Jennifer Aks (she/her) has been teaching and choreographing with National Dance Institute (NDI) since 2008, and in 2019, she directed NDI’s Event of the Year, Voices of Change. Throughout her time at NDI, Jen has brought her expertise to numerous schools, while also training staff in New York and leading professional development workshops at NDI associate organizations nationwide. A Montclair, NJ native, she studied jazz, modern, ballet, and hip hop at the Montclair Performing Arts School before earning her Associate’s Degree in Dance and Education from Dean Jr. College in 1991, followed by a BFA in Dance and Education from New York University in 1993.

As an Embodiment Coach, Jen also works with children and educators, bridging movement and choreography with emotional connectedness to elevate both performance and teaching. Her approach emphasizes the profound connection between body awareness and emotional intelligence, showing how this synergy empowers students and teachers alike.