Wesley Ensminger, originally from Santa Cruz, California, discovered his passion for movement and creation at California Institute of the Arts - where he received his Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree in dance performance and choreography. His time spent at Cal Arts was filled with performing, creating, choreographing and collaborating with artists across a wide range of disciplines and mediums - which in turn led to his fascination with teaching and inspiring others. Cal Arts fostered his creative intuitions during an incredibly formative time and allowed him to enter the professional world with a strong, individual and creative voice.

Upon graduating, he spent the next several years creating, performing and teaching for a multitude of professional companies, schools and institutions throughout Los Angeles. However, he knew a change was needed. After an incredibly eye-opening summer spent at Springboard Danse in Montreal – where he had the opportunity to connect with a whole new community of artists - he decided to take the next step in his creative journey.

After making the move to New York City, Wesley has spent the past ten years creating and experimenting in the various facets of the artistic community. However, through all of his creative experiences, teaching and choreographing have remained at the center. He has embarked on an incredibly fulfilling journey of sharing his knowledge and understanding of Release Technique, Contemporary dance and various modern dance genres with communities, schools, companies and studios across the United States and abroad.

For the past decade, Wesley has been on faculty at the Joffrey Ballet School and is also currently on faculty at Rutgers University, Peridance, and Gibney Dance. His teaching experience also includes Columbia University/Barnard College, Princeton University, The Martha Graham School, Nashville Ballet, and UNCSA – among many others. Through his teaching and creative practices, he strives to create a safe space that fosters creativity and curiosity, inspires artists to take risks and encourages them to discover a deeper understanding of the relationship between technique and exploration.