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. Her dance film “Feeling Small” received the Arches Award at the Utah Dance Film Festival in 2022. As part of her MFA work with Montclair in New Jersey, Jocelyn will direct WCDC’s Spring 2024 show, a unique combination of dance and flavor profiles that will be presented at The Lodge at Traverse in Lehi this April.
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. Alyssa danced professionally with Wasatch Contemporary Dance from 2016-2022 before transitioning into her current role. Along with dancing, Alyssa enjoys being active outdoors, doing projects, spending time with family, and doing hair.
Lily Farrar
Executive Assistant
Lily Farrar, a Tennessee native, graduated with her BFA dance degree from Shenandoah University in 2021. Lily received her Master’s in Performing Arts Leadership and Management in May 2023. While at school, she performed pieces by Lucina Child, Sidra Bell, Matt Pardo, Daniel Padierna, and Tiffanie Carson. Farrar has performed with DanceWorks Chicago and Contra Tiempo. She has trained with The Nashville Ballet Company, commercial Dance Intensive, LACDC, The Arch Ballet, Ekilibre Dance Contact Improv Workshop, New York Dance Project, Koresh, and Motion X in DC. Lily is a freelance dance teacher, choreographer, model, and social media manager. She is currently a teacher and office manager for Central Utah Ballet under Jennie Creer-King. While living in Utah, she danced with Fem Dance Co, Wasatch Contemporary, and Odyssey Dance Theatre. With Odyssey, Lily got to tour Germany and perform as a company member for two seasons in shows like Thriller, Chicago, and Romeo & Juliet. She is excited to join Shift Dance Co and Fem Dance Co this Fall, begin her second season with Wasatch Contemporary Dance, and become an executive assistant for WCDC.
