Jennifer McClary has been a dedicated dance educator in the Portland, Oregon area for over 20 years. Her teaching centers on empowering students to find and express their unique voices through movement. She is the Artistic Director of disORDER dance company, a pre-professional company that bridges the gap between competitive and concert dance, encouraging young artists to explore deeper creative expression. She has produced and choreographed six original productions with that company.

Jen has trained in ballet, PBT, jazz, tap, lyrical and modern, has a BA in Dance with a concentration in Jazz from Point Park University and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Practice from Saint Mary’s College of California, where she focused on how somatics and phenomenology can be used as pathways to healing trauma through movement and embodied awareness. Currently, she is a CET candidate of Bill Evan’s Somatic Dance Institute.

While in New York City, she studied closely Pam Chancey, Traci Stanfield, Michelle Barber, Calen Kurka, Chris Hale, and Wes Veldink. While working at Broadway Dance Center, Jennifer discovered a passion for theatre production. She taught herself lighting design and stage management and began working behind the scenes for various artists. She continues to offer her skills as a lighting designer and technician in support of fellow creatives.

Jennifer continues to encourage young dancers to find their creative voice by empowering their abilities to excel in what she loves the most.