BIO
Krista Ellensohn is a Chicago-based choreographer, educator, creative leader, and arts administrator with more than 15 years of experience across dance and the performing arts.
Krista spent more than 15 years with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, where her work evolved across operations, finance, artist training, and program development. Most recently serving as Manager of Artist Training, she helped lead the organization’s training programs and summer intensives, overseeing operations, contributing to program development, and managing financial systems for initiatives generating more than $1.6 million in annual revenue.
Alongside her administrative career, Krista has remained active as a choreographer, performer, and educator. She has been a member of BOOM CRACK! Dance Company since 2012, where she now serves as Finance & Operations Director and contributes to the artistic planning and direction of the company. She is also the founding Artistic Director of BANG BANG! Dance Company.
As a choreographer and educator, Krista’s work is grounded in hip hop and contemporary street styles. She has taught and created work for professional companies, universities, performing arts high schools, festivals, studios, and pre-professional programs across the country. Her credits include the Chicago Bulls Luvabulls, Roosevelt University, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Dreyfoos School of the Arts, and the Alabama Dance Festival.
Today, Krista continues to work across both the creative and organizational sides of the performing arts. She serves in a senior leadership role with New York City Dance Alliance and Steps on Broadway, supporting programming, partnerships, communications, and special initiatives across the organizations, while continuing to choreograph and teach. She is currently on faculty at Roosevelt University, where she teaches hip hop and commerical dance.
Krista holds a BBA in Management & Organizations, a Performing Arts Entrepreneurship Certificate, and a Dance Minor from the University of Iowa, as well as an MBA with concentrations in Leadership and Marketing.