Kristen Manfredo

Kristen Manfredo is a multidisciplinary artist currently nestled in the mountains of  Missoula, MT. Though she started technically in dance later in life than most of her peers, movement is something that has always been a part of her life. What fuels a dancer? Is dance instinctual? These are some of the questions that peak her curiosities through movement, while also advocating for dancers no matter their age, ability, or background. 

Her journey starts in Colstrip MT, where she trained under Kelsey Smalls at Small Steps Dance Studio at the age of 15. There she started her foundational technique in ballet and jazz, while also given opportunities to teach lower levels.  In 2016, after graduating high school she made her way to Missoula (MT), where she studied at The University of Montana for a BFA in Dance with a focus in Performance and Choreography. Previously attending their “Dance Days” workshop for high schoolers, she fell in love with the program and discovered her new found love for contemporary and modern dance. While studying at UM she advanced through Modern, Ballet, and Improvisation. While studying she had the privilege of working with guest choreographers such as Cynthia Gutierrez-Garner for her rework of “Camino Real” and original work “Barecode” by Nicole Wolocott. When she was not performing in other works she was choreographing her own works, “Unburned” Trio and “Clouded Perception” film. Her education was not only fulfilled through her classes and collaborations but she also attended the American College Dance Association (ACDA) 2 years in a row. 

After college Kristen took a short break from dance to discover other forms of media such as graphic design, photography and videography. In 2023 she joined KCD for their debut show “Everyday Games” choreographed by cofounders, Karter Bernhardt, Brooklyn Draper, and Hannah Dusek. Since then she has been an active member for their following shows “Where did they all go?” and their recent works “Muse” where she featured her own choreographic work.