Jo Blake・ 2022 ​ Adjudicator

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Performer, choreographer, and educator, Joseph “jo” Blake earned his M.F.A. from the University of Washington (2017) and B.F.A. from the University of Utah (‘03). As a member of the Salt Lake City-based Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, he taught and performed internationally for ten years dancing in works by such artists as Alwin Nikolais, Doug Varone, Wayne McGregor, Carolyn Carlson, Bill T Jones, Susan Marshall, Charlotte Boye- Christensen, as well as many other influential dance makers. His interest in educational theory, community-based engagement, and social justice have led him to work with community outreach projects such as Yoga Behind Bars and Mark Morris’s Dance for Parkinson’s Disease. Last year, jo spent eight-months on a UW Bonderman Travel Fellowship visiting Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Australia, Nepal, Thailand, and Bali, re-kindling his appreciation and passion for community and culture. Currently, jo is a part-time lecturer with the University of Washington’s Department of Dance, guest artist with NOW-ID Interdisciplinary Dance, certified movement instructor for Minding Motion for Graceful Aging, and choreographer of new works for future national festivals.​