Jessica Iwanson

Who is Jessica Iwanson?

Jessica Iwanson, is a choreographer and artistic director of 'Iwanson Schule zeitgenössischer Tanz' in Munich, Germany.

Since 1974, Ms. Iwanson lives in Munich, where for more than 30 years she strongly influenced the history of contemporary dance. 2001, she was awarded the medal 'München leuchtet' by the City of Munich for her lifework. Ms. Iwanson is one of the founders of the Choreographic Association of Munich and the Bavarian Association of Contemporary Dance.

Iwanson was brought up in Stockholm, Sweden where she studied at the Stockholm Ballet Academy and met teachers/choreographers like Birgit Cullberg, Kathrine Dunham, Walter Nicks, Warren Spears and Alvin Ailey. 1966/67 she spent 1 year studying at the Martha Graham School in New York where she, among other company dancers, still had Martha Graham personally as a teacher. Further studies at the Alvin Ailey School brought her to teachers like Denise Jefferson and Milton Meyers.

Besides the work with her own company Iwanson choreographed at numerous state theaters in Scandinavia, was artistic director at 'Riksteatern' in Sweden and director at 'Carte Blanche' the contemporary dance company of Norway. Best known internationally is her 50-minutes TV-dance-drama 'Nightbirds', influenced by paintings of Edward Hopper and broadcast in a large number of countries.