Jessica Kissner-Foley

Ms. Foley is thrilled to return for her 12th year of teaching at the Academie!  She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in May of 2000 and has taught and performed professionally both locally and nationally.  While a student, she worked with various guest artists including the late David Berkey, Sarah Greenlaw and Patrick Strong from NYC. She also participated in master classes with the Minnesota Ballet.  Jessica attended and performed at ADCFA (American Collegiate Dance Festival of the Arts) at Wayne State University in Detroit, MI.

Professional performance credits include the 6th Annual Welk Musical Christmas; Oklahoma, performing the role of Dream Laurey; West Side Story, as tomboy character, Anybodys; and Can-Can, all in Southern California at the Lawrence Welk Resort Theatre.  Ms. Foley also toured nationally as Jenny, the lead role in Sesame Street Live’s production Everyone Makes Music (now titled Elmo Makes Music).  Along with other fellow UWSP grads, Ms. Foley co-directed/choreographed/produced Permission Slip, a cultural arts grant funded professional dance concert in 2002 near Minneapolis, MN.

Jessica is currently the choreographer for the KIDS from Wisconsin, after serving as Assistant Choreographer for 12 years under the mentorship of Choreographer Emeritus, Tom Terrien.  She was previously a member of the troupe, performing as a featured singer and dancer and also served as Dance Captain.  Her skill as choreographer includes recognition by the Jazz Dance World Congress in 1999, where she was one of 18 applicants recognized internationally.  In 2011 she received the award for “Best Choreography” for her work with the Cardinal Singers Show Choir from Mayville, WI.  They also won the title “Grande Champions” with her work.

Ms. Foley has choreographed for numerous high school music groups, Community Theatre Productions, non-profits such as Pointe Dance Ensemble and pageants.  Locally, she has been a part of the creative production team for Locals on Stage, a benefit concert for ODC.  Her teaching credits include various studios in Stevens Point, Fond du Lac, Rochester, MN, Temecula, CA, and as a faculty member for UWSP’s Musical Theatre and Dance Camp.  Jessica has also been a member of the dance faculty at Lawrence University in Appleton, WI.  Ms. Foley has attended the Dancelife Teacher Conference in Boston, MA in 2007 and in Orlando, FL in 2009.