Styles:
- Jazz/Audition Class
- Contemporary/Lyrical
Experience (Select list):
- Kristen graduated from Chapman University with a degree in Dance and a degree in Education. She has returned as an alumni to Chapman to speak to their graduating class about career options and paths. She dabbled in the high school dance team choreography world through Saugus High School. Kristen owns her own preprofessional studio, The Artist Collective, and has been a Guest Teacher in private schools in Los Angeles, private studios around the country (Jordan Center Dance in Ohio, Accolades Movement Project in Washington, Ignite Dance & Yoga in Washington, Dance Premier in Washington and 8 Count Dance Academy in California).
Class Descriptions:
- CONTEMPORARY/LYRICAL: Kristen's class is comprised of a full warm up, center barre, improv tasks and choreography. Her style is inclusive of modern and ballet fundamentals with gestural and circular full body movement rooted in deep connection to music. With a heavy focus on timing, choices, transitions and music visualization, her class leaves room for the artist to explore, expand while also providing a structure to challenge a dancer's musical ear and technical abilities.
- JAZZ/AUDITION CLASS: Kristen's Jazz class is based in fundamental technique, transitional movement, energy and performance. Comprised of a full warm up, center barre, progressions and choreography, class is aimed to push the dancer to unlock new technical abilities, prioritize clarity, learn quickly and progress to a level within the class to be able to execute and perform. Often treating Jazz class like audition preparation, Kristen's energetic teaching style falls in a Commercial Jazz lane and helps dancers gather the tools to stand out both technically and with confidence.
Kristen Robinson is the owner and Artistic Director of The Artist Collective. She is a dancer, choreographer and dance educator. Her love of dance started with ballet at a young age and expanded as she grew older and explored a variety of dance styles. She began seriously training in ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap and hip hop when she moved to Seattle, Washington. She was afforded many dance opportunities in Washington including training under master teachers and professional choreographers, attending conventions, guest performing, embarking on many trips to Los Angeles for pre-professional and professional audition invites and receiving scholarships for summers in Las Vegas training under the Ballet Masters of Cirque du Soleil. It was through all of these experiences as an aspiring dancer that she decided to pursue dance and choreography as a career.
She attended Chapman University and studied Dance and Integrated Educational Studies with an emphasis in the arts. During her time at Chapman, she immersed herself in the dance culture while studying dance history, choreography, dance teaching methods, anatomy, kinesiology, somatic practices, production and more. She directed two full evening length shows, choreographed and performed for multiple concerts and really grew as an artist. After graduating, she moved to Los Angeles to take all she had gained and put it to use. In her first handful of years in LA, Kristen focused mostly on performing. She danced in the ZUMBA international commercial, for Stella Rosa Wines, performed behind KC and the Sunshine Band, Kool and the Gang and Fifth Harmony. She danced in VMA’s promotional performances, industrial events for the Rose Parade and for the American Cancer Society galas and fundraising events.
She began choreographing for several artist showcases in the Los Angeles area and free-lance teaching. Her choreography won awards of “Best Choreography,” “Top Emerging Artist,” and “Artistry in Motion.” She guest choreographed and taught for many studios, pre-professional programs and sets around the country. She started directing and choreographing for upcoming music artists’ videos and most recently assisted on the Yuna ROUGE Tour. She was selected as a guest choreographer for the Peridance Capezio APEX Gala in New York. With this breadth of experiences, Kristen is now the Artistic Director of her own pre-professional dance program through her studio, The Artist Collective. She hopes to continue to create meaningful work, share her love of the arts with her students and collaborate with other creatives along her journey.