Jennifer Fagan Archer

Founder/Curator

     Jennifer has been dancing since she could walk.  Her early training at South Dade Civic Dance Theatre, Southwood and New World School of the Arts included extensive studies with world-renowned dance professionals, although she attributes her best training to the ‘nobodies.’  Her particular interests are in various ethnic styles as she combines these with classical and contemporary movement to form her own teaching technique and style called 'JaM.' 

     Jen has choreographed for stage and film and has performed with many diverse companies including Hannah Kahn Dance Company, Haan Dances, Liz Lerman Dance Exchange,Georgia Dance Theatre, The Performance Experience (Atlanta), South Dade Civic Dance Theatre, Concepts in Motion and Moving In The Spirit.  As a soloist, she danced in roles created for her including Persecution, by Sherri Davis, and Sanctuary, by Dana Phelps Marschalk.  Most notably, she had the honor of performing Donald McKayle's Rainbow Etude at the 2002 National Black Arts Festival with Moving in the Spirit.  While studying dance at Florida State University Mrs. Archer earned a BS in Anthropology and History (Interdisciplinary Social Science) and an AA in Nutrition and Fitness as she continued to choreograph, train, teach, direct, and produce in the dance scene. 

     Jennifer has been commissioned in the US and abroad to create and collaborate on over 100 works for organizations which include Bacardi, The United Way, XL Capital, BellSouth, Goslings, dance competitions, pageants, weddings, concerts, and theatre companies.  Her children's concert work has been integrated into Jawole Willa Jo Zollar’s Urban Bush Women’s Summer Intensive, selected for Bermuda ’s “Excellence in Arts” Cultural Affairs Festival and applauded in 1996 by Hilary Clinton at the Florida Democratic Convention.  She has enjoyed the privilege of studying with dance masters and innovators such as Arthur Mitchell, Gerri Houlihan, MOMIX, Gary Lund, Hannah Kahn, Mary Wohl Haan, Pilobolus, Clyde Morgan, Katie Elliot, Jacob Mora and Wayne Sleep.

     As Associate Director of Renascent Dance Theatre, Jen co-wrote and directed Pandora’s Box and Woodstock-A Rock Ballet in Tallahassee, Florida.   The success of these ventures spawned a community children’s dance/theatre company called Tallahassee Arts Project (TAP) which aspired to train young artists in dance, music, and theatre whilst presenting annual collaborative efforts such as Alice in Wonderland, Pinocchio, and A Muppets Christmas.   

     In 2004 Jen completed a two year residency as Jazz Program Coordinator at In Motion School of Dance in Bermuda and in 2005 began developing and implementing a new dance division as Dance Program Coordinator for YMCA Greater Miami-Homestead.  Between 2003 - 2006 she was granted permission to choreograph new dance works to the original songs of Blues Traveler and Mad Agnes. 

      In the summer of 2008 Jen Archer had the honor of bringing her company, Ascential Dance Theatre Colorado, to the Red Rocks Amphitheatre stage to perform with 80's cover band The Asteroids led by Denver's favorite local musician, Chadzilla.  She continued performing and teaching outreach with Hannah Kahn Dance Company and performed with Haan Dances in the 2008 Boulder Fringe Festival.  Jen closed out the 08 summer with a teaching residency at Kent Denver School while preparing for her professional company's debut concert l:Begin Ag@in:l.   

     Jen has enjoyed teaching for Colorado Ballet's outreach programs and being a part of dance faculty at Red Rocks Community College.  In the summer of 2009 she was again in residency at the Kent Denver School teaching dance classes for summer camps as well as at-risk youth as part of the "Summer Bridge" program. 

      Ms. Archer is always busy writing, producing and developing Ascential Dance Theatre Colorado's original concerts and works including, SACAGAWEA-the woman who guided US west, The Con - A Steamphunk Reverie, Sistine, It Goes To Show and Psalms of Africa.  2012 will be engulfed with writing, choreographing and staging Willie Nelson's RED HEADED STRANGER which will premiere March 18, 2012 at Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret .  Come see Jen sing lead vocals with one of her many vocal projects around town!

     Jen teaches Ballet, Stomp, Modern and her very own 'JaM' classes at our school.  

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Tobi Johnson-Compton

Executive Director

     Tobi Johnson-Compton began dancing at the age of 7 but did not really understand how much a part of her it was until she moved out to Colorado over 20 something years ago.  She has been dancing ever since.  She studied ballet, modern and jazz under Cleo Parker Robinson, Marceline Freeman, Franca Telesio, Gary Abbot, Randy Brooks, Thomas Dixon, Debra Mercer, Roger Turner, Leni Wylliams and various other artists throughout her high school and college career. 

     Tobi Compton has danced, taught, and choreographed throughout the Colorado area.  She performed with Blue Moon Dance Company from 1997 – 2002 and with Interweave Dance Theatre in 1996, 1997 and then again in 2006, both based in Boulder, CO.  Tobi was also a principal dancer and rehearsal director for Denver Contemporary Dance Theatre, under the direction of the late Thomas Dixon.  Her theatre performances include dancing with the Denver Centre for the Performing Arts in a production of StarFever, directed by Pavel Dubrovsky and also as a dancer with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble in a production of AIDA with the Colorado Opera. 

      Tobi danced for the Denver Nuggets Performance Dance Teamfor 2 seasons, from 1992 – 1994.  Her choreography has won 2 consecutive entries in the Aspen Dance Showcase and she has also been afforded the opportunity to work with dance/poms teams in the Denver and Arvada area.  Tobi feels very fortunate to be working alongside Jennifer Fagan Archer as the Executive Director for the Ascential Dance School and a member of the Ascential Dance Theatre Colorado as well as dancing for LegaCy Dance Ensemble with Colleen Noelani Young.  She is married with 3 beautiful children and thanks them for putting up with the craziness of her schedule.

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 2008

Egyptian Cinderella

Shambala

l:Begin Ag@in:l 2008

Photo by: Bob Goldhammer

XL Capital

Christmas Party 2005

Gone, 2009

Photo by: Heather Gray

Averil

Sistine, 2010

Welcome Home

Egyptian Cinderella, 2008