Primary Division, Teen Basics
As a dancer throughout her formative years (1985-2000) in the St. Louis area, Cristen was classically trained in ballet, tap, and jazz at her local studio and from camps, workshops, and conventions throughout the Midwest. From scholarships won at these conventions, Cristen traveled to Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles, CA, and Broadway Dance Center in New York, NY, to further her dance education in hip hop, modern, lyrical, and contemporary dance forms from well-known dancers and choreographers such as Doug Caldwell, Mandy Moore, Cory Finn, Jackie Sleight, Mia Michaels, and Tyce Diorio. Cristen later moved to the LA area to continue her studies and start working as a professional dancer. She performed at the Hyperion Theater in the Disney California Adventures Park (2001), for Hits Entertainment Company out of San Diego (2001-2002), and as a magician’s assistant for Gallup Extreme in Paris, FR (2001). In addition to her professional experience, Cristen taught and choreographed from 1995-present. During her dance training in the St. Louis area, she became head teacher at Dance Connection PAC in St. Peters, MO where she taught ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and hip-hop classes for beginning to advanced levels, choreographed, and rehearsed performance pieces for the competition team and recital students, and organized and produced the recital of 600+ students. She was also a master teacher and choreographer at A Step Above Dance and Kanopy Dance INC in Madison, WI where she began her journey as a mom (2007-2015). Now residing in Springfield, OR, Cristen enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience with Eugene Ballet Academy and continues to learn and grow as she shares her passion for dance with her students.