Jessie Sawyers has a unique blend of experience in both the entertainment industry and in business.

She began tap dancing at the age of eleven under the direction of Cheryl Johnson and Anthony Peters in Seattle. She has had the honor of studying with tap masters Arthur Duncan, Dianne Walker, and the late tap greats Cholly Atkins, Gregory Hines, Fayard Nicholas, and Jimmy Slyde among others.

Commercial Credits include a promotional video for Intel, and seven years of commercials and appearances for Ivar’s as their tap dancing clam mascot (ask to see pictures sometime. It’s pretty hilarious.). In the theatre, Jessie has worked with Savion Glover and performed his choreography in DANCE This at the Paramount Theatre, a stage upon which she was also invited to dance with the late Gregory Hines. Internationally, Jessie has been a featured soloist at the Vancouver International Tap Dance Festival, where she has also shared the stage with Dianne Walker and has assisted Ms. Walker’s master classes for the last four years. Jessie has performed a combination of tap dancing, bucket drumming, and body percussion at numerous corporate events with Mark Mendonca’s group, Upbeat!.

Jessie is passionate about the art form of tap dance, and about passing it on. She has over 8 years of teaching experience, both Nationally and Internationally. Jessie has been on the faculty at the Vancouver International Tap Dance Festival as well as a Lead Coordinator and Instructor for the Vancouver Tap Dance Society’s Tap Boot Camp program for 2 consecutive years.

As a choreographer, Jessie presents dynamic and multidimensional work that is a true fusion of music and dance. Most recently, Jessie choreographed a routine for 22 tappers to perform with a live 5-piece band that was presented in Flow at the Triple Door in Seattle. In 2006, Jessie founded her first performance group, SoleSound Tap Dance Company, through which her choreography was well received at the Century Ballroom’s Masters of Lindy Hop and Tap, the Vancouver International Tap Dance Festival, and Microsoft Corporation.

Jessie is a self-starter who loves to make things happen. As she neared the end of high school, Jessie knew that tap dancing was what she needed to continue with and planned to create her success within the entertainment industry by studying business, because she knew that by “going big” with her ideas it would enable her to have a positive impact on as many peoples’ lives as possible. Jessie received her education in Business at the University of Washington-Bothell with a concentration in Technology and Innovation Management, and continues to expand her understanding of best practices, new technologies, and business strategies on a daily basis.

Taking this knowledge and applying it to the entertainment industry, Jessie has produced 4 evening length shows that blend tap dance with live music. Most recently was With You We Dance at the Georgetown Ballroom in Seattle (co-produced with Dayna Szyndrowski). Others include Stark Pulse at CanCan; Flow: An Evening of Music, Dance, and Visual Art at Triple Door; and Jessie Sawyers: Solo Show at Egan’s Ballard Jam House. She has also been working on the production team with world-renowned tap dancer Mark Mendonca in preparation for his soon-to-launch touring show. Whatever the project Jessie seems to have a knack for bridging the gap between idea generation and manifestation, which enables her to share her ideas and spirit with the world.

In 2010, Jessie founded Visual Music Productions, the company through which she pursues her endeavors within the entertainment industry.

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© 2011, Jessie Sawyers and Visual Music Productions. All Rights Reserved.