faculty spotlight

An internationally acclaimed and much sought after educator/ choreographer/ performer, Josette Wiggan has dedicated her life to the perpetuation American Jazz and social dances like Tap, Solo Jazz, Lindy Hop and Hip Hop. She began her dance adventure with Paul and Arlene Kennedy at the Universal Dance Designs Studio in Los Angeles. Her love for performing was fostered by the Kennedys and then refined as an adult while dancing with Jazz Tap Ensemble until 2007. A graduate of UCLA, Josette’s career highlights include, the 2001 Spotlight Award winner in nonclassical dance category, the first National Broadway Tour of 42nd Street, 2008 Bessie Award Nominee for Outstanding Performance in the Baker/Tarpaga Project and studying with Germaine Acogny at L’ecole les Sables in Dakar, Senegal. Her movie credits include, Idlewild, Princess and the Frog, and The Bride. Alongside her brother, Joseph Wiggan, she was part of two original casts of Cirque du Soleil’s Banana Shpeel and Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour from 2009-2013. The duo also performed in Tireless, a curated show by Michelle Dorrance that had its debut at Jacob’s Pillow in 2017 and in 2021, Josette created her first evening length work entitled, Praise: The Inevitable Fruit of Gratitude, in collaboration with Grammy nominated, jazz trumpeter Keyon Harrold and the cast of Dorrance Dance. Josette is also co-creator and cochoreographer with Michelle Dorrance and Hannah Heller for a Christmas work entitled, …The Nutcracker Suite… that has premiered at houses including the Joyce Theater, Kennedy Center, 

The White House (under the invitation of First Lady Jill Biden,) and The Soraya. In 2023, Josette began her own tap company, Josette Wiggan Presents… and developed new works entitled, On Solid Ground: A Celebration of Black Joy and Freedom In Our America, and her first solo work, Threshing Floor: A Place of Meditation and Melody, for the American Dance Platform 2024 at the Joyce Theater. Currently, Josette is so excited and honored to be on Faculty teaching dance at USC’s School of Dramatic Arts.