Jessica Ford began developing her unique style at the age of 4 at top studios in the GTA. She gained a strong technical foundation at Performing Dance Arts and Joanne Chapmans School of Dance. Throughout her dance career, Jessica has always been known for her intense, yet gentle quality of movement and ability to connect with an audience. Jessica graduated from an arts high school as a modern dance major, receiving her Regional Arts Program certificate, and went on to graduate from the George Brown Dance program affiliated with Ballet Jorgen. She has had the opportunity to work with inspiring choreographers including Hanna Kiel, William Yong, Jessica Runge, Jade Whitney, Colleen Snell, Lauren Runions, Leon Blackwood, Scott Fordham, Alyssa Martin, Daniel McArthur and many more. She has been featured in music videos and on stages all over Ontario; performing at Hit the Floor: All Stars (Gatineau), The LabCab Festival, Limitless, Choreoball, New Blue Festival and The Parahumans Dance Showcase: SO FAR, to name a few. Jessica is the founder and artistic director of Kalos Collectives; a contemporary collective aimed to bridge the gap between commercial and concert dance. She is also the Artistic Director and Manager of Human First Dance (HFD); a new developmental project geared towards giving professionals in the industry a safe place to train and perform in the city. Recently, Jessica signed a partnership between HFD and CAMH to help raise money for mental health research and treatment. She has choreographed in such events as A Night at the Moniker, Fever After Dark, The Choreographers’ Ball, Raise the Rhythm Fundraiser, 1234, Dark Dance Showcase, OIP Company Showcase, The Industry Showcase, New Blue Festival, Mezzotint, Let The Elephants Dance and Ray D’ance Gala among many others. She is an award winning competitive contemporary choreographer aswell as a sought out workshop instructor due to her vast knowledge in improvisational skills . Jessica is also on staff with Dance Attack Workshops and Competitions. Currently, Jessica is the head of the jazz and contemporary departments at three competitive studios in Toronto and has won an abundance of choreography awards for her work with these studios. She is part of The Garage collective and contemporary company, i/o movement. Jessica is known for her risk taking choreography and ability to have a non-artistic audience, find relativity in her work. She strongly believes in connecting a performer and a viewer through pieces created around real human experiences, aka the company name; Human First Dance.