Jojo Pizarro is a Milwaukee-born dancer and vocalist whose work is centered on performance, musicality, and cultural expression. With roots in hip hop, contemporary, jazz, ballet, modern,
African diasporic, and Latin forms, she adds diversity and depth to both concert and commercial settings. Her movement is rhythmic and intentional, with a focus on grounded dynamics, clarity, and emotional connection.
Jojo, a graduate of Milwaukee High School of the Arts, received intense pre-professional
training before continuing her studies in dance and business at the University of Wisconsin-
Milwaukee. She has performed at Summerfest, opening for internationally renowned artists such as T-Pain, Sean Paul, and Lunay. These experiences honed her ability to adapt to various performing circumstances while keeping a strong, honest presence.
As a performer, Jojo is dedicated to embodying music with accuracy and power, turning sound
into movement that feels urgent and alive. She continues to learn, teach, and perform, while
growing her presence in both concert and commercial settings, bringing a grounded, rhythm-driven approach to every stage she steps onto.
About
Artistic Statement
"Rhythm is the first language I learned. Before I understood technique or terminology, I
understood the bass in my chest and how a groove could change the atmosphere of a room.
When I perform, I look forward to that shift. I ground myself into the floor before rising, let my
hips sit heavy before slicing my arms into the air, and stretch stillness just long enough for the
audience to lean in. My artistry is characterized by these contrasts: grounded and expansive,
controlled and liberated. Whether I'm doing elaborate footwork or holding a phrase in silence,
I'm listening to the conversation between my body and the music.
Musicality is central to how I create and perform. In rehearsal, I listen beyond counts,
paying attention also to texture, tone, and subtle rhythm changes. I respond to the weight of the
bass, the sharpness of a snare, and the pull of a vocal line, allowing those elements to shape the
quality of my movement. A precise accent in the music may initiate a strike through my
shoulders, while a sustained note may convince my spine to lengthen and slow my breathing. I'm
fascinated by the space between sounds, like the suspension before a beat drops or the snares
beneath the layers of the music. My training in Hip Hop, modern, jazz, African diasporic, and
Latin traditions give me versatility, but it is deep listening and intention that unify my work. I
embody the music so that the movement and sound are married.
Beyond the studio, I approach performance as an interchange. Onstage, I sense energy in
the same way that a musician senses tempo, knowing when to drive forward and when to let the moment breathe. I invite the audience into the rhythm rather than just asking them to watch it.
My artistry is founded on culture, musicality, and presence, and I convey those characteristics
with clarity and respect. As a performer and emerging choreographer, I am dedicated to creating
work that is embodied and translational, and that resonates in the body long after the
performance ends."