Kelly Hirina, originally from Michigan, moved to the Netherlands as a Fulbright scholar and continued to live and work there as a professional dancer for twenty years. While there, Hirina worked with many different choreographers such as; Emio Greco & Pieter C. Scholten (EG|PC), Krisztina de Chatel, Suzy Blok, Nicole Beutler, Liat Waysbort and Dylan Newcomb in companies such as ICKamsterdam and Dansgroep Amsterdam. Hirina also worked in mime/theater onstage with Jakop Ahlbom and Compagnietheater (Theu Boermans) and in films with directors such as Arno Dierickx and Noud Heerkens. Alongside her dance career she studied acting at the Atlantic Theatre School in New York City.

Hirina is a certified teacher of both Countertechnique, created by Anouk van Dijk and Double Skin/Double Mind, created by Emio Greco and Pieter C. Scholten. She has been teaching these methods at the Lucia Marthas Institute for Performing Arts (Amsterdam) and in her role as the artistic coordinator of ICKamsterdam’s academy. These methods offer healthy approaches to the dancing body while stimulating their personal creativity. Hirina also incorporates methods from ICKamsterdam, the Sensorium Toolkit and Pre-choreographics, in choreographic development.

She acquired her M.F.A. in Dance from the University of Michigan with research based upon the link between mind and body in dance training, rehearsal and performance. Her specific interest is in pedagogical methods that enhance intrinsic motivation, appreciation for learning (a process-oriented approach) and goal setting.

Beyond dance, Hirina is also a fully certified Pilates and Vinyasa Yoga instructor. She enjoys creating an extremely physical experience for her students while also encouraging them to take the practice deeper beyond the physical, a training that is both concentrated and joyous. Hirina incorporates her interest in education and psychology while working with clients and students to achieve goals while working in a positively charged environment.

At Peabody, Hirina teaches Countertechnique, Double Skin| Double Mind, Improvisation, Choreography, as well as creates works with the students to perform.

Photo credit: Armani Colón