J.R. Healey was born in Grants Pass, Oregon, and currently lives in Portland, Oregon. He received a BA (Dance) from the University of Nevada–Las Vegas. James has been an adjunct professor at Pacific University (Forest Grove, Oregon) and an assistant coach and choreographer for the Canby High School Dance Team (Canby, Oregon) for over a decade. James is primarily a modern and contemporary choreographer, often a choreographer for the Pacific Dance Ensemble (Pacific University Theater and Dance Program), and has led the Canby High School Dance Team to several Oregon State Athletic Association (OSAA) state championships in the Show Division. James was among the winners of the Oregon Dance & Drill Coaches Association's "Coach of the Year" in 2019 and 2025. James finds the path that dancers take from high school environments to college refinement a rewarding and beautiful journey to mentor and guide.