Reverie Dance Company is lead by visionary artistic director Jenna Skipworth, and is based in Denver, Colorado.
They recently had their inaugural performance and are currently in the process of putting their second show together.
I shot with the artistic director, Jenna, as well as the dancers in her company twice in the past few months. Below is photos from our two photoshoots, an and interview with Jenna.
Introduce yourself
Hi! I’m Jenna Skipworth. I am a Colorado native and current Denver resident. I have been a freelance professional dancer for over 10 years. I have a degree in music from Berklee college of music, a comprehensive Pilates certification, and am a certified Franklin Method instructor. I love to perform, create, and teach!! Most recently, I am the Artistic Director and founder of Reverie Dance Company.
What drives you to do reverie? What motivates you?
Reverie has been an idea for many years in my head. After personally experiencing and watching friends experience the depth of toxicity In the dance world, I knew I wanted to do something to change it. Even on a small scale.
I’m so motivated to create a positive and dancer-first space. A place where choreography is designed around the dancers and their strengths, where no one dances for free, individuality is celebrated, and dancers are deeply respected. A place that needs to exist!
What are some ways you feel you’ve changed as a dancer/artist?
Over my career, I’ve become more conscious of the people around me. Everyone has a story and they interact and are shaped by their own stories in their own ways. Any freelance job I’ve been lucky to get has introduced me to the most interesting people. When you hear more stories, you can’t help but become more empathetic.
I’ve also become more aware of how I can change the dance world, and encourage friends around me to do the same. Things like talking about pay rates, encouraging each other to speak up in bad situations, to walk away when you know you deserve better, and things like that.
What are 3 facts about you?
I’m married to the most amazing human, Sam, and he has lovingly supported me through my dance career and Reverie!
I obsessed with pop culture things from 1950s-90s. Movies, music, clothing. I listen almost exclusively to classic jazz, wear vintage clothing and jewelry.
I find family heritage and history fascinating. My mom was adopted and through DNA testing, we’ve discovered new family members and uncovered more family history. For instance, I’m very Sicilian and my great grandfather carved a church door in Catina, Sicily that is still standing to this day!
What’s your favorite way to drink coffee?
Espresso martini please!! But honestly, I’ll take and enjoy coffee in any form. I love trying local coffee shops, buying locally roasted beans, and finding special coffees all over Denver.
For at home coffee, I decided a long time ago that I wanted to make pour over coffee every morning. I have stayed committed to it ever since.
What is the role of art in society?
Art has many important roles. It can range from simply being a creative outlet, a way to massage the brain and take a break from normal life, or to try to find a new way to see the world. It can also be something that carries a ton of weight. It reflects culture and current events, it can break you, heal you, and change you.
As dancers, we feel the impact of art intensely and tend to blend how someone perceives us with our own love of art. This can create deep wounds that are hard to heal. I hope to treat all my dancers with a tenderness that helps them fall in love with their own abilities and the way they can create art as individuals, despite how someone sees/treats them.
What movies have you enjoyed lately?
Sam and I have been really into watching old movies from the 60s and 70s. Anything from classic James Bond, to old movie musicals (my absolute favorites), and obscure ones with titles that are too long and are completely unhinged.
What are some of your hobbies/passions outside of dance?
I could sew for 24 hours without stopping. I’m super amateur and self-taught but severely obsessed!! Sam calls it my “sewing black hole”
Thrifting!! Could thrift all day every day. It feels like treasure hunting.
I love hosting and planning parties! Bachelorette, birthday, garden parties… you name it, and I will go crazy.
What’s something people might be surprised to know about you?
Although I am born and raised in Colorado, I can’t ski or snowboard. In fact, I tried once and broke my wrist. If I hit the slopes, they hit me back.
What do you want audiences to take away from a reverie performance?
I want them to see each person on stage as a unique individual. I want them to feel our positive and genuine connection to one another. To witness our collective love for dance and to fall in love with dance themselves.
You can follow Reverie on Instagram here,
And you can follow the artistic director Jenna Skipworth on IG here
Till next time,
-Oliver Endahl
