Jonathan Ciccarelli was born and raised in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he began dancing and acting in high school. He received his early dance training from Christine Bennett, Brenda Divelbliss, and Mila Thigpen. In addition to performing and choreographing in high school, he took some technique classes at the Harvard/Radcliffe School, received master classes from the Alvin Ailey Dance Company, and attended the Bates Young Dancers Festival at Bates College in the summer of 1999.
After graduating from high school, Jonathan continued his dance training and liberal arts education when he attended Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY in the fall of 2001. He acquired most of his training in Ballet, Cunningham, Dunham, and Limon from various distinguished faculty members including Leslie Boyce, Jean Churchill, Peggy Florin, Lenore Latimer, Susan Osberg, Garry Reigenborn, and Maria Simpson. He performed in at least four dance concerts each year for numerous student choreographers, senior dance majors, and faculty repertories. He also performed in Dances at a Celebration in the spring of 2004, which showcased dance by faculty and students to commemorate the dedication of the Felicitas Thorne Dance Studio in the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts. In April 2005, he danced the role of The Dwarf in Schreker's Der Geburtstag der Infantin (Birthday of the Infanta) choreographed by Jean Churchill and accompanied by the acclaimed American Symphony Orchestra. Jonathan also presented his own work annually, and choreographed five original pieces and two authentic Senior Projects during his time at Bard. He held the position as Dance Production Manager during his Junior year, and was an Administrative Assistant for the Performing Arts Center in the spring of 2005. Outside of the dance studio, he collaborated with fellow theatre students on a few plays and other theatre productions. While he was pursuing his degree, he was also a guest/alumni choreographer for the Modern Dance Company at his high school in January of 2002 and 2005.
Jonathan received his B.A. from Bard in 2005 and was the recipient of the Don Parker Prize in Dance Performance. Shortly after graduating, he moved to New York City in the fall of 2005 and became a student of the Professional Studies Program at the Limon Institute. Since his time in NYC, he has performed for Catlin Cobb in Spirit of Thirst and other works at the Bulldog Studios in Beacon, NY and the Dance Across Borders International Dance Festival during the summer of 2007. In the fall of 2006, he choreographed Serious Money, directed by Roger Benington, for the Theatre Department at Bard College. This past fall, he performed for Elojes Dance Theater in a modern-ballet based on the H.G. Wells novel, The Time Machine, choreographed by Jessica Jennings.
Jonathan is currently working on projects with Bard alumni and other dancers in NYC and hopes to be performing again in the spring.