Kristy Nilsson trained and performed with Atlanta Ballet, Charleston Ballet Theatre and Houston Repertory Ballet, appearing in over sixty performances with the Atlanta Ballet.  She trained with Boston Ballet, The Kirov Ballet, Nashville Ballet and Joffrey Ballet and under principal dancers from American Ballet Theatre, National Ballet of Canada and Martha Graham Dance Company, including Gilbert Rome, Victoria Vittum, Durine Alinova, Denise Vale, Fernando Bujones, Eleanor D’Antuano, Marianna Tcherkassy, Anna Marie Holmes, Nathalie Krassovska, Nan Giordano and Jacquelyn Buglisi.  Ms. Nilsson was a Dance Pedagogy Honors student at University of Oklahoma and graduated Cum Laude from the renowned High School for the Performing & Visual Arts in Houston.

As a performer: former New York City Ballet Prima Ballerina Violette Verdy commented on one of Ms. Nilsson’s solo performances, “Kristy has incredible stage presence. She has eyes that penetrate the audience like a laser beam.”  Choo San Goh Award-winning choreographer Trey McIntyre, selected Kristy as principal in his comedy ballet, Wave.  While at Charleston Ballet Theatre, Kristy performed Jill Eathorne Bahr’s tour de force variation Wrath (originally choreographed as a man’s showpiece), in Seven Deadly Sins, and won critical acclaim as the Wicked Stepmother in Ms. Bahr’s Cinderella.  She was one of seven women chosen by Daniel Pelzig to learn his signature ballet, Nine Lives, and was selected to dance other contemporary works by John McFall, Ben Stevenson and Chris Lidvall.  Kristy has danced such classics as Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, La Bayadere and Paquita, and has appeared in over 500 performances.

John McFall, Artistic Director of the Atlanta Ballet, introduced Kristy to the Board of Directors of Atlanta Ballet as “a very talented young choreographer.”  Ms. Nilsson has choreographed more than two dozen pieces, ranging from six minutes to full-length, that have been performed by ten companies in six states, to wide acclaim.  Her works have been performed in Houston, Atlanta, Oklahoma City, Virginia, Tennessee and several cities in North Carolina.  Her choreography and coaching have repeatedly won first and second place in national competitions - and won kudos from many.  From Ailey-trained Diane Sales, former Donald Byrd Company member: "… an incredible talent to choreograph."  Joffrey Ballet Principal Julianne Kepley: “Kristy has an affinity for choreography and contemporary movement and her own sense of music.” Violette Verdy, former Prima Ballerina, New York City Ballet, said: “I really liked that piece you choreographed!”

Kristy Nilsson has choreographed for The Georgia Ballet, Gwinnett Ballet Theatre, Georgia Youth Ballet, the Atlanta Dance Company, Praise in Motion and Atlanta Ballet's Centre Theatre. In March 2006, her new work Jagannat was performed by the professional company, The Georgia Ballet; and, her commissioned work Amasea, was selected for performance at the 2006 SERBA Festival. In 2004, Ms. Nilsson was honored to set a new full-length Nutcracker for the Gwinnett Ballet Theatre with Pas de Deux by Lisa Shepherd Robson; the production was a tremendous success and was reprised in December 2005 with additional choreography by Lisa Sheppard Robson. In 2003, Ms. Nilsson received Regional Dance America's second highest choreographic award at the 2003 Southeastern Regional Ballet Association (SERBA) for La Deseada - out of over a hundred choreographers adjudicated; Georgia Youth Ballet’s Sublimation was performed at the 2004 SERBA Festival; and, Gwinnett Ballet Theatre works Sententia and Summertime were both performed in concert with the Joffrey Ballet Ensemble. 

As a teacher, Ms. Nilsson is popular with all age groups for her positive approach, exciting classes, ability to convey understanding of challenging concepts - and her gift for helping young dancers translate that understanding into movement.  Her supportive enthusiasm inspires her dancers to greater levels of achievement as students and performers.  Ms. Nilsson teaches for TSAD-Atlanta Dance Institute/Atlanta Dance Company, The Academy of Ballet, En Pointe/Praise in Motion, Pulse performing Arts Center and substitutes for Wei Dongsheng at The Atlanta Professional Dance School and Roswell Dance Theatre.  Kristy has served on faculty for The Georgia Ballet and Gwinnett Ballet Theatre.  She enjoys teaching thirty-plus classes a week of ballet and pointe, modern and jazz - to students ranging from Pre-Professional to “Baby Ballerinas”; she also teaches Master Classes in Modern Dance, and workshops in introductory-to-advanced choreography, theatrical dance and stage makeup.  Ms. Nilsson has coached both dancers and gymnasts to top state and national performance awards.

Kristy is happily married to Scott Nilsson, a former dancer.

They love living and working together in Atlanta, Georgia.