Kevin Jenkins

The Artist

Kevin Jenkins has choreographed for State Street Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Columbia Ballet Collaborative, Big Muddy Dance, Western Ballet, Convergence Ballet, Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami, Bellingham Repertory Dance, and the School of Ballet Arizona among others. His choreography has been performed on the Inside/Out Series at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival and at West Wave Dance Festival in San Francisco. Dance Magazine has praised his work as “riveting” and he is currently on faculty at Boston Ballet School.

Kevin majored in Dance at Grossmont College while also studying on scholarship at the Academy of Performing Arts in San Diego. He trained with Ahita Ardalan, Kathy Meyer, and Dave Mullen before going on to perform with Mirable Ballet, Jean Isaacs, and Butterworth Dance Company. He appeared on television with San Diego Dance Theatre, The Dance Conservatory, Alpha Omega, and in commercials for Verizon and Allstate Insurance.

In 2006 Kevin Jenkins founded Garage Contemporary Ballet with Ryan Orion Beck and served as co-artistic director through 2012. Kevin choreographed 20 new works for the company that were presented in their own annual seasons and in festivals and showcases including Celebrate Dance Festival, Emerge, Ignite, 4×4, Breaking Ground, and San Diego Choreographer’s Prize. He won the Editors Choice Award from Dance Magazine in 2011 and 2013 and from Pointe Magazine in 2011 for Finding Narnia, Snap Pop, and Luminos.

In 2013 Kevin moved to San Francisco where he choreographed for Western Ballet, Emote Dance Theater, and the Orchestra Institute of Napa with Smuin Ballet dancers. He choreographed and directed the film Chaplin which was featured at the San Francisco Dance Film Festival, Greensboro Dance Film Festival, and America Dance Festivals Movies by Movers. In 2014 the San Diego Asian Film Festival commissioned him to create Light & Hope to commemorate the hurricane Haiyan in the Philippines. His self produced ballet C’est La Vie premiered to a sold out audience and was selected for the West Wave Dance Festival where it won rave reviews.

Now living in Boston, Kevin continues to choreograph throughout the country. He has served as an instructor at Walnut Hill School for the Arts, the University of San Diego, Arizona School of the Arts, Southwest Classical Dance Institute, and Master Ballet Academy.

The Artistry

KEVIN HAS CHOREOGRAPHED FOR:

  • State Street Ballet (2017)
  • Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami (2017)
  • Big Muddy Dance Company (2017)
  • Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (2017)
  • Wanderlust Dance Project (2017)
  • Bellingham Repertory Dance (2014, 2015, 2017)
  • Columbia Ballet Collaborative (2016)
  • Convergence Ballet (2011, 2015, 2016)
  • Bay Pointe Ballet (2016)
  • Western Ballet (2015)
  • Emote Dance Theatre (2015)
  • Terpsicore Dance Company (2013, 2014)
  • School of Ballet Arizona (2011)
  • Southwest Youth Ballet Theatre (2011)
  • Mirable Ballet (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009?

ACHIEVEMENTS

  • “Chaplin” – Official Selection at San Francisco Dance Film Festival 2014, Greensboro Dance Film Festival 2015, American Dance Festival 2016
  • “Light & Hope” – commissioned by San Diego Asian Film Festival 2014

C’est La Vie Preview – Kevin Jenkins

DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Kevin Jenkins is an in-demand instructor and regularly teaches and choreographs for student in San Francisco, Boston, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Phoenix.  He has taught for the following studios, universities, and organizations:

• Boston Ballet School                  • Walnut Hill School for the Arts

• Master Ballet Academy               • School of Ballet Arizona

• University of San Diego                • Ramona/Julian Academy of Dance

• Western Ballet                            • Academy of American Ballet

• Arizona School of the Arts           • Southwest Classical Dance Institute

• Scripps Dance Centre                  • Coronado School of the Arts

• Endicott College                         • Persian Cultural Dance Academy

• Roco Dance                                • Mary Murphy’s Champion Ballroom Academy

Sponsor Opportunities

Contact NPAFE to find out how you can be recognized locally, regionally, and even nationally for your role in making these great performing arts events possible.

Teaching for Boston Ballet School, November 20 – December 23  Visit Boston Ballet School

Choreographing for St. Louis Ballet, January 8 – 18 2018  Visit St. Louis Ballet

Choreographing for Island Moving Company, Newport RI January 2018  Visit Island Moving Company

Choreographing for Ketchikan Theatre Ballet, Ketchikan AK February 2018  Visit KTB

What Others Say

“He is a leader, a young man who understands the business of being a twenty-first century artist.”

— Ryan Orion Beck – Artistic Director of Garage Contemporary Ballet


“Kevin’s movement vocabulary combines classical ballet with contemporary technique in a manner that is flattering on the students. Dancers enjoyed the organic feel of the movement, but were also challenged by its musical phrasing and inherent expectation of exploring new ways to present dance.”

— Nancy Crowley – Director of School of Ballet Arizona 2004-2012


“Every second of the minute-and-a-half long Snap, Pop. is riveting. It’s carefully and fluidly danced, but you never know when a tiny, silly movement will make you giggle.”

— Kara Hanlon – Dance Magazine


“Kevin Jenkins was an absolute pleasure to work with. His choreographic process was thoughtful, intentional and organized, while still encouraging the dancers to add their own personality and artistry.”

— Corina Gill – Boston Ballet


“It is such an artistic pleasure to work with a choreographer as musical as Kevin Jenkins. Constantly encouraging his dancers to ‘sink into the music,’ Kevin shapes his organic movement with the comforting confidence that his choreography will have a natural flow. This emphasis allows the dancers working with him to achieve their fullest performance potential.”

— Sarah Wroth – Boston Ballet


“Mix high quality production, meaningful choreography, and one compelling artist and you’ve got Kevin Jenkins.”

— Demetria Schioldager – Menlowe Ballet


Page Author: Sarah Nielsen