Marissa James

Marissa James

  • Marissa is an experienced performer from the New York area with extensive training in ballet, jazz, modern/contemporary, and hip hop.
  • Professional performances include Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Salvatore Capezio Theatre at Peridance NY, Disney World, Universal Studios, BYU’s Homecoming Spectacular with Kristin Chenoweth, World Dance Movement International Competition in Italy, as well as commercial advertisements & music videos. 
  • During her time as a BFA, Marissa performed on dance scholarship as a soloist with BYU’s ballet company, contemporary company, National Dancesport Cabaret Championships, and on a European dance study abroad through Amsterdam, Paris, and Milan.
  • She is grateful for intensive training with mentors like Karen Verso (Twyla Tharp), Edward Verso (ABT, West Side Story), Alexandra Wells (Julliard), Susan Coutts (Penn Ballet), La Scala Ballet (Italy), Steps on Broadway (NYC), Brian Nicholson (Creative Director for Ariana Grande), and Tislarm Bouie (In the Heights, Broadway, Alicia Keys).
  • Marissa has been teaching all age groups, including special needs dancers since 2014. Since then, she has served as an assistant company director, hip hop director, principal rehearsal coach, master class guest artist, and instructed competition & performance groups at several local studios.
  • She is most passionate about investing in every individual to push and support them through transformative progress in the art of dance.
  • Her career & research background in trauma and mental health allow her to strategically approach varying developmental levels, as well as recent challenging global impacts on young dancers' mind-body connection.