Jessie Ryan

Dance Teacher
Dance Company Director
Started 2018

I really enjoy working with students at this point in their lives. They are so curious, energetic, and expressive. I can see them connecting the arts to their inner experiences, and I hope that they can take that love for movement with them to the next stages.

What is your role at Flintridge Sacred Heart?

Dance Teacher

What do your students call you?

Ms Jessie (or Ms. Ryan or sometimes just Jessie, all is fine with me!)

What made you want to work at Flintridge Sacred Heart?

I could tell the arts were held in high regard in this community and there was support for the performers. There is a beautiful stage, and now a gorgeous arts center, all I had to do was jump in.

What has been your proudest professional accomplishment?

I was a touring professional dancer with Diavolo | Architecture in Motion. I used to travel all over the country and world to perform. My first performance was at The Greek Theater and in my last season I was the soloist at The Kennedy Center in Washington DC. Those two theaters have a special place in my heart.

What has been your favorite teaching moment at Flintridge Sacred Heart?

I love seeing the students' joy during the Dance Concert. The experience of coming together for a live performance is so elating, and the bonds they form stick with them through their high school years.

What excites you most about your work here on the Hill?

What is Flintridge Sacred Heart's best kept secret?

Maybe not a secret, but Sr. Celeste is one of the best people to pop in and visit. There is a guaranteed laugh in it for you.

What do you love about the all-girls environment at Flintridge Sacred Heart?

I love the fearlessness of so many of our young artists. They speak up, try new things, and never forget to have a giggle along the way. We get really silly in my class, even when we are trying something that could be scary or difficult.

What's your favorite spot on campus?

I love the Octagon. The dancers has a sunset party there last year with candles and everything. We all dressed up and danced while the sun set over that beautiful view.

When not in the classroom, where can you be found?

I sometimes like to sit in the shade on Senior Lawn. I'm from New Jersey so I love sitting in the grass. It's the best in the Spring when the jacaranda trees are blooming.

What's your favorite place in the world?

I love to be in theaters, especially during tech week. There's a buzz in the air of anticipation and excitement. We are so lucky to have our own theater to call home.

Who has made the biggest impact on you?

My very first dance teacher gave me the opportunity to teach classes and start my own dance company as a teenager. The leadership role she gave me shaped my career in dance and how I interact with students today. I learned that independence breeds confidence, and I try to give similar opportunities to our young artists. They have blown me away time and time again with their successes.

What did you want to be when you grew up (at age 12)?

A dancer! I kept at it, even through many rejections in my early 20's, and it eventually worked out.

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FLINTRIDGE SACRED HEART

440 St. Katherine Drive
La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011
626-685-8300

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Flintridge Sacred Heart, a Catholic, Dominican, independent, college-preparatory, day and boarding high school, educates young women for a life of faith, integrity, and truth.