Jess Opacic - Director and Choreographer
Jess Opacic is a dance educator, choreographer and director with 15 years of experience working across a range of dance and performance settings. Originally from Auckland, Jess trained in multiple dance styles before moving to Melbourne to pursue full-time dance studies.
During her training, Jess was offered a contract with Black Grace Dance Company and joined the company for its 2007 tour of Amata. She went on to complete a Diploma in Dance (Performance) and qualify as a fitness professional before focusing her career on dance education.
Since then, Jess has worked across a broad range of settings, from preparing students for international dance competitions to teaching in remote Australian communities and delivering programs for disadvantaged young people. Her choreography experience spans the education and performance sectors, including large-scale school productions involving casts of more than 800 performers. She has also toured internationally as choreographer for the Australian Girls’ Choir and worked with Aboriginal youth in remote communities.
More recently, Jess completed her Diploma in Dance Teaching Studies with Distinction through the Royal Academy of Dance in London.
As a teacher and choreographer, Jess values a thoughtful, collaborative approach to dance education, with a particular interest in classical and contemporary ballet. She believes the arts have an important place in education and is passionate about creating meaningful opportunities for young dancers to learn, develop and perform.
This shared vision brought Jess together with Meghan Rowe to found and co-direct The Classical Collab, with a focus on creating performance opportunities for young dancers in a collaborative and supportive environment
Romeo and Juliet - Jessica Opacic's choreography highlight reel