Our Story

Atelier: (Origins French) A space where an artist works and creates.

Jessica loves the study of human movement and finds deep joy in helping others connect to their body, mind, and spirit through healthy and beautiful movement. Her classes are educational, dynamic, highly intuitive, creative, articulate and bring a sense of joy, ease, and inspiration.

Jessica attended the prestigious Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre where she studied with modern dance pioneers and classical ballet masters from 2000-2003. As part of the requirement for her education at Ailey, she was required to study yoga twice a week, Jessica initially disliked yoga saying, "I just wanted to be flying through space dancing and all of the sudden I had to slow down and to find where the inspiration was coming from." Something shifted after a few months of practice that brought her to a much deeper connection to herself, her dance, and her way of approaching life.

Wanting to learn more, Jessica went through her first level of training for yoga in 2003 while in school at Ailey and then continued to earn an educational level certification which allows for her to certify and to train others for teaching. She has spent many years along side one of her teachers Kavi Yogiraj Alan Finger originally of South Africa learning and studying meditation. Jessica has been an assistant to Alan Finger, Jillian Pransky, Jean Koerner, and Mona Anand throughout the years, all unique teachers in their own light Jessica continues to study with teachers worldwide to deepen her practices and offerings.

Jessica has taught in yoga teacher training programs in Washington D.C. and NYC. While in NYC, she taught yoga and meditation programs for HBO, Time Warner Inc, CNN, YogaWorks, ISHTA yoga, and worked at Manhattan Physio Group. Jessica has been a guest speaker at NYU Langone Medical Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit on the topic of meditation and a staff teacher at The Omega Institute for Holistic Studies. She is a compassionate, dynamic, and creative teacher with a joyful light-hearted approach.

In 2014, Jessica was invited to teach meditation in India. She took time off from NYC to travel to India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bali to deepen her experiences of ancient traditions. Upon returning to NYC, Jessica  continued to teach and to dance professionally with her latest piece of choreography in collaboration with composer and Golden Globe nominee Rolf Kent, musician Christina Courtin, and lighting designer Michelle Sarrat which premiered at ABC Home of Deepak in NYC in 2017.  While in NYC, Jessica also worked on camera in "Ugly Betty," "Mildred Pierce." "Gossip Girl," along with others while modeling for print ads as a dancer for Pilip Morris. She also appeared  on camera for Jillian Pransky's Restorative program online.

Jessica welcomed her beautiful and vibrant daughter Tula in 2018, and  took sabbatical to focus on time with her daughter and family. In 2020, Jessica began studying alongside Mary Ann Briggs and Susan Baddock of The Newnan Pilates Loft where Jessica was able to reconnect with her joy of movement as well as recover from injuries from an accident. After being gifted space by Mary Ann Briggs to start "Simple Sweet Sunday" a free online yoga & meditation class during the covid pandemic, Jessica formed Atelier JDM which later became the brick and mortar, Atelier 20 Perry in Historic Downtown Newnan, GA.  She, her husband, and daughter relocated to Newnan in 2021.   Jessica continues to study as much as she can with Kevin Bowen of Core Dynamics with a focus on the work of Eve Gentry, as well as meditation and yoga masters worldwide.

Jessica now owns and operates Atelier 20 Perry when she offers group classes, private sessions, master level Reiki, meditation, dance coaching, and design consulting for sacred spaces within your home.