“Your heart knows the way. Run in that direction” - Rumi

Biography
Jill Henis is an international dance artist, creator, rehearsal director, dramaturge, educator, and mentor originally from Vancouver, Canada (Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations). Her career spans over three decades across classical ballet, contemporary dance, theatre, and interdisciplinary creation.

Training
Jill received her early training at The San Francisco Ballet School, L’École Supérieure de Danse du Québec, The Boston Ballet School, The Banff School of Fine Arts, Ballet BC’s inaugural apprentice program (Barry Ingham, Director), and The Dance Gallery under Grant Strate and Earl Kraul.

 Performance & Collaboration

Her performance career includes work with Ballet Nacional de Cuba, San Francisco Ballet, Evergreen City Ballet (USA), Chrissie Parrott Dance Company (Australia), and The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network – Big Soul Productions. She toured Southeast Asia with choreographer Robert Gulliam and has shared the stage with Margie Gillis, Emily Molnar, and Crystal Pite.

 Choreography & Direction
In 2009, Jill founded mixOLOGYdanceMine, a not-for-profit contemporary company based in Saskatoon and later Calgary, AB. As Director and Lead Choreographer, she developed original work, directed rehearsals, mentored artists, and oversaw company operations. The company partnered with Decidedly Jazz Danceworks and choreographed for the 2010 Winter Olympic Torch Ceremony.

Following mixOLOGYdanceMine, she founded Project 404, a creative hub for multidisciplinary and international collaboration. Projects include How I Wish to Tell You and The Presence Project 0.1, developed in residencies across Canada, Europe, and the USA.

Her choreography has been presented at BC Buds, MovEnt’s Dances for a Small Stage, the Alberta Dance Festival, the Broadway Theatre, Dance on the Saskatchewan/Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan, Vancouver’s 12 Minutes Max, Persephone Theatre’s Little Women (Dir. Johnna Wright), The Grand Theatre, Springboard Performance’s Fluid Festival and Front Lawn Dances, and Telus Spark’s Junkyard Symphony.

Teaching & Mentorship

Jill has served on the faculty of Harbour Dance Centre (Vancouver) and as Adjunct Professor of Contemporary Dance at Point Park University (Pittsburgh, USA). She has been a guest teacher for Rambert Company (London), Ballet Edmonton, Tanzcompagnie Mainfranken (Germany), Ballet BC, Henny Jurriëns Studio (Amsterdam), Contemporary Dance Wyoming, STAYCEE PEARL dance projects & Soy Sos (USA), and Decidedly Jazz Danceworks.We offer a variety of original artwork for sale, including paintings, drawings, and sculptures. Our collection features works from both emerging and established artists.

 Philosophy & Practice
Guided by curiosity and a commitment to growth through experience, Jill engages deeply with new communities and cultures—embracing their challenges, uncertainties, and beauty. Her work reflects a multifaceted study of the body, combining traditional methodologies with instinctive and holistic practices that balance rigour, intuition, and transformation.

Current Work 

Currently, Jill is thrilled to be working with the artists of Ballet Edmonton as a guest rehearsal director and Community Dance Facilitator  while continuing to immerse herself in the broader dance and movement landscape. Her recent engagements include guest teaching for the Rambert Company (UK) and with the Alberta Ballet School, contributing to both the Affiliates Program and Adult Community classes. Guided by a deep passion for dance, Jill is dedicated to building meaningful connections within each community she engages, striving to make a lasting impact on both the art form and the people it touches.