Jennifer McQuiston Lott

Jennifer McQuiston Lott is an Assistant Professor at the Glorya Kaufman School of Dance at the University of Southern California, where she has been teaching since 2016. She is also a co-founder and co-Artistic Director of the Traverse City Dance Project, a seasonal professional dance company in Michigan. Lott is certified in GYROTONIC® and GYROKINESIS®, and holds advanced credentials as an ABT® Certified Teacher.

• Education: BFA in Ballet Performance from Indiana University; MFA in Dance from the University of California, Irvine (with Graduate Fellowship and scholarships).
• Performance & Choreography: Danced with companies like Gibney Dance Company, Armitage Gone! Dance, and Eglevsky Ballet; choreographed works and dance films for festivals, institutions, and music artists including Son Lux and My Brightest Diamond.
• Collaborations: Partnered with USC Thornton School of Music faculty like Andrew Norman and Dawn Stoppiello, as well as chamber ensemble yMusic, to create interdisciplinary events such as Caught in the Chamber and Activated Chambers.

Her research focuses on collaborative creation between dance, music, and multimedia, emphasizing rigorous yet generous artistic environments. During the pandemic, she pioneered the Traverse City Dance Project’s No-Distance Festival, supporting over 35 international artists through virtual collaborations. She currently directs the NewVo Fellowship, nurturing emerging choreographers and composers.

Scientific & Artistic Recognition:

• Graduate Fellowship from the University of California, Irvine
• Numerous scholarships during her MFA program

Lott has advised USC Kaufman students like Camryn Pearson (BFA ’21) and mentored at institutions such as Interlochen Summer Arts Camp. Her work has been showcased at USC Visions and Voices events, blending installation-style performances and interdepartmental innovation.