SINGER/FIDDLER/DANCER
Based out of New Hope, PA and greater New York City/New Jersey/Philadelphia area.

From her earliest days, Jennifer Johnson found her voice in dance, this art form becoming the vehicle for her total artistry to emerge.

Her diverse musical background and love of the dance inspires her eclectic performances featuring energetic fiddle playing, songs, and stepdance prowess.

A natural musician from a young age, Jennifer studied piano at the age of 5, viola at the age of 7 and flute at the age of 11. After exceling on the viola, Jennifer became entranced with the beauty and rhythm of the dance, and, at the age of 13, began studying at the New Jersey School of Ballet. After graduating from Skidmore College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Dance Performance, she moved to Manhattan to study full-time at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, during which time she began studying singing and acting.

Living in Manhattan influenced the exploring young artist with its sounds and her singing studies covered a broad spectrum of styles from the jazz standards to opera and musical theatre, during which time she performed with the Amato Opera, at Lincoln Center, and at numerous cabaret clubs and piano bars throughout the city. Desiring more versatality as a performer, she taught herself guitar accompaniment, and soon began performing in coffeehouses, cafes and restaurants.

But it was a concert by contemporary Irish singer Mary Black that inspired travels to Ireland, and opened a door to a world of timeless music. And during this trip to Ireland, she came upon a traditional Irish session. Never having heard this music played on a violin before, Jennifer's earlier classical viola training now appeared to be like an important piece of a puzzle, as soon thereafter, Jennifer rented a fiddle from the local music shop in and began studying Irish fiddle with Patrick Orceau in New York City. Her life had made a circle.

Not long thereafter, Jennifer spent a summer in Cape Breton Island studying fiddle and stepdance and left “with her red shoes on”, studying soley Cape Breton fiddle for the next 3 years -- between trips to Cape Breton, videotapes, audio recordings, and “the shed” -- More recently, Jennifer has revisited Irish music and the the lively Irish music scene of NYC and NJ and has studied Irish fiddle with Athena Tergis and New York Sligo fiddler Brian Conway.

In 2004, the New York Caledonian Society asked Jennifer to teach Cape Breton stepdance classes in New York City, and in July 2005, she taught stepdance workshops at the KCC Performing Arts Center in Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii. She currently teaches Cape Breton stepdance workshops periodically in New York City.

Jennifer has shared the stage with Grammy-winning Hawaiin master musicians George Kahumoku Jr. and Daniel Ho during a 'Celtic Aloha Tour' in the summer of 2005, and with the Scottish group “Old Blind Dogs” in the Cool Dog Concert Series in September 2006. Her debut CD, recorded by Grammy-winning engineer/producer Ben Wisch, was released in 2003 to wide acclaim and has received radio-play internationally. Jennifer currently performs regularly with “Taps and Tunes” as a Singer/Fiddler/Dancer for senior and student audiences. She is looking forward to recording and releasing her second album this year.

Fueled by her passion for the dance, Jennifer's music exudes energy and life, her songs move and inspire, and her unique performances enliven and refresh her audiences continuously.