Choreographer

Olivia’s work is known for lush, layered movement that is evocative of bygone eras, yet fresh as morning dew.

Olivia enjoys working with solo dancers, large and small groups and theater and opera companies. Her work is celebrated internationally in the Tribal Dance genre.

 

Current Work

Olivia’s current work is focused on working with dancers in the US and abroad to create contemporary “Hybrid” dance performances, to share her process for creating new work, and have meaningful dance experiences with fellow dancers. The project is called: HYBRID Dance Project.

HYBRID Dance Project is a forum to explore the boundaries of urban, folk and classical dance forms, creating a “hybrid” language that emerges between the worlds.  HYBRID is a budding young en devour spear-headed by Olivia Kissel at Zafira Dance Studios.

HYBRID premier at Atlanta’s Tribal Con Dance Conference, Feb. 2011:

“In this premier, HYBRID performs to Maduro’s Poison Drop. Measures of lyrical violin compete with broken metal and junkyard sounds. Choreographer Olivia Kissel uses this sonic landscape to explore conflicting artistic desires: to honor classic traditions and folkloric forms, yet create something new, living and relevant that represents the artist’s vision.

Hybrid uses the expressive potential of Tango, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary movment and Belly Dance to convey the contained ferocity and lyrical weightlessness inherent in these desires and this piece of music.”

Dancers: Joanna Able, Patrice Langford, Kari Merlina and Olivia Kissel

Music by Maduro

HYBRID Dance Project in Utrecht Amsterdam, November 2011

Dancers: Olivia Kissel, Joanna Abel (PA), Patrice Langford (PA), Tjarda Van Straten (Holland), Phillipe Morai, Alexis Southall and Charlotte Wassell

 

HYBRID Dance Project at Sprout Fund’s “Tenacity” Retrospective Dec. 2011

 

Dancers: Carolina Loyola-Garcia, Patrice Langford and Olivia

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Zafira Dance Company: Co-Artistic Director and Choreographer

For almost 2 decades, Olivia has worked with fellow Zafira Dance Company members: Maria Hamer, Christine Andrews and Tamara Juel to create opulent performances that dazzle audiences time and time again. Her award winning work with Zafira is celebrated around the world.  Olivia and Zafira are recognized as pioneers in the Tribal Belly Dance genre.

Zafira Dance Company w/ Tamara Nelson

Music by Raquy & the Caveman w/ Special Guest Tobias Robertson