Jessica Batten trained as a student with New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble under Nancy Turano, and graduated cum Laude from SUNY Purchase in 2005– with a BFA in Dance. Ms. Batten has danced professionally with: NJDTE, Cedar Lake II, Connecticut Ballet, Bradley Shelver Contemporary Dance Theater, Ballet Hispanico of New York, Nimbus Dance Works, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, and with The Metropolitan Opera Ballet; among many other companies and choreographers. Ms. Batten was invited to perform in Cali, Colombia in the Fifth Annual International Dance Festival 2011, representing the USA with Earl Mosely’s Diversity of Dance, and has traveled the world performing and teaching. She has performed with the Kirov Ballet at The Metropolitan Opera House in NYC, and has been an invited Artist for the Cape Dance Festival. In 2008, she appeared on the AMICI Television Show in Rome, Italy, dancing as a Guest Profesionista on the full series. Additionally she has appeared in film and several more recent TV credits, such as Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

Ms. Batten has always enjoyed teaching, coaching, and choreographing in addition to her performance career. She has conducted many master workshops and residencies throughout New England and abroad. Ms. Batten was the Ballet Mistress & Rehearsal Director for NJ Dance Theatre Ensemble for several years, where she staged multiple Ballets for the pre-professional company. When she is in NYC, she serves as part time Rehearsal Director for the professional contemporary dance company, Nimbus Dance, along with being on faculty at The Joffrey Ballet School every summer. Previously she was a Guest Instructor for five years, in the World Dance Summer Program, at Amherst College in Massachusetts.

Today Ms. Batten resides in Putney, Vermont where she is the Director of Dance at The Putney School- a progressive boarding high school in southern Vermont. Currently in her fifth year as Director of Dance, she has greatly expanded the Putney Dance Program and has been responsible for managing the program as a whole; teaching all technique classes, as well as choreographing and commissioning new works & guest artists, for their high school dancers. She lives on campus and is also a dorm parent, advisor & mentor to students.