this year and we'd love to introduce them to you so you can get to know them a bit more. 

Kicking off 2023 is our fabulous, Miss Jess, who is not a new face to the team but part of the family for over 11 years as our intermediate and senior contemporary teacher. Jess has such a special eye for choreography and incredible expertise in technique and training from her background in dance, pilates and progressive ballet technique.

This year we are so lucky to have Jess teach our BRAND NEW Progressive Ballet Technique class on Thursdays at 3.30pm. Progressive Ballet Technique (PBT) is an innovative body conditioning and strengthening program that has been designed to enhance student's technique by focusing on training the muscle memory required in each exercise in all forms of dance. 

We can't wait for you to know Jess a bit better....

1. Where and what age did you start dancing?
I started dance at 5 years old. I had asthma as a kid and the doctor recommended dancing or swimming to help. I chose to dance!

2. When did you know you wanted to become a dance teacher?
I never ‘knew’ I wanted to be a dance teacher. I started teaching when I was still performing and working as an artist. The more I did, the more I fell in love with the creative aspects of teaching.

3. What’s your favourite style/genre of dance and why?
It’s hard to chose between contemporary and classical for me. I love the discipline and precision of classical ballet. Watching professional ballet dancers always blows my mind. It is such an impressive and athletic endeavour. But contemporary wins my heart for the way it moves me, challenges my analytic brain and allows me to see such inspiring creativity.

4. What do you love most about teaching?
My favourite moment in teaching is when dancers take on a piece of choreography and bring all the aspects of it to life; the technique, emotion, story telling, dynamics, musicality. Just when everything settles so well and you feel all the team work come together.

5. What do you do when you’re not teaching at JOKSOD?
I teach ballet and conditioning as well as pilates! I also am having a blast with my 2 year old, Llewyn, watching him grow and love spending time as a family. 

6. What is your favourite day out?
If we’re hanging out with Llewyn, we love going to the Zoo. But if it’s just me and my husband, definitely a day in the city having lots of tasty meals, some cocktails and then off to a show or concert.

7. Do you have any pets?
Yes, little Dobby. He is a mini foxy x chi. And kinda looks like Dobby the house elf. Hehe.

8. What is your favourite time of year at JOKSOD and why?
When we start concert routines. Nothing better than starting that creative process with all the students!

9. Do you still take dance classes and where?
I wish I could take more!! But Mum life makes it harder now days. If I can, I will do ballet at the Space. I do a lot of pilates and barre classes.

10. What are you hopes and dreams for the future as a dance teacher?
To continue feeling inspired by, and inspire my students to creative beautiful pieces for them. I also hope to pass on as much knowledge as I can to help students blossom in whatever field they turn to later in life. Dance is so much more than just the skills you learn in the studio, and I hope that I can help to shape student’s ideas and approach to the world.

11. What do you love most about the JOKSOD community?
The deep respect everyone has for one another. Every time I come to work I feel that there is such strong support and respect in every aspect of the studio life.

12. Where do you look for inspiration for choreography?
Music, dance shows, musicians and concerts, movies, things that have happened to me in my life. So many places. I’ll often fall in love with a piece of music and just listen to it over and over until it elicits some feeling or visual idea and go from there.

13. What is your favourite dance you’ve ever choreographed and why?
Change. That dance just felt liked it flowed out of me and it all melded together so well with the students I worked with that year. It was been so much fun creating with this group.

14. What is your favourite theatre show?
I recently saw The Australian Ballet perform ‘Kunstkamer’, which moved me to tears. It was such a refreshing and visually stimulating piece. I also adore anything Crystal Pite does, what a phenomenal choreographer.

15. If you were not a dance teacher what would you be doing instead?
Oh gosh, that’s a deep question haha. I went to Uni a while ago and did my degree in psychology, thinking I would become a clinical psychologist. But who knows. Right now I’m so happy being a dance teacher, pilates instructor and a Mum.

You can read more about Jess here.