Jessica Wilcox Heaton
Artistic Director
Jessica grew up in sunny San Diego, California. She received her B.S. in Exercise and Wellness and a minor in Contemporary Dance from Brigham Young University, where she also performed with Kinnect and dancEnsemble and served as Assistant to the Director under Pat Debenham. In March 2010, Jessica founded Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company and has worked diligently to increase professional dance in Utah County, dedicating countless hours to both the administrative and artistic demands of the company. During her years as company director, Jessica has created 34 major works of choreography, directed 20 shows, and developed the company’s educational outreach programs. Jessica’s choreography has also been commissioned by Studio C, Deseret Book, Mystery Box, and Snow College. Heaton has also volunteered her time with many arts organizations including Artist, Interrupted, Women’s Artistic Leadership Initiative, and Utah Dance Film Festival. When Jessica isn’t in the studio, she likes to enjoy the outdoors with her husband and two children.
Jocelyn Smith
Associate Director
Jocelyn Smith is a native to the Wasatch Front. As a dynamic performer with a wide range of expression she has been featured throughout the years in many solos and duets – one of which was a duet representing Utah Valley University at the National American College Dance Festival in Washington, DC. Other highlights include performing with the Penguin Lady Dance Collective, Walt Disney World, multiple freelance projects, and Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company for 6 seasons. She has set work for WCDC, Brine Dance Collective, The Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival, and numerous high schools and studios. Her piece Remember When… won Utah Metropolitan Ballet’s Choreography Design Competition in 2017. She has recently dived into the world of Dance Film and is eager to expand her projects and collaborate in this new medium.
Rachel Robison
Head Company Teacher
Rachel received her Bachelors of Arts in Dance from Brigham Young University and was awarded the Distinguished Graduating Senior award, as well as the Outstanding Female Performer award. As a freshman, she was fortunate to be chosen as a member of The Dancers’ Company and perform in Caroline Prohosky’s film project, Onward Alone, produced by the LDS Motion Picture Studio. Rachel performed with and choreographed for both dancEnsemble and Contemporary Dance Theatre, enjoyed opportunities to travel and perform throughout Texas, New Mexico, Montana and Wyoming, and has worked with dance professionals such as Leah Cox, Carl Flink, Carley Conder, Bebe Miller, and Andrew Madsen. Upon graduation, Rachel worked as adjunct faculty at BYU teaching beginning and intermediate level contemporary technique classes. Rachel is also a certified Ashtanga Yoga teacher and has been with WCDC since 2012.
Heather Nielsen Norton
Resident Choreographer
Heather graduated with a BFA in Modern Dance Performance from Utah Valley University. While at UVU, she performed and traveled as a member of Synergy Dance Company and Contemporary Dance Ensemble. She was awarded the Outstanding Student of the Year in 2011 from UVU’s School of the Arts Department. Since graduation, Heather’s choreography was showcased in Ririe Woodbury’s Alumni Concert Momentum in 2011. She was awarded the Sugar Space Artist in Residence Grant and choreographed an evening-length show titled, Gaudi in Motion. Along with Wasatch Contemporary, Heather has been fortunate to be a member of Sugar Space’s Professional Cooperative Dance Company, Co.da. Heather loves performing with WCDC and finds great joy in the challenge of teaching and choreographing! She has been with WCDC since the fall of 2012. Heather is also a certified Yoga Instructor at InBalance Yoga and Yoga Vega. Yoga has always been an avenue for Heather to increase her physical and mental strength as a dancer and athlete.
Alyssa Richardson
Costume Manager
Alyssa graduated from Utah Valley University in 2012 with a BFA in Modern Dance Performance. She then completed an internship at Dance Place in Washington, D.C. Alyssa’s favorite part of dancing is problem solving. She enjoys helping create solutions to movement patterns or partnering. Dance has always been a passion, a release and a joy for her. Along with dancing, Alyssa enjoys being active outdoors, doing projects, spending time with family, and doing hair.
Megan Fuhriman
Costuming
Megan started dancing before she could walk, she trained at a studio for 16 years, and was lucky enough to go to a performing arts high school for 3. While Megan was at BYU, she had the privilege of dancing with Ballet Showcase, DancEnsemble, and Contemporary Dance Theatre. As a student Megan was privileged to go on a Europe study abroad where she learned about dance and the impact it has all over the world. Megan just recently graduated from BYU with her BFA in dance, and plans on performing, teaching, and choreographing. Megan plans on returning to graduate school to study Choreography and Dance.