Jean Isaacs

Office: Wagner Dance Building

Biography

JEAN ISAACS (Wheaton College) Dance Faculty. Isaacs served as Artistic Director of San Diego's "3's Company" from 1974-1991 and then "Isaacs/McCaleb & Dancers." In October 1997 she became Artistic Director of San Diego Dance Theatre. Trained in Graham, Horton, and Cunningham techniques, Jean is a pioneer of modern dance in San Diego where she was instrumental in the formulation of the San Diego Area Dance Alliance. Her "The Mist Leaves No Scar" has been performed in 5 countries and 11 states. Isaacs has choreographed for La Jolla Playhouse, the San Diego Repertory Theater, The Globe Theatres, and Sledgehammer. She was the first recipient
of the National Endowment for the Arts/Locals Dance Fellowships, and the first annual SDADA "Tommy' Award for service to the San Diego dance community. Her choreography for Charles Mee's Big Love (Les Waters, director) has been praised in performances at the Actors Theatre of Louisville, Long Warf Theatre, Berkeley Rep, The Goodman Theater, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music Next Wave Festival. Issacs has been instrumental in opening up cross-border opportunities for dancers and choreographers in Latin America and the US. These cross-border projects have been honored by the UCSD Civic Collaborative, by UC Mexus, and by the US/Mexico Fund for Culture. Jean has strong, ongoing ties with Switzerland and Germany, and teaches and choreographs there annually. Isaacs is best known for her Trolley Dances, a series of site-specific dances along the San Diego Trolley line. In 2001, Jean Isaacs was awarded a UCSD Saltman Distinguished Teaching Award.