Elisa Foshay

About Elisa

A Chicago-based dance artist and educator, Elisa Foshay currently directs the dance program at Jones College Prep. She also serves an Arts Instructional Specialist for Chicago Public Schools, leading professional development for K-12 dance educators. When she isn’t in the studio, Foshay regularly presents on topics of dance pedagogy and curriculum through the National Dance Education Organization and the Illinois Association of P.E., Health, Recreation, and Dance. Before starting the dance program at Jones, Foshay worked as a freelance performer, choreographer, and teaching artist. She has performed or presented work at venues in Chicago, Philadelphia, North Carolina, and Toronto, Ontario. With a background in competitive ballroom dance, modern dance, and contemporary dance mixed with performance art, Foshay brings a multifaceted creative approach to her teaching practice. Her students engage in a broad range of movement styles, with a foundation in release-based modern dance techniques. Through creative processes that bring diverse communities together in movement, Foshay strives to live her belief that every body can dance.

My classes welcome all students to be expressive, physical, collaborative, and curious. I actively center student voice in the creative process, infusing joy into improvisation and choreographic investigation, mindfulness practices, technical training, reflection, analysis and critique.