ABBOTT DANCE THEATRE

Our Mission

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To establish an internationally recognised dance theatre company which creates unique, high-quality work that is engaging and accessible to a wide audience demographic whilst challenging pre-conceived notions of contemporary dance.

Artistic Director - Kristin Kelly-Abbott

Kristin was born in Ireland and now lives in Newcastle with her husband Wayne and their son, Jamie. Kristin is a contemporary theatre dance-maker, dance teacher and dance artist based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Kristin is founder and artistic director of Abbott Dance Theatre (ADT), formerly Kelly-Abbott Dance Theatre, which she set up in 2013.

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.

ADT create work in response to visual art and heritage to be performed in theatres, art galleries and also non-conventional settings including outdoor spaces. Kristin strives to create work that is accessible to the wider community, rather than a solely dance specific audience. ADT has been commissioned to create work for various partners including the Laing Art Gallery, Dance City, Newcastle College and The Biscuit Factory. Previous works include This is Wiff Waff (The Biscuit Factory), Divine Bodies (Laing Art Gallery), Divine Bodies – Revisited (Dance City) and Forking Spoons (Highlanes Gallery, Ireland).

Kristin most recently created and toured a 50-minute production - Launch Day. This production was supported by Arts Council England and commissioned by Dance City and Queens Hall, Hexham.