JIM BUNTING

Originally from West Virginia, Jim Bunting attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During his time there, he became a founding member of Koresh Dance Company. Jim graduated from the University of the Arts in 1995, receiving his BFA in Dance. Jim continued to dance professionally for Koresh Dance Company concluding his 8 year tenure with the Company in 1999.

As a choreographer, Jim’s unique blend of different genres and techniques, alongside artistry and characterization has granted him the pleasure of creating works for Koresh Dance Company, Pennsylvania Ballet's Shut Up and Dance at the Forrest Theater, the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, The University of The Arts and Drexel University. In 1999, Jim received a Fellowship Grant from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts for his original choreography.

Jim has been choreographing and teaching dance for over 25 years, serving as a mentor and educator for both children and adults. Jim currently choreographs on youths performing for the pre-professional dance companies in residence at Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center and Haverford Dance Center. He has also taught Master Classes for the dance departments at the University of the Arts, St. Bonaventure University in New York, the University of Colorado, The Roswell Dance Theater in Atlanta, The College of Charleston, Dance Davidson in Charlotte NC and Eastern University. Jim has been on faculty as an adjunct professor of jazz dance at Drexel University since 2007 and Temple University.

Jim started Jim Bunting Dance Company in 2014 with his inaugural full-length production of “The Shaman’s Dream” which premiered at the Mandell Theater in Philadelphia. The company has performed at the Capitale in NYC for the School of Visual Arts Annual Holiday Party, the Philadelphia Art Museum's "Friday After 5 Series", Kun Yang Lin’s “InHale Performance Series” , “The 2016 Henri David’s Halloween The Ball”, “The Koresh Artist Showcase”, “The Koresh Come Together Festival”, “The Philadelphia Fringe Festival”, “The Philly Raw Artists at the Trocadero”, He has developed three joint productions with Melissa Rector: “Backwoods” in 2023, “One Thousand And One Nights” in 2024, “Crystal Ball” in 2025, and will premiere a fourth joint production in February of 2026.