BIO

Kelsie Steil is a New England-based choreographer and movement artist who blends dance and character work to create emotionally resonant dance-theater rooted in honest life reflections. Much of her work explores mental health and domestic scenarios, often beginning with the creation of a character profile drawn from lived or observed experiences. She is driven by the moments where movement and message collide, leaning into dissonance and a sense of unreality to deepen the impact of her choreography.

Her process is grounded in collaboration and care: when working with dancers, Kelsie prioritizes building a safe, accepting, and communicative environment. Channeling her background as an experiential educator, she often initiates rehearsals with dialogue, group initiatives, and games that invite joy and trust while shaping the concept of the work.

Kelsie’s choreography spans both live performance and dance film, often emerging from collaborations across disciplines. Her work has been presented throughout New England at venues including SPACE Gallery, Lila Dance Festival, Engine, Franco Center, Dance Annex, and City Theater.

 

In January 2025, she premiered her original evening-length work, Split My Soul, a character-driven production refined through a summer-long immersive study of Commedia dell’Arte. This intensive deepened the theatrical elements of her work and strengthened her commitment to story and emotional depth.

Her collaborative projects include CRAVING THE MYSTIC, a stage work adapted into an award-winning film by filmmaker Jennifer Hoffer, and Rummage Lane, a full-length duet co-created with choreographer Hannah Haines. She has also worked with composers Michael Wall and Masha Reznik to develop original scores for her pieces. Kelsie’s artistic practice is rooted in research, collaboration, and a drive to connect deeply with audiences through movement, emotion, and narrative.