Jackie Fisher on Dance, Choreography and Balancing it with Pharmacy

Jackie Fisher is a company dancer for the Columbus Modern (CoMo) Dance Company. See Jackie in CoMo’s upcoming Mother’s Day Tea in the Garden performances at the Topiary Park, May 9 and 10.

Laura: Where did you do your dance training, and how did you find CoMo?
Jackie: I started dancing at the age of three at Marjorie Jones School of Dance in Columbus. I studied various styles including ballet, tap, jazz, modern, acro and contemporary dance. I also participated in regional and national competitions, including Ohio Dance Masters, until I graduated high school. I knew I wanted to continue my dance education, so I minored in dance at Ohio Northern University while also studying pharmacy.

Dance has been such an integral part of my life and something I was determined to continue after completing my education. While searching for adult dance opportunities in Columbus, I came across CoMo. The company truly aligned with my goals and values as a dancer and also seemed like a good fit for my work-life balance. I am extremely grateful that I joined CoMo in June 2024, and have already experienced so many wonderful performance opportunities with the company!

Laura: You recently choreographed a work on the company; can you tell readers more about that process?
Jackie: I have always been interested in choreography, especially after taking my dance composition class in college. Working with CoMo to create a piece is such a rewarding and fulfilling experience as an artist, because everyone in the company has so much joy and passion for dance. My most recent piece, “No Man’s Land,” is inspired by nature, which is where I get most of my inspiration as a choreographer.

I wanted to create a piece that included moments of improvisation and would allow the dancers to showcase their own movement and interpretation of the piece. This contrasts with moments of intense synchronization, which add balance and texture to the overall work. Throughout the choreographic process, the CoMo dancers were really willing to take risks or try new things to create my vision. I truly could not be happier with how it turned out!

Laura: Your day job is very different from dance. How do you find balance between pharmacy and art?
Jackie: While it may not seem that there are many similarities between being a pharmacist and a dancer, I actually think that my dance education has made me a better healthcare provider, and vice versa. Dance teaches self-discipline, creativity and resilience, all of which are values that have assisted me in my pharmacy career.

I also think that my understanding of the body and the human experience through my pharmacy education helps me in my performing and dance teaching. Being in CoMo has given me a creative outlet and the chance to develop another part of myself outside of my job, which I am extremely grateful for. While I am dancing, I can disconnect from any stress and focus purely on my art form.

Laura: What are you looking forward to in CoMo’s May 9 and 10 Mother’s Day Tea performances?
Jackie: This will be my second time performing at CoMo’s Mother’s Day Tea, and it is truly one of my favorite shows of the year. I love how the company brings dance to the Columbus community in a unique and accessible way. We also use the beautiful Topiary Park as a stunning background for the performance, which creates a more interesting visual experience for both the dancers and the audience members.

For me, the Mother’s Day Tea performance marks the beginning of springtime and an era of new growth and creativity. I am very excited to showcase Maggie’s new piece, which incorporates both gesture work and a prop, which have been exciting elements to explore together as a company.

Laura: Fun fact that your sister is also in the company — is it fun to dance with her again?
Jackie: It is such a gift to be able to dance with my sister Sophia again. She joined the company this past summer, and I have really enjoyed seeing her re-develop her love of dance after taking years off after high school. The chance to perform together as adults is definitely a gift and something we have both really cherished! Having someone who you completely trust to try new movement with or bounce ideas off of is extremely helpful in the choreographic process as well.

Laura: What’s the best thing about the Columbus art scene right now?
Jackie: We are very lucky in Columbus because the art scene is huge! We have such a diverse mix of art mediums and groups; there is truly something for everyone. Whether you are an artist aiming to nurture your craft, or someone taking a class for the first time, Columbus has it all. I also am grateful at how accessible art is, with many community festivals and performances. One of my favorites is the New Albany Dance Festival, where dance companies from all over the Columbus area come together to share the stage and take classes together.

See Jackie in CoMo’s upcoming Mother’s Day Tea in the Garden performances on May 9 and 10 at 2p.m. at the Topiary Park. This annual event is free, but RSVP is required. Tea and cookies will be served at intermission.

Author bio

Laura Puscas is co-founder and director of Columbus Modern Dance Company.

This article is part of a bi-weekly column brought to you by the Greater Columbus Arts Council as part of the Art Makes Columbus campaign. Explore a calendar of events, public art database, artist-curated public art tours and stories at columbusmakesart.com. To learn more about GCAC grants visit gcac.org.