Jennifer Ilse

Teaching Artist

She/They

Jennifer Ilse grew up in rural northern Wisconsin, and first studied dance in a professional
setting in Duluth, Minnesota. She then moved to Eugene, Oregon to continue her studies at the
University of Oregon. In Eugene she also studied with the Eugene Ballet under Susan Zadoff of
Ballet Russe, at the Musical Feet school of tap, and performed four seasons with the Dance
Theatre of Oregon. 

After moving to Minneapolis in 1997 she co-founded the dance/theater/visual art hybrid
company Off-Leash Area, with which she has choreographed and directed over 35 original full-
length productions. She was a City Pages Artist of the Year, has been featured on TPT’s MN
Original, and received 5 Arts Board Artist Initiative grants. Her work as a dance educator has
included professional and pre-professional programs at Zenon and TU Dance to children
community education programs in Oregon and Minneapolis to studio classes throughout the
Twin Cities.

2026/27 Session Teaching Roster: All Abilities Dancing 1, Creative Movement 3: Ballet, and Community Partnerships

Photo by Scott Pakudatus