94. Jeanne Simpson, Actor/Dancer/Choreographer/Director/Teacher

Jeanne Simpson moved to New York after graduating. She started doing day jobs in New York City to make ends meet while attending free dance classes, which allowed her to continue her training without having to pay for grad school. She eventually joined the American Isadora Dance Company, a modern company.

Beginning a Career in the Performing Arts

Jeanne began her acting career at HB Studios, where she was given a scholarship and studied under Austin Pendleton, a talented teacher who taught the advanced Acting Program at HB. She worked with other amazing actors and learned to choreograph scenes with them. This experience led her to work on original college shows and she choreographed for various shows. In addition to acting, she also taught at a dance studio in Park Slope, Brooklyn, before being offered her first professional choreography job where she choreographed a birthday cake song for a series on Nickelodeon and was subsequently hired for the series. This was her first professional choreography job which led to several others on films.

A Volunteer in Performing Arts Programs

Jeanne started volunteering at the 52nd Street Project in New York, which takes kids from Hell's Kitchen and lets them experience the transformative power of theater. They take them out of town to enjoy nature and rehearse plays with the kids, then perform the plays in Hell's Kitchen. This experience continues to inspire her belief that the performing arts can change lives, even if it doesn't lead to acting or dance. Jeanne has continued to work with the 52nd Street Project. Her experiences in the performing arts have had a profound impact on her life and she continues to inspire others to pursue their passions in the performing arts.

Working in Television and Film

She worked on a show called Wishbone, which was shooting in Texas. After leaving Wishbone, she returned to New York where she ended up doing more choreography jobs, and acting jobs, and getting married. She and her husband moved from New York to Los Angeles and Jeanne jobs teaching dance and theater, and worked for Princeton Review and IV West. She auditioned for Tim Robbins Actors Gang, a theater company, she worked there and eventually choreographed for the Grand Guignol company. Then she started auditioning for television and found an agent with Avalon Artists Group. Jeanne earned parts on several TV shows, including Madman, Parks and Rec, and How to Get Away with Murder. The couple moved to Valley Village, where they still live today, and they had a second child, Vivian. 

Arts Programs and Community Theater

She started working with a community arts theater, an all-inclusive arts program that offers various classes and activities for children. She started a camp called Make Them Laugh classic comedy camp with her husband and another comedy writer, introducing classic comedy to a new generation of kids. She later taught at Berklee School, where she teaches improv and has directed at Harvard. She also teaches a dance class at Evolution Dance Studios called Big Shots. She is currently directing a production of Anything Gos with four or five and six-year-olds, and she has also choreographed a rock opera movie musical called The Promise. While she still auditions, Jeanne also tutors kids on their essays to get into schools, which has become an accidental side business. Their house is like Grand Central Station, filled with people of all ages, which they love. The journey has been a rollercoaster ride, but she is grateful for the opportunities it brings.

Pursuing Acting and Choreography

Jeanne discusses her experiences as an in-school ambassador for the National Young Arts Foundation and how she started dancing at age five and how her mother helped and inspired her. She talks about the different modes of acting, acting, dancing, teaching, and choreography. Acting and choreography are the two that bring the most happiness, as they allow them to be present and happy. Directing drives her insane, but as an actor and choreographer, she can let go and be present. Choreography is also fun because it allows her to share her vision with others, and learn from others, creating a collaborative experience.

A Choreographer’s Process

As a choreographer, Jeanne starts with the story, which is essential for their dances to convey something and then, of course, the music. She also considers the style of dance, the capabilities of her dancers, and their potential. She then develops steps that grow out of this story, making it easier to remember. Jeanne shares the example of her Saturday morning class routine. Jeanne also discusses her process and how choreographers keep their thoughts straight in their heads. She uses choreographers notation, which is mainly used as a step notation, but she also writes down the story when she does a piece. 

The Importance of Relationships in the Performing Arts

Jeanne shares her experiences with relationships in the performing arts industry, highlighting the importance of connections and connections in her life. She shares stories of various projects and connections, such as working on a Broadway musical project called Three, where she was hired to choreograph one of the shows and supervise all others. This experience led to her becoming part of a larger community of artists, which eventually led to other jobs or volunteer opportunities. She also mentions her involvement in a community theater that taught children at a public elementary school, where she taught and was recommended by a vocal coach for her kids.

Influential Harvard Professors and Courses

Jeanne credits James Davis, her sociology professor, for her interest in studying people and trends. Davis was supportive and kind, attending every play and dance concert she performed. She also mentions Arthur Holmberg and Jian Guo, who was a mentor, where she learned about professional theater companies. She also mentions Jane Nichols,  an adjunct professor and acting teacher who Jeanne is still in touch with.

Timestamps:

10:07 Career, marriage, and TV show experiences

17:07 Career, family, and art

20:13 Career transitions and passions with a former Broadway performer

26:04 Art, dance, and theater with a passionate artist

31:16 Choreography process and creativity

34:05 Choreography and dance notation

40:06 Career connections and networking

45:18 The challenges of pursuing a career in the performing arts

47:19 Wait Wait Don't Tell Me and its hosts, Adam Felber and Paula Poundstone 

53:28 Arts career and education with a guest speaker

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JeanneGottaDance/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gotta_dancenj/