JESSICA BERTRAM WILLIAMS (she/her)…

…is a Southern-bred movement artist whose work is deeply rooted in storytelling and play. She holds degrees in Dance & Movement Studies and Anthropology and Human Biology from Emory University, as well as a Master of Fine Arts in Dance with an emphasis in Ethnic Studies and Arts Administration from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Guided by Black feminist/womanist thought and communal liberation practices, Jessica’s teaching and artistic work centers empowerment and self-determination. Grounded in improvisation and contemporary techniques, her movement practice finds its fullest expression within the traditions of the Afro-Diaspora. Her choreographic work draws from the Africanist aesthetic, as she fosters communal engagement, vitality, and ancestral connection.

A dedicated educator, community organizer, mentor, choreographer, and performing artist, Jessica has worked across the Southeast and West Coast, cultivating her artistic voice in diverse spaces. Her choreographic work has been performed and recognized at multiple colleges and universities in addition to the American College Dance Association Southeast and Northwest Conferences, 7Stages Theatre, The Dairy Arts Center, The Ferst Center for the Performing Arts, Rialto Center for the Arts, and The Atlanta Contemporary Museum. Driven by a commitment to social transformation through movement, her work explores the intersections of identity, spirituality and liberation.

Currently, Jessica resides in the Pacific Northwest where she is an Assistant Professor in Theatre and Dance at Gonzaga University.

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