About Jody

Jody Oberfelder  is a New York based director, choreographer, and filmmaker. She creates art which aims to illuminate life. Whether stage, film, site or installation, her works expand how one experiences dance. Her works often provide audiences with experiences of intimate engagement whether in a vast space or guiding journeys through theatrical environments, historical habitats, bridges, train stations, or ordinary places. Recent projects include a series of site inspired pieces, including Walking to Present, performed at the Dance München Festival May 2023 along with Life Traveler. The company performed Splash Dance April ‘22 at the Victoria and Albert Museum (London). A rendering of Walking to Present has also been presented by the Brooklyn Public Library and the Center for Brooklyn History. Amphitheater, a site-specific piece to “Save the Park” premiered at the East River Park Amphitheater in June ‘21. Life Traveler explores communication, history, and human connection through immersive, audience participatory movement, and recently has been performed at the Tanzmesse (Dusseldorf), Lommertbrug (Amsterdam), and the Millennium Bridge (London). Life Traveler has also been performed at the Philly Fringe Festival (October ‘21), and Tsisit Fringe Festival (London, October ‘21). Monument, a site-specific piece for Trolley Dances, was commissioned by the San Diego Dance Theatre, and premiered in June ‘21. Additional works include Screen. Dance. Window. (August ‘20) for the 4th Congress of Psychogeography, Object Place Walking, presented at the Walking's New Movements Conference (November ‘20) in Plymouth, UK, and Madame Ovary (May ‘19) at the Flea Theater. On the Move Shortly, performed at St. Pancras Station in London, and Things, a collaboration with the Brisbane, Australian quintet Topology, Kurt Weill’s Zaubernacht, a commission by the Kurt Weill Foundation, and Dido & Aeneas.

Jody is currently an adjunct professor at Marymount Manhattan College teaching Improv II. Her most recent film “Earthly Beings,” a commission from Guild Hall in East Hampton, in collaboration with “That Fabulous Variety Show.” Jody will premiere a new work; “And Then Now” at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn May 4th-6th with live music by Glass Clouds Ensemble.

Jody recently performed with ChemeckiLerner in October 2023 at the Chocolate Factory. She had the honor of performing in the works of Simone Forti (MoMA: Judson Church: The Work is Never Done 2018-2019), Asad Raza (Whitney Biennial 2017), and Steve Paxton (MoMA 2012). As a performer in the 70s, 80s,and 90s, Jody danced in with Meredith Monk, Ping Chong, Phyllis Lamhut, Pooh Kaye, and Sally Silvers. As an educator, Jody has been a guest artist and choreographer at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Plymouth University, University of Hawaii,  Bryn Mawr University, Temple University, University of Hawaii, New York University, Middlebury College, Wayne State University, Moravian College,  Alfred University and Trinity College, in addition to being a teaching artist for Lincoln Center Institute, The Joyce Theater, and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. 

As a cinematic choreographer, Oberfelder has created over twenty films, recently including five Covid-inspired films that have screened at Espascio Gallery in London, and online in the 4th World Congress of Psychogeography. Rube G, a film created during the pandemic in the summer of 2020, in which Oberfelder assembled contributions from over 100 dancers Commercially, Jody has worked as a movement director with photographer​ Steven Meisel for Versace, Prada, and Chloe. Additionally, Jody has choreographed campaigns for Guerlain Perfume with Hillary Swank and Danskin. 

Jody Oberfelder Projects has received recognition from  The Starry Night Foundation (spanning 1999-2022), four New Music USA grants ( 2011, 2015, 2018, 2021),  NYC Hampton Arts Grant (LMCC), Foundation for Contemporary Arts 2020)  Abrons Arts Center Covid Relief Fund, Lower Manhattan Cultural Center (spanning 2008-2018), CEC Artslink (2007, 2016), a Joyce SoHo Residency (2008), a NYFA BUILD Grant (2009), NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (2007-2013, 2020, 2021), New York Foundation for the Arts (1986), New York State Council for the Arts (1989), and National Endowment for the Arts (1990).

Oberfelder is currently developing Rube G.—The Consequence of Action”, which will premiere in March for our New York season at Gibney Dance Center. The springboard and inspiration for this piece is a Rube Goldberg Machine. We’ll be looking at all angles of how things work as a connective unit, and how each action connects to the next, thereby connecting all of us. This work is infused with Jody’s research and play from site specific and interactive modalities, and the company looks forward to bringing immersive dance performance to New York audiences.