jo Blake

Assistant Professor, Weber State University

Thursday, March 18, 2021 On-Demand Flash Session – Ballo Conservatio: The Conversation for Conservation through an Arts Lens

Thursday, March 18, 2021 On-Demand Art Space Session – Orchesis: Dancing in the Stream

Joseph “jo” Blake, a graduate of the University of Utah (BFA, 2003) and the University of Washington (MFA, 2017) is an artist who has performed, taught, and choreographed throughout the United States, Europe, South America, and Southeast Asia. Inspired by his passion for community-based engagement, social justice, and educational theory, jo continues to pursue impactful projects in Utah and beyond. jo is the Director of joBdance. | a conceptual experience, an interdisciplinary project-based company, with collaborations in dance, sound score, and visual arts. As member of internationally-recognized Salt Lake City-based Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company (2003-2013), he performed in works by Alwin Nikolais, Doug Varone, Wayne McGregor, Carolyn Carlson, Bill T. Jones, Susan Marshall, as well as many other influential dance makers. As a graduate student, jo had the opportunity to perform in works by Yvonne Rainer, Zvi Gotheiner, Anna Sokolow, Trisha Brown, Brian Brooks, and Shapiro & Smith. jo’s community-based projects include the YCC Family Crisis Center, Minding Motion for Graceful Aging, Yoga Behind Bars, and Mark Morris’s Dance for PD. His work has been seen nationally in Washington, Utah (Westminster College, Weber State University, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Alum’s Momentum, Municipal Ballet, The Penguin Lady), and Minnesota. He has performed for Senga Nengudi, Stephanie Liapis, Chamber Dance Company, Loudhound Dance, RawMoves, Tandy Beal and Co., and continues his performative outreach with NOW-ID (SLC), as well as local and national performance artists/companies. jo is Assistant Professor of Dance at Weber State University (Ogden, UT), 2021 WSU Presidential Awards for Community Engaged Faculty Member, Ogden City Arts 2021 Mayor’s Award for the Arts, and newly elected the Advisory Board Director of Student Initiatives with the National Dance Education Organization.