Meet Jennifer Sydor

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jennifer Sydor. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jennifer below.

Jennifer, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

My sense of purpose—rooted in my love for dance and creativity—began forming at an early age. We don’t choose the family we are born into (though some cultures believe we do), and I credit my early life experiences as the driving force behind the career I’ve built today. The challenges of my childhood led me to develop a rich inner world, a deep well of creativity, and a profound love for human connection.

I lost my father when I was five years old—an early trauma that made dance my lifeline. Even then, I intuited that movement was more than physical expression; it was a gateway to something deeper. Dance connected me to others, transformed performance into something magical, and allowed me to experience artistic expression, spirituality, and ritual. The structured environment of a dance class provided a sacred space where I could communicate intimately through the language of the body.

As a preteen, I fell in love with ballet. My home life was unpredictable, but the discipline and structure of the ballet studio offered stability—a respite from the chaos I experienced elsewhere. In dance, I felt whole. I felt at home.

To this day, dancing with others fulfills everything I seek in the world: authenticity, emotional intimacy, empathy, community, and tenderness.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am an Iranian-American dancer, educator, choreographer, and Pilates instructor with a deep-rooted passion for fostering creativity and community through movement. Splitting my time between Dayton, Ohio, and New York City, I have dedicated over two decades to the performing arts, seamlessly blending classical and contemporary dance forms.

With a 20-year career as a freelance artist in New York City, I have had the privilege of working across a diverse spectrum of the performing arts. My career has taken me from the grand stages of Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, The Museum of Modern Art, and The Guggenheim to experimental performance spaces, where I collaborated with innovative choreographers and multidisciplinary artists. I performed for 18 seasons with The Metropolitan Opera Ballet, working under Tony Award-winning directors and appearing in globally broadcast productions.

Freelancing in NYC not only refined my versatility as a performer but also shaped me as an educator and choreographer, offering opportunities to teach and create work at Rutgers University (graduate and undergraduate programs), the Virginia Governor’s School, and Regional Dance America’s National Choreography Intensive. My experience in both concert dance and musical theater has led me to choreograph for Dayton Ballet, Sinclair Community College, the University of Dayton, and Wright State University’s Dance and Musical Theater programs, where I now serve as part-time faculty.

Now based in Dayton, Ohio, as the Artistic Director of the Dayton Dance Initiative, I am committed to nurturing local talent and fostering collaborative artistic endeavors and artistic innovation. My choreographic work explores themes of connection, transformation, and storytelling through movement, as seen in recent commissions such as “I’ll Meet You There” for Dayton Ballet’s 85th Anniversary. I continue to balance performance, education, and choreography, while also integrating my expertise as a certified Pilates instructor to support dancers and non-dancers alike in developing strength, body awareness, and longevity in movement.

Through these endeavors, I strive to enrich the cultural fabric of both Dayton and New York City, creating spaces where dance serves as a powerful tool for expression, community, and human connection.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

As I have navigated my journey, three guiding principles have kept me centered and inspired: curiosity, perseverance, and love. I have always believed that to sustain a path, one must truly love what they do. For me, this love has been the driving force that helped me overcome countless obstacles. To be able to pursue my passion is both a privilege and an honor, and I recognize that our world does not always support or nurture this luxury.

For those just beginning their journey, it is essential to take the time to reflect and quiet the mind, allowing the deeper parts of yourself to speak. Each of us has different ways of tuning in and accessing that intuitive space—whether through meditation, prayer, therapy, dream analysis, tarot, podcasts, gardening, or time spent with animals, nature, and children. What brings you to that threshold where you are fully awake yet calm, balanced on the edge where your subconscious can speak?

This is where the magic happens—akin to the liminal moment when day fades into dusk and then into night. There is wisdom to be found in the in-between spaces of life, when logic and rigidity dissolve, and something deeper emerges. What rises to the surface in these moments may be your core values—a roadmap of authenticity guiding you along your path, whether linear or winding. Identifying these values early on can be a profound gift, sparing you unnecessary heartache and conflict while keeping you aligned with what truly matters.

If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?

At this stage in my career, I feel a deep tension between embracing the richness of my freelance work and yearning for a more permanent home—an institution where my talents can be channeled into one place. Balancing choreographing and teaching across multiple universities, dance schools, and companies, serving as Artistic Director of Dayton Dance Initiative, and maintaining my Pilates clientele is both fulfilling and demanding. Without the backing or title that comes with being part of a single institution, I often find myself navigating the complexities of being my own brand.

Many of my colleagues in artistic leadership and higher education face similar struggles. Overworked and stretched thin by relentless 12-hour days, many ultimately leave their positions to freelance, seeking greater autonomy—yet encountering a different set of challenges. Perhaps this tension reflects a larger issue: educators and artists are often undervalued and undercompensated, making sustainability in these fields difficult.

Unlike the corporate world, the path of an artist is rarely linear. Accomplishments, commissions, and accolades do not always translate into career advancement, title promotions, or salary increases. This inherent instability has led me to crave a sense of home—a place where the pressures of constantly self-promoting and managing multiple roles could take a backseat. Yet, I remain conflicted. Would transitioning from freelance to full-time provide the stability I seek, or would it come at the cost of the creative freedom I have built over decades? The answer is uncertain, but the question itself speaks to the ongoing challenges artists face in sustaining fulfilling, balanced careers.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jennifersydor.com
• Instagram: @jensydor
• Facebook: Jennifer Sydor

Image Credits

Whitney Browne
Scott Robbins
Ron Valle
Stephen Delas Hera