Jacob Gutiérrez-Montoya /
Teacher and internationally awarded choreographer trained in ballet, modern, tap and jazz. Based in Sacramento, Jacob received his education in dance at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he was certified in the Erick Hawkins Technique and later received Lester Horton training while dancing with the Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theatre (Bernard Gaddis). He has also danced professionally throughout the world at numerous festivals, competitions and shows. Currently, he is the Artistic Director for Hawkins Contemporary Jazz Company in Folsom, California, and is the Founder and Artistic Director for Sacramento Contemporary Dance Theatre.
As an educator and mentor, Jacob trains over 80 students each year. Focusing on both technique and performance, his students have been accepted into such prestigious programs as the American Ballet Theatre, Bolshoi Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and the Royal Ballet School to expand their dance training.
Jacob is passionate about furthering his own training to provide the best instruction to his students. Having most recently been certified in Progressing Ballet Technique and The Giordano Jazz Technique under the guidance of Nan Giordano, he is excited to share that knowledge with the local dance community. He has been on staff at The Sacramento Ballet, Northern California Dance Conservatory, Sacramento Theatre Company and B Street Theatre at the Sofia. Through his thirst for education and community involvement, he helps to integrate art into core curriculum classrooms as a featured teacher at the Teachers Symposium for Sacramento area educators.
In Jacob 2015 and 2017 Jacob received the Grand Prize at the Palm Desert International Choreographers Festival, where he has been selected as a finalist for 5 consecutive years. Through his love for musical theatre and story telling, Jacob has found himself choreographing for several theatre companies both locally and nationally. Most recently, his work was recognized by the New York Musical Festival for his choreography for Generation Me. Throughout the region he has been recognized by the Sacramento Area Regional Theatre Alliance and has received Elly Awards for both In the Heights and Nevermore. In 2018 he choreographed the entertainment for the International Event Dîner en Blanc and was asked to have his work presented at the Teatro Ariston Sanremo in Italy under the guidance of Daniel Ezralow.
In 2015, Jacob founded Sacramento Contemporary Dance Theatre (SCDT), a non-profit organization designed to support other local charities and to encourage young dancers and choreographers in the region. SCDT has raised over $55,000 for local programs including the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, Nor Cal Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Agape International Missions (an organization that fights Human Trafficking), and Saint Johns Program for Real Change. In partnership with Hawkins School of Performing Arts, they host The Choreographers Initiative providing over $2000 in Scholarships annually to the teen winners.