Michèle Moss (BEd/MA)(she/her) is a dancer, choreographer, academic researcher and community educator. She was born in the UK of Jamaican and British parents, raised in Montréal, and has lived in Calgary since 1978. Michèle began as a tap-dancing tot in the UK before studying at NCC in Montreal (Negro Community Centre) upon arrival in Canada. She participated in further studio training, nightclub practices and urban dance forms as well as earning two degrees that moved her into the academe following a performing career with DJD. She attributes much of her jazz education to Vicki Willis and Hannah Stilwell and is so grateful for the many opportunities to learn and work alongside those women. During the years building DJD and many years since she continues to try to wrap-up the topic of jazz music and dance in a neat package, it can’t be done! She continues to marvel at the topic and enjoys revealing it layer by layer. Michèle is currently serving as an associate professor and chair of the Dance Division in the School of Creative and Performing Arts at the University of Calgary. She continues her jazz research, which started in 1986 on the African continent, and has travelled back to Africa as well as to the Caribbean, and NYC and environs to conduct ethnographic and African Diaspora aesthetics research. She has served on numerous boards, peer adjudication, presented at conferences, written book chapters, and has been the recipient of many grants, choreographic commissions and international teaching opportunities.