JENNIANNE BAKER

Jeni Baker is a Central Valley Girl with big dreams…and so far she’s making them come true.  A scholarship winner and alumni of AMDA, the acclaimed American Musical & Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles, she has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance Theater and a budding career in the entertainment industry.  Ms. Baker has worked with many well-known choreographers in the dance and musical theater field…Jane Lanier, Hassan Christopher, Tiffany Billings, Rob Rich, Kim Hale and Nicole Berger.  She has trained extensively in Modern/Contemporary, Ballet, Musical Theatre and Jazz, has choreographed and danced in many pieces for AMDA and a variety of musical stage productions at venues around Southern California, was honored to have had a solo specifically choreographed for her by Jane Lanier, the Tony nominated actress for “Fosse,” and is currently assistant director of and principal dancer for well-known choreographer Hassan Christopher’s RIACTOR Dance Company in Southern California. She began her dance training in Turlock California where she joined the STRUT organization to further her dance education and prepare her to pursue a career in dance. She knew that she needed greater discipline, determination, endurance and a better understanding of her body mechanics if she was to master other genres of dance. She joined STRUT Studio’s competition teams to fast track these skills while advancing her technical training in jazz, ballet, tap, and hip hop under the tutelage of Hollie and Heather Bettencourt.  While studying at STRUT, Ms. Baker was selected to receive a very special grant, the Jason Robbins Dance Scholarship, to help continue her dance training.  As one of the last recipients of this scholarship, the endowment was especially meaningful to Ms. Baker and she used it wisely…to pursue and expand on her dream! Jeni developed her abilities for singing, acting and musical theater performance and was quickly picked out of auditions to perform in the Modesto Performing Arts stage production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and shortly thereafter, in the YES (Youth Entertainment Stage) Company’s production of The Wizard of Oz.  From there it was clear that Jeni Baker was made for the stage and with every new performance she continues to confirm that.  Her recent successes include:  a pivotal role in the San Diego Musical Theater’s production of Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas the Musical,” the debut of an exciting and critically acclaimed contemporary performance piece “ANIMIS” with the RIACTOR Dance Company and a principal role in Neil Simon’s hit musical comedy “Sweet Charity” opening at the Candlelight Pavilion in April 2013.​