Jennifer Clagett Sommers holds an MFA in Dance, Performance and Choreography from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. She has performed with Laura Dean Musicians and Dancers, Street Signs Center for Literature and Performance and the Albany Berkshire Ballet, where she also served as Ballet Mistress.
Her dance honors include a scholarship to Jacob’s Pillow Choreography Workshop, a Durham Arts Council Emerging Artist Grant and a Lake Region Arts Council grant in support of new work.
From 2000-2005, she served as the Associate Director of Raleigh Dance Theatre (a Southeastern Regional Ballet Association Honor Company) and on the faculty of Meredith College. From 2005-2008, she served on the faculty of the University of Minnesota Morris and taught both dance and interdisciplinary courses.
She relocated to Houston in 2008 and launched a dance program at KIPP Sharpstown College Prep. She joined the Houston Ballet Education Outreach department, currently the Education & Community Engagement (ECE) department, in 2010 and is currently serving as Director of Education for both the ECE department and the Houston Ballet Academy.
Jennifer teaches dance and dance integration classes to students and teachers throughout Houston and greater Harris County and has served on the faculty of and choreographed for the University of Houston.