Kelsie Steil

Kelsie Steil is a Maine-based choreographer and dancer. In May 2018, Kelsie graduated from Plymouth State University with a bachelor's degree in Adventure Education and a Minor in Dance. There she received the 2018 Contemporary Dance Ensemble award for her achievements in choreography. One of her ongoing works is IMMORTAL!, a duet danced between herself and Maxwell Auger. Its most recent showing was at FAB15 in February 2020, and will soon be restaged in the Fall of 2023. Kelsie and Maxwell have developed a creative partnership beyond the duet: the two have expanded into film, their latest work being MR. MIND, a year in the making dance film featuring Maine dance artists. In 2022 the film had two showings at New-England galleries.  Kelsie regularly sets work on youth dance companies; in November 2019 she presented her piece Cast in Maine Moves IV which featured dancers from Portland Youth Dance. Kelsie has had the joy of living, dancing, and teaching locally and internationally. One of her major projects was a three-part film made in Lithuania, which can be viewed on her website. Currently, Kelsie dances for Ballet Bloom Project, a project-based contemporary ballet company in Portland, ME, directed by Rose Hutchins. Her current collaborations include co-choreographing Rummage Lane, a full -length dance theater piece with choreographer Hannah Haines, as well as creating CRAVING THE MYSTIC with local artist Jen Hoffer as the Director of Photography. Visit kelsiesteilmovement.com to explore Kelsie's body of work. 

Photo credit : Jennifer Hoffer

Kelsie will be presenting “CRAVING THE MYSTIC”

WHERE DOES THE MYSTIC LIVE? IS IT AROUND US? AMONGST ALL THE CROWDS OF PEOPLE? 

IS IT BETWEEN OUR SHOULDERS WHEN WE WALK? IS IT IN OUR BREATH WHEN WE TALK? 

WE'RE CRAVING THE MYSTIC. 

WHERE CAN WE FIND THE SACRED? IS IT PRESENT WHEN I TOUCH YOU? 

IS IT IN YOUR EYES? CAN YOU HEAR IT WHEN I SIGH? 

I'M HUNGRY FOR THE SACRED. 

WHERE DOES THE DIVINE GROW? IS IT GROWING IN THE PASTURES? 

IS IT TANGLED IN THE TREES? IS IT PASSED OVER IN THE SOIL? 

WE DESIRE THE DIVINE.