Jeanette
Writer & Performance Artist
Jeanette Bent's CV
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Live Performance, Experiential/Pop-up Events, Branding, Talent, Choreography/Staging, Scripts & Writing
Over 25 years of dance and acrobatic musical theatre choreography in eclectic global entertainment venues. High attendance and ticket sales with exemplary production value and leadership. Unique blend of performance, choreography, event creation and writing.
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Marketing Director
Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery
Santa Cruz, CA
2018 – 2023
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Assist the Executive Director in all marketing and fundraising endeavors, including in-person promotions to draw patrons to the museum (numbers have increased both fiscally and by attendance); online and social media presence (designed and published a new website and developed a social media voice); raised over $15,000 in a variety of fundraising endeavors (in-person and online campaigns); made valuable connections with potential donors, exhibit sponsors and community partners; streamlined all content, branding and messaging (newsletters, brochure, print collateral, website, social media); maintain control and oversee the Museum’s internal content with managers; absorbed all publicity and PR for the launch of our Sustainability Campaign and the ED’s retirement announcement; and mediate communications between the Museum’s founders, board members, managers and staff.
Google Pay App (Google Headquarters)
Mountainview, CA
2018
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Managed a team of 7 brand ambassadors to activate the Google Pay app in a variety of brick-and-mortal businesses all throughout the Bay Area. I drove the team during a one-week activation lasting from 8 am until 5 pm daily; managed the corresponding tracking spreadsheet; increased visibility for Google Pay by visiting 500 locations over 5 days; and was asked back 6 months later to lead a different team on the same activation. We reported from the Google Headquarters in Mountain View, California.
Resorts & Cruise Ships
Club Mediterranean (Club Med)
Choreographer & Aerialist
Cancun Yucatan (Mexico), 2008
Turkoise (Turks & Caicos Islands), 2009
Sandpiper (Port St. Lucie, Florida), 2009
Created original large musical theatre productions; managed a team of professional theatre technicians; introduced theatre and dance to resort personnel in every department; managed general rehearsals every night and personal rehearsals during the day; performed shows 7 nights per week; stage managed for outside entertainment companies; taught Zumba and “Dance a la Carte” (a 2-hour daily block of guest-chosen dances as part of Club Med's Magellan Project).
Theme Parks & Fairgrounds
Norwegian Cruiseline's Gem
Talent Search Dancer
Won 2nd place for a street jazz dance routine in a talent search aboard the Norwegian Gem.
Mediterranean, June 2006
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Choreographer & Aerialist
Santa Cruz, summer 2016 (Stellaria Entertainment's "Pirates Show")
Santa Cruz, summer 2015 (Mirage Entertainment's "Circus of Nations")
Conceived, rehearsed, directed, produced the Pirates show for over 15 performances through summer; managed handbalancing, acrobatics, lollipop lyra, silks, dance and comedy. (Mirage Entertainment) Performed Lollipop Lyra and Aerial Hoop in 3 shows daily, 5 days/week (July 6 – August 13); provided the aerial equipment (rig, lollipop lyra, hardware) and rehearsal space.
Santa Cruz County Fair
(TEC Productions)
Community Performance Organizer
Provided the talent and conceived over six original cabaret shows during the weekend over the course of two years.
Santa Cruz, 2014 - 2016
Disneyland & California Adventure
Dance the Magic Parade Dancer & Stage Show Dancer
Danced in two parades per park; performed as a super hero in Downtown Disney.
Anaheim, 2012
Entrepreneur History
Stellaria Creative Company
Santa Cruz, CA
2013 – present
Founder & President
Marketing, events and performance company specializing in experiential, engagement and atmospheric marketing and entertainment for theme parks, cruise ships, resorts, sports teams, dinner theatre and festivals, as well as private company branding and activations. Original scripts & show packages for sale, include: Atlantis, Backwoods, Bellasphere, CounterCulture, Creatures, Fantaerial, Orbial Bebop, Pirates and Steampunk.
Aerial Arts Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA
2013 – 2017
Founder & Former Studio Owner
Created the premier circus and pole acrobatics studio in Santa Cruz for beginners through advanced children and adult students. Sold the studio for net worth of $25,000 in January, 2017. While under my tenure, I oversaw 20 instructors and over 200 students; produced shows and events; arranged workshops for international guest instructors; hosted and installed a stylish physical atmosphere with over 15 aerial rigging points, four 15-foot poles, an office and production closet; kept a popular online/social media presence (Facebook, YouTube, Yelp, Google, Instagram, Twitter); profited from promotional marketing services (Living Social, Groupon and Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation); hosted Santa Cruz’s first ever pole competition (Pole Dance America, 2014) in addition to Santa Cruz’s first ever aerial and pole competition (U.S. Aerial, 2015); and guest spoke at Cabrillo College (Aptos, CA) and Cortines School for Visual and Performing Arts (L.A.).
Brand Activations/Field & Experiential Marketing
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GMR Marketing – Esurance at Levi’s Stadium for the 49ers’ home games (2017); Yahoo! at Levi’s Stadium for the 49ers’ home games (2017); Rakuten at Oracle Arena for the Golden State Warriors’ home games (2018).
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Extreme Marketing – Mars Candy at Walmart in Gilroy (2017); Pay by Phone downtown San Francisco (2018).
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Productions Plus – Miele Vacuums at Bed, Bath and Beyond in San Jose (2017).
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ATN Promotions – NASCAR & Continental Tires at Leguna Seca Raceway in Salinas (2017); Monkey Knife Fight at Levi's Stadium for NFL playoff season (2020).
Club Maeva
Assistant Choreographer,
Dance Teacher & Stage Manager
Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico, 2008
Maintained large production shows; assisted choreographer in managerial duties; acted as chief choreographer during the choreographer’s absence; ran general and personal rehearsals every night/day; performed front and center in all shows; taught salsa to guests daily; learned how to produce a dinner theater experience for guests.
Orange County Fair
Stage Show Dancer
Orange County, 2004
Hip-hop/street jazz troupe (Fusion Dance) that performed four shows over one weekend.
Radio, T.V. & Sports Entertainment
(Stellaria Entertainment) Santa Cruz Warriors and Santa Cruz Derby Girls, 2016; Radio Host (Jeanette Bent) for KSCO in Santa Cruz, CA, 2015; Budweiser’s “The Perfect Match” Commercial, Dancer, 2012; Everclear’s “Be Careful What You Ask For” Music Video, Dancer, 2012; Timbaland’s “Hands Up In The Air” Music Video, Dancer, 2012; Franklin & Bash, Season 2 Finale, Dancer, 2012; Nickelback’s “Trying Not To Love You” Music Video, Actor, 2012; The Glee Project’s “ELEMENTARY POP!” Choreographer, 2011; Predators/Code Red Dancers (RAFL), Staten Island, NY, Dancer/Cheerleader, 2010 – 2011; The Buzz/The Honeybees Dancers (ABA), Maywood, CA, Choreographer, 2006 – 2007; Radio Host (DJ Jazzerina) for KBEACH in Long Beach, CA, 2007; NBA Summer Pro-league, Long Beach, CA, Dancer, 2004; Super Bowl XXXVII, Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, CA, Pre-game/Half-time Dancer, 2003
Dinner Theatre, Events & Flash Mobs
Sun Force
Ensemble Dancer
Aix-en-Provence, France, 2005 – 2006
Danced with hip hop/contemporary/raggaeton troupe throughout the South of France; performed in runway fashion show, street fair, competitions, gala; awarded “Most Dedicated Dancer” by the choreographer.
Stellaria Productions' Aerialatrical Experience
Producer, Choreographer, Script Writer
Duties described here...
Santa Cruz, 2017 - 2018
Santa Cruz Arts Council's Ebb & Flow Festival (Stellaria Entertainment)
Director, Choreographer, Performer
Awarded a grant for a one-time, 16-minute aerial installation hanging from the Soquel Bridge in Santa Cruz for the Ebb and Flow Festival.
Santa Cruz, June 2017
Roaring Camp Railroads
(Stellaria Production & Entertainment)
Producer, Director, Choreographer, Performer, Script Writer
Felton, 2016
Created Valentine’s Day event with catered dinner, vendors and aerial musical theatre performance (Backwoods) for 150 guests. Created a winter event with catered dinner, interactive aerial murder mystery performance (Steampunk), raffle, costume contest, roaming performers for 150 guests.
ProDanza USA/Italia's “Romeo & Juliet” and “Finale Gala”
Choreographer & Performer
Choreographed the finale show dance; Performed in three other dance numbers (modern, contemporary and jazz); Choreographed and performed site-specific dance routines for a traveling audience.
Montescudaio, Castiglioncello, Italy, 2006
Book-a-Flash-Mob
Choreographer, Dancer
Walnut Creek, San Francisco, Napa Valley, Salinas, Morgan Hill
2014 - 2018
Contracted as a dancer for birthday mob, demonstrated exemplary performance and leadership skills, promoted to choreographer for proposal mob. Thereafter hired as choreographer for proposal, engagement party and motivation mobs.
Memberships
Dramatists Guild member , 2020 - present; Board Member of the 418 Project (dance studio) in Santa Cruz, 2018; Society of Stage Directors & Choreographers (SDC) associate union, 2011 – present; Playwrights' Center, 2015 – present; International Dance Council (CID), 2012 – present; International Talent Agency, Rising Stars, 2011 – present; StarNow, 2010 – present; Theatre Communications Group (TCG), 2009 – present; Stage Manager's Association (SMA) associate member, 2009 – 2011, Backstage member 2016 – present.
Training, Certifications & Related Experience
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Certifications – CPR & First Aid, 2015; Aerial Arts America’s International Aerial Teacher Training, 2013; Discoveries Dance for Pole Fitness Instruction Certification, 2012; DanceCheer’s Coaching Principles, 2009; Dance New Amsterdam's Choreography Investigation Course level 1, 2009; Expert Rating’s Dance Notation, 2007; Fédération Française de Danse, 2005; Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA), 2003.
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Musical Theatre Writing – Dramatists Guild Institute: Certificate of Dramatic Writing, 2020 - present; Lyricist in New Musical Theater’s Lyrics Lab writing course, 2017; Bookwriting student in New Musical Theater’s Book Lab writing course, 2015 - 2016; student in New Musical Theater’s Core Curriculum writing course, 2015 – 2016.
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Acrobatic Pole Training – level 4/5 (professional elite) competitor, New York City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, 2009 – 2016.
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Aerial Training – professional elite/advanced competitor, Los Angeles, 2008 – 2016.
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Dance Training – contemporary, jazz, ballet/pointe, modern, hip hop, salsa, belly dance; California, New York City, France, Italy, Mexico, Turks & Caicos, Florida, 1997 – present.
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Stage Management, Technical Lighting, Sound Experience – “Wonderland,” Time Square Arts Center, NYC, Stage Manager & Aerialist, 2010; “T.S. Eliot: A New Musical,” Producers' Club Theaters, NYC, Stage Manager & Choreographer, 2010; “Le Nozze Di Figaro,” Chelsea Opera, NYC, Stage Manager, 2010; “Mating Dance of the Scarlet Honeyeater & It's in His Kiss,” Where Eagles Dare, NYC, Stage Manager, 2009; “Natasa Trifan Performance Group,” Slag Gallery, NYC, Stage Manager & Lighting Designer, 2009; Dance New Amsterdam (DNA) Production Apprentice, NYC, 2009 – 2011.
Miscellaneous Skills & Achievements
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Athletic/Artistic Competitions – Won 2nd place in Aerial Arts America’s 2nd Annual West Coast Aerial Festival, Orange County, CA, 2014; Won 1st place in Pole Dance America's Regional Competition, Oakland, CA, 2014; Won 2nd place in Aerial Arts America’s 1st Annual West Coast Aerial Festival, Orange County, CA, 2013; Won 3rd place in Pole Sport Organization’s National Competition, Las Vegas, NV, 2013; Invited to compete in the Pole Dance America Nationals in Atlanta, GA (2015) and in the Pan American Pole Dance Championships at the Arnold Classic in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2015).
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Athletic Sponsorships/Representation – Wynn Star Production and Talent Agency (2018-present); Santa Cruz CORE Fitness and Rehab (2014 – 2016); NIKE company (Rockstar Workout Dancehall, 2006 – 2007).
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Miscellaneous – Wrote and won Santa Cruz Arts Council’s Development Grant for $713 in 2016; Awarded $1,000 scholarship from Be Discovered to perform in two Disneyland parades and one stage show, 2012; Camp manager and trainer for Varsity’s National Dance Alliance and National Cheerleader’s Association, Northeast and Southwest Regions, U.S.A., 2010 – 2012; Dance and fitness instructor at 24Hour Fitness, Northeast and Southwest Regions, U.S.A., 2002 – 2012; Awarded $1,500 scholarship from Toyota for outstanding journalism, 2005; Fluent in French.
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Writing – Published over 100 newspaper and magazine articles in dance, art, philosophy, culture and current events, and three books (fiction, prose and sci-fi), 2000 – present.
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Editorial – City Editor, Managing Editor, Production Editor, Copy Editor; Long Beach, CA and New York City, 2004 – 2009.
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Teaching – Over 17 years of collective experience teaching musical theatre, dance, aerobics, aerial, pole and a variety of fitness genres.