What is JUMPSTART/LA?
JUMPSTART/LA is a week-long summer program that is dedicated to supporting early and mid career artists in their endeavor to build a sustainable career in dance.​
From movement classes with world-renowned choreographers to seminars, panel discussions, and informal conversations with leaders in the field, the five days you spend at JUMPSTART/LA are an investment in yourself and your career.
This program: ​​​
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Informs dancers of the many avenues and job opportunities available to movement artists in LA, including information on key institutions, organizations, resource hubs, entrepreneurial and employment opportunities.
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Provides guidance about what it’s like to navigate these varying settings via movement classes, seminars, and Q+As from artists currently working in the field
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Further guide participants towards their career goals through 1 on 1 mentorship
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JUMPSTART/LA is built for dancers (ages 19+) who are pursuing careers as professional performers. Rising juniors, rising seniors, and those who are 1-3 years out of undergrad are ideal candidates for this program. If you're not sure if its a fit for you, email us!
Meet the JSLA Team
Laura Berg
Co-Founder/Co-Producer
Laura Berg (she/her) co-founded choreographic platform WHYTEBERG in 2014 and educational platform Ground Grooves with her creative and business partner, Gracie Whyte. Through WHYTEBERG, Laura has performed and choreographed for film, stage, music videos, and site-specific productions, working with prominent artists, producers, and platforms, such as Mac Miller (Grammy and MTV Video Music Award Nominee), Anderson .Paak (Grammy Award Winner), Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (US Billboard top 10 musician), and TEDxUCLA. Laura holds B.F.A. in Dance from California Institute of the Arts and currently teaches at AMDA College of Performing Arts.
Emily Wanserski
Co-Founder/Co-Producer
Emily Wanserski (she/her) has over 12 years of experience working in LA's creative economy. Selected clients include: The Annenberg Foundation, Arts Bridging the Gap, The Chicago Bulls, The City of Cedar Park, The City of Los Angeles, The City of West Hollywood, Intel, Invertigo Dance Theatre, LA Contemporary Dance Company, LA Follies, MashUp Contemporary Dance Company, Nike, Perkins&Will, and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Emily has taught seminars at AMDA, CalState LA, LMU, Santa Monica College, UCLA, and the University of Michigan. She holds a BA in Political Science & BFA in Dance, from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Gracie Whyte
Co-Founder/Co-Producer
Gracie Whyte (she/her) is a Los angeles-based contemporary movement designer whose work comprises choreography, performance, production, education, and entrepreneurship. Gracie received her professional training from London Contemporary Dance School, where she received a Masters degree in Contemporary Dance Performance, with emphasis on floorwork technique. While in London, Gracie toured internationally and performed in many events throughout the UK and Europe. In 2014, Gracie relocated to Los Angeles, where she co-founded WHYTEBERG, a collaborative choreographic duo with Laura Berg. Gracie currently teaches at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and California State University Long Beach (CSULB).
