What People are Saying About
Kristy Nilsson's Choreography
“Kristy is a very talented young choreographer.”
~ John McFall (Artistic Director, Atlanta Ballet)
Mr. McFall often pointed Ms. Nilsson out to colleagues as "one to watch” in the choreographic world.
“I really liked that piece you choreographed!”
~ Violette Verdy (former Prima Ballerina, New York City Ballet)
“Kristy (Nilsson) has a keen sense of movement both for classical and neo classical works. Ms. (Nilsson) is also a very talented choreographer; she has presented works… with a great deal of professionalism and success. Her work ethic is of the highest standards.
I highly recommend this young lady: she is a delight and... a great asset…”
~ Sharon Story (Ballet Mistress, Atlanta Ballet / former Principal, Boston Ballet)
“Kristy definitely has an affinity for
choreography and contemporary movement;
(she) has her own sense of any music
and is not afraid to let it show . . .”
~ Julianne Kepley (Principal Dancer, Joffrey Ballet)
"...an incredible talent to choreograph."
~
Ms. Diane Sales (Ailey-trained, Donald Byrd Company member)
"Kristy is a talented choreographer
with a positive disposition that works well with dancers."
~ Maria Chapman (Pacific Northwest Ballet & The Balanchine Trust)
in such a clever manner. The choreography is inventive... and is crafted well.
The overall spatial design is quite clever, with constant emphasis in
the use of negative space in between the dancers. She explores partnering in
an effective manner. Nice progression with interesting movement phrases,
and the trios and solo sections are well developed.
This is a nice piece of choreography... Congratulations."
~ Mr. Armando Duarte (2004 SERBA Adjudicator/Univ. of Iowa)
“I found Kristy’s choreography particularly intriguing.”
~ Mr. David Tatu (Lighting Designer, Atlanta Ballet)
“I wish I had been where Kristy was
as a choreographer at age seventeen.”
~ Ms. Jane Weiner, choreographer
(former member, Doug Elkins Company)
"Kristy has very intelligent choreography
and is driven to making sure whatever she does is a success.
She is focused and organized and you can tell that she really cares
about each dancer she works with while pushing them to their best.
~ Kim Linenkohl (Georgia Ballet Dancer and Choreographer)
"Kristy is an extremely creative and well-organized choreographer.
She is able to communicate her ideas to the dancers well,
and because of this she is able to produce high quality work
in a remarkably short amount of time.
An optimistic person with lots of energy, she is a delight to work with."
– John Streit (Georgia Ballet Dancer)
"Kristy Nilsson... chose the ideal piece for our young dancers.
She utilized their strengths and showed our company in the best possible light.
Her choreography is innovative with excellent use of the music, patterns and space.
She integrates the emotional and artistic aspects of the dance in such a way
as to make it easy for the dancers to incorporate in into their movements.
Her rehearsals are well planned and make excellent use of time.
My dancers responded to Ms. Nilsson in a positive manner and
enthusiastically welcomed her expertise, input and rehearsal notes."
~ Magdalena Maury, Artistic Director, Georgia Youth Ballet
"Ms. Nilsson is a pleasure to work with
her dedication, professionalism, passion, enthusiasm and good nature
will make her an excellent choreographer for any regional or
professional dance company.
I believe Ms. Nilsson will go far as a choreographer and am delighted
that she has chosen our company to showcase her craft."
~ Ms. Magdalena Maury, Artistic Director, Georgia Youth Ballet
“I take great pleasure in recommending Kristy Nilsson as an innovative and very talented choreographer... for any setting. She choreographed a contemporary ballet for my company... I was astounded by her instant rapport with the students, her professionalism, and her dedication... She quickly assesses the level of the group she is working with and instructs them based on their abilities. She is always open to questions...
As a choreographer, I must note that the choreography she provided exceeded all of my expectations. The work was entitled Esperanza, and it was clearly one of the best pieces ever performed on our stage. She has a strong sense of musicality and continuity within her choreography. She chooses movement that the dancers can easily adapt to, and yet they feel challenged. When viewing her choreography, the audience witnesses a dramatic and uplifting interpretation of the music through the dancers.
Whether teaching or choreographing, Kristy Nilsson displays an extraordinary gift in the art of dance. She would provide a meaningful experience to any group of dancers. Kristy is a pleasure to work with, and she would be an asset to any dance environment.”
~ Ms. Lisa Martin (Chairperson, Director of Dance, St. Pius X, Atlanta, Georgia)
"This isn't recital choreography... this is art."
~ Ms. Cinda Khouri (Director, Atlanta Dance Company / Atlanta Dance Institute)
A Review on MSNBC's "NewsBot" as well as other
On-line Newspapers including "Russia Daily"
Gwinnett Ballet Theatre’s - The Nutcracker
2004 & 2005 - 23rd & 24th Annual Productions
with all-new choreography by Kristy Nilsson,
Pas de Deux by Lisa Sheppard Robson
“New Visions of Sugar Plums”
Enhanced Plot Brings New Life to The Nutcracker:
A Very Contemporary – Yet Traditional – Vision of the Holiday Classic
Gwinnett Ballet Theatre’s (www.gwinnettballet.com) twenty-third annual production of The Nutcracker at the Gwinnett Performing Arts Center in Atlanta, Georgia was met with record-breaking ticket sales for sixteen near-sold out performances – and shouts of "Brava", standing ovations and many interruptions of applause.
With all-new choreography by Ms. Kristy Nilsson (www.2nilssons.com), and Pas de Deux by Ms. Lisa Sheppard Robson - Artistic Director of Gwinnett Ballet Theatre, this new version extends the plot, carrying the audience away to an imaginary world of delight and adventure. The splendid holiday celebration in Act One highlights renowned professional magician Bill Kress as the mysterious Herr Drosselmeyer, who astounds both children and adults with miraculous presentations of exotic birds and ballerinas, seemingly from thin air - magic rarely seen by Nutcracker audiences. In Clara's Dream, her mischievous little brother, Fritz, brings a legion of rats to terrorize his older sister. Following the nightmarish invasion of the rats and their battle against Red Coat toy soldiers, cannon and cavalry led by the Nutcracker Prince, the rats kidnap Fritz. Ms. Nilsson's enhanced plot carries the story through Act II, with Clara, the Nutcracker and the Sugar Plum Fairy giving chase into the Nutcracker's Magical Kingdom... where they enlist help from Spain, China, Arabia, Russia and Switzerland to help save Fritz from the evil Rat King.
Featuring Gwinnett Ballet Theatre's outstanding young pre-professional dancers, exceptional sets and lush Victorian costumes, this production of The Nutcracker far exceeds expectations of a company this size. The excellent training of these dancers is evident throughout this production of Nutcracker: in addition to year-round study with GBT faculty, most of these students are invited to intensive summer training with such companies as American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, Houston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet and Atlanta Ballet; many are later accepted into professional dance companies as well as the finest university ballet programs.
While all the dancers in this production show professionalism and promise, several deserve special mention. Ms. Whitney Sue Jones technically excels as the Sugar Plum Fairy with poise and grace far beyond her years, beautifully partnered by Mr. Angelo Giglio of Joffrey Ensemble Ballet, New York City. Ms. Jody Blevins and Ms. Sara Chamberlin are both lyrical and radiant in their alternating roles as Dream Clara and in the sensual Arabian variation - performed with local guest-artist B.J. Toups, recently off-tour from the Broadway show "Swing". The joy and enthusiasm of this talented ballet company are apparent in all aspects of this production, from the children’s dances and corps work in the lovely new “Snow” scene of Act One, through the exciting new divertissement and elegant “Waltz of the Flowers” in Act Two.
Ms. Nilsson’s new choreography respects a traditional old-world European, setting – but the improved storyline brings clarity, continuity and a true sense of fairytale magic to this very-familiar holiday classic. Her choreography is often contemporary but never 'modern', successfully and unobtrusively bringing out both the drama in the story and the strengths of these young dancers. One never feels that one is watching a student company, instead the audience is swept away in this new vision of The Nutcracker.
To Contact Ms. Nilsson:
404-261-4326
Please take me to
:Reviews on Kristy Nilsson's Teaching
Ms. Nilsson's Choreography & Teaching Home Page