Today we’d like to introduce you to Jesse Obremski.
Hi Jesse, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I was born and raised in New York City by two artistic parents. I started dancing at the age of 7 in Tap and Horton and then was later guided to The Ailey School where I was for 10 years.
I also attended LaGuardia High School and then later The Juilliard School. I joined the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company when I was 19 to begin my professional dance experiences and have toured the world with The Limón Dance Company among others. I am currently an Artistic Associate with Gibney Company and own a contemporary dance company, Obremski/Works.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The path to where I am today has not been a smooth road. Through all of the bumps, obstacles, and challenges, I found more about myself and, importantly, my relationship with the craft. Whether this means how passionate I am about the craft and/or how I can distance myself and find my life without the craft. Both have been vital in understanding how I continue to show up in spaces and move forward with my road, path, and life choices.
To name one of the struggles: I have recently been understanding how I can be within a familiar space that has new members, team, and staff. Even though the space and organization may be familiar, it is compromised by the people in the space and new energy has been something that I have recently navigated in understanding how I value myself, can be valued by others, and how I can value the space being created.
I have had deeply low moments where I spiral my mind into times where I need more than myself to dig up and out but, on the other side, has been a renewed sense of self which I feel more confident in and more “Jesse”.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am currently an Artistic Associate with Gibney Company and, with this role, there is a multitude of facets we dive into. We are a touring repertory company, that creates new work as well as has restaged works join our performance material. With this, I am a dancer, a collaborator, and listener, and much more. We also have the opportunity to teach at Gibney Center, where I am a facilitator.
At times, I have also been a facilitator for our Community Action department which opens space for survivors of domestic violence and facilitate healthy movement workshops to enhance and support choice making. Also within my Gibney work, I am the Founder and Director of OUR PATHS, which is an organization that celebrates and cultivates a society where WHY is at the forefront of choices to build communal empathy.
I take this practice outside of the Gibney landscape and try to bring “the WHY” into many of my practices. I am also the Founder and Director of Obremski/Works where I am a choreographer and director of a group of phenomenal AAPI artists.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting.
This is a great question that I get often and think about often. It is very tough to reflect in support of answering this question though I would share this response. I wish I developed more empathy and moments to slow down in my life. As a born and raised New Yorker, I have the hustle and bustle culture embedded into my veins.
I’m not sharing this as a “bad” thing but I do value it immensely I would share that having the balance of slowing down and knowing when to gear up is big. Having empathy for others but for yourself as well, can support someone with a larger lens into their life and see the bigger picture.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jesseobremski.com
- Instagram: @Jesse_Obremski
