Jon Lehrer
Founder/Artistic Director/Choreographer

"I don't recall ever meeting a work by Jon Lehrer I didn't like." - Sid Smith, Chicago Tribune

Photo by AC DeMarco

Photo by Kiesha Stephens

"Jon Lehrer's strikingly original choreography transformed the stage into an energy field of
super-charged particles."
- Dance Magazine

Jon Lehrer, who was raised in Queens, New York, took his very first dance class at age 19 at the University at Buffalo. While dating a dancer, Jon teased her about how easy it must be to get an A in a dance class. The girl dared Jon to try a beginning level modern dance class and his life was changed. Jon ultimately received his BFA in Dance from the University at Buffalo.

As a professional, Jon has danced with the Erick Hawkins Dance Company, Paul Sanasardo, John Passafiume Dancers, in Merv Griffin's "Funderful" in Atlantic City, NJ, and the Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular. In 1997, Jon was hired by Giordano Dance Chicago, the world’s preeminent jazz dance company. After only three years he was promoted to Rehearsal Director and then became the Associate Director two years later. During his ten years with Giordano, Jon also became the resident choreographer, creating seven original works on the company that received rave reviews all around the world.

Jon has choreographed for several professional dance companies and universities all over the country. He teaches master classes throughout the U.S. and around the world, having been on faculty at Dance Masters of America, Jazz Dance World Congress, Dance Teacher Summer Conference, Chicago National Association of Dance Masters (CNADM), Chautauqua Institution, Florida Dance Educators Organization, and Florida Dance Masters to name a few. Jon has received many awards and honors, including the University at Buffalo Zodiaque Dance Company Distinguished Alumni Award, CNADM’s Artistic Achievement Award, University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award, and the “Rising Star” SPARK Award for being an integral part of Buffalo’s thriving arts and cultural community.

Jon Lehrer started his highly anticipated company in 2007 in Buffalo, NY, relocating the company to his home of NYC in 2019. Jon Lehrer Dance Company has already received much critical acclaim and notoriety nationally and internationally. Under his artistic direction, JLDC showcases Jon's unique choreography and embodies his definitive style. His extensive background in both the modern and jazz dance idioms fosters choreography that is organic, artistic, accessible and often humorous, reflecting life experience and the human condition.