Jessica Miller Tomlinson graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in contemporary Dance. As a young dancer, Jessica had the fortunate opportunity to apprentice with the NC Dance Theatre under the direction of former New York City Ballet principals Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and Patricia McBride. She has performed works by Warren Conover, Paul Taylor, David Parsons, Neta Pulvermacher, Mark Morris, Lar Lubovitch, Lucas Crandall and Bob Fosse. In the summer of 2002 Jessica performed in the Taos, New Mexico Dance Festival where she worked with Gail Gilbert and Kevin Wynn. Upon moving to Chicago, she was on scholarship for a year at the Lou Conte Studio. It was during this time that Jessica was honored to collaborate with Lauri Stallings of the Hubbard Street Dance Company. Jessica has choreographed professionally for the Chautauqua Ballet Company, NC School of the Arts and for Thodos Dance Chicago. Jessica's work “Forget What You Came For?”, which premiered at New Dances 2006, and her most recent work “Architecture: Splintered and Cracked” from New Dances 2009 were selected to become part of the repertoire of Thodos Dance Chicago. In the summer of 2008, Jessica was selected as the Guest Alumni Choreographer for NC School of the Arts summer scenes in Manteo, NC, where her work “Die Lieder Tanzen” was performed. In June 2009 Jessica was awarded the Grand Prize, a $10,000 grant from the Joyce Theatre Foundation, for her work “Forget What You Came For?” in The A.W.A.R.D. Show 2009! Chicago hosted by the Dance Center of Columbia College. Jessica currently serves as co-artistic director for Thodos/Menomonee Club Youth Ensemble in addition to teaching ballet, dance medley and jazz for the youth dance program at the Menomonee Club for Boys & Girls. Jessica joined Thodos Dance Chicago in 2005.