Kristin was born in Ireland and now lives in Newcastle with her ‘Geordie’ husband Wayne and their little boy, Jamie. Kristin is a contemporary theatre dance choreographer, dance tutor and professional dancer based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, also founder and artistic director of Abbott Dance Theatre.

Kristin initially trained at Stella Mann College in London, graduating in 2002 with a National Diploma in Dance/Musical Theatre. Upon graduating, she has gained a wealth of experience as a multi-disciplinary dance artist, choreographer and dance practitioner. In 2012, she returned to education to reflect on this professional experience, further her development in contemporary dance practice, gain a higher-level degree qualification to provide more advanced study options for the future and focus on the tools required to set up a dance company, where her own choreographic style can be developed and shared. Kristin graduated in 2013 with a First Class BA (Hons) in Contemporary Dance from Newcastle College.

Industry experiences in manifold roles underpin Kristin’s artistic style, which she describes as contemporary theatre dance. Experience as a multi-disciplinary dance artist spans many areas of the dance industry including musical theatre (Jus’Like That, UK Tour, 2005/ Princess Cruises, 2004), contemporary dance (Lo-Guidice Dance 2013, Eliot Smith Company, 2012/Sakoba Dance Theatre 2006/2008), television and commercial dance (So You Think You Can Dance – Series 2, 2010, BBC/ Pot-noodle advert, 2009/), corporate entertainment (Hilton Hotels, MIMA, Sage Gateshead, The Baltic, Laing Art Gallery), community dance (Leisureworks, Lamplight Arts Centre) and dance in education (Durham County Council, Newcastle City Council). Kristin’s career has involved working with many renowned commercial choreographers including Arlene Phillips, Karen Bruce, Simeon Qsyea, Jonzi D, Travis Wall and Craig Revel-Horwood. In her spare time Kristin works as a living statue, stilt-walker and fire performer at corporate events across the North-East. She has also danced with a hip-hop dance group called Sana Cru based at Dance City.

Kristin’s involvement in dance education also supports her interest in creating work that can be enjoyed by all ages and communities, rather than a solely dance-specific audience. In 2010/2012, she had a two-year full-time employment with Durham County Council. As Community Dance Instructor for the Derwentside Trust for Sport and the Arts, the role included delivering dance workshops in all the primary/secondary schools located in Stanley and Consett, delivering community dance classes in local community venues, organising dance festivals, choreographing for dance festivals/residencies and performances, liaising with schools, theatres, leisure centres and community outreach groups in relation to the accessibility of educational dance workshops, performance opportunities and more specialised dance classes. Kristin continues to work for Leisureworks now in a part-time capacity. She also works as a dance teacher and choreographer for Sage Academy of Performing Arts and as guest teacher at Marron Theatre Arts.

‘I consider myself an upcoming choreographer based in Newcastle. I create work in response to visual art to be performed in theatres, art galleries and also non-conventional settings including outdoor spaces. I strive to create work that is accessible to the wider community, rather than a solely dance specific audience. I have presented work for various partners including the Laing Art Gallery, Dance City, Newcastle College and The Biscuit Factory; contributed to the Late Shows and also created a piece called This is Wiff Waff for the opening of Trevor Price’s art exhibition at the Biscuit Factory. This piece was also performed as part of Public Announcement at Dance City.

In 2014, I was commissioned by the Laing Art Gallery to create a solo work in response to their exhibition Divine Bodies. This work was filmed and projected at the Laing for the duration of the exhibition. I collaborated with local photographer Tina Wotherspoon on this project and together we presented a photography exhibition and dance performance at Dance City in November 2013. Subsequently, I was invited to perform this solo at Public Announcement at Dance City, Circulate at Newcastle College, Moving Frontiers and two live performances at the Laing Art Gallery.

I have shared work at Fresh, Dance City and Middlesbrough. Most recently, I shared a piece called Forking Spoons at Fresh, Alnwick Playhouse. This piece was inspired by an exhibition called Revisiting the Domestic in Irish Art at the Highlanes Gallery in my hometown of Drogheda, Ireland. After sharing this work at Fresh, it was filmed and publicly screened at the Highlanes Gallery.’

Kristin worked in collaboration with the visual artist Alexander Millar on Launch Day  a commissioned piece by Dance City. Working with ex-shipyard workers, professional dancers and musicians, this production depicted the industrial history of the North-East whilst bringing Millar’s working men or ‘Gadgies’ to life through movement and music.

Kristin’s company Abbot Dance Theatre are currently developing their latest piece Deeds not Words, based around the centenary of the Representation of the People’s Act 1918 (where some women over 30+ won the right to vote in the UK). This powerful and emotionally charged piece is bieng created in partnership with Morpeth-based community female choir ‘Werca’s Folk, community dance group for the over 50’s – ‘Dance for Fun’ and Newcastle high school for girls and will be premiering at Dance City on Saturday 24 November.