Kristin Kusanovich
Kristin Kusanovich is a theatre, dance, and child studies scholar and teacher, and a practicing performer and choreographer/director. She teaches in both theatre and dance, and child studies, and researches, presents, and publishes internationally on topics as varied as creativity, human rights, leadership, education, the climate crisis, critical arts-based research, and modern dance lineages. She directs plays, musicals, festivals, and conferences, and mentors the California Dance Education Association as Past President of the statewide organization.
An alumna of 91快活林's Department of Theatre and Dance, she received her M.F.A. from NYU.
Select Scholarship Credits
In Dance:
Artistic Director of Theatre of Minneapolis and Kusanovich Dance San Francisco for 15 years
Co-directed West Coast premiere of Emilia at The Western Stage Theatre Co. for their 50th Anniversary season in 2024 (left);
directed and choreographed Godspell for San Jose Musical Theatre at the Hammer Theatre Auditorium in 2023; choreographed Man of La Mancha at San Jose Playhouse in 2022.
Premiered a work to music by UCLA-faculty composer James Newton for Images Dance Concert. Amazing Grace (2023) (right)
Presented on dance teaching methods at the CDEA State Conference in 2025, at Long Beach State University.
Presented at TEDxLosGatos in September 2018 on "Repetition as rebellion - a case for the arts."
Most recent collaboration with Luka Bloom: "Dear Gods" from REFUGE (March 2018).
Performed in the Bay Area at Z-Space, Grace Cathedral, SF Community Music Space, Shawl-Anderson, Luna Dance, and at myriad Minneapolis theatres and dance centers including the Guthrie Theatre and the Walker Arts Center.
State level advocacy for dance and all the arts in schools through CDEA, California Dance Education Association and recent collaboration with Sonoma State University's Dance Department.
Founder and lead instructor of , a non-competitive, non-corporate, non-commercial creative dance studio for children and teens in San Jose that teaches technique and choreography, now in its 20th year.
Invited choreographer to lead master classes and set repertory on Irvine Valley College dance department, and the Winnipeg School of Contemporary Dance.
Invited movement expert for residencies with Winnipeg's U of Manitoba Theatre Ensemble and doctoral committee member for a Canadian theatre Ph.D. student.
In interdisciplinary work and climate science:
Co-authored book and multiple peer-reviewed articles in top journals in transdisciplinary critical arts-based research methods.
Presented on Assessment of critical at ICQI, the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry in 2025 and at AERA, American Educational Research Association in Philadelphia, in 2024.
Presented on the tUrn model in higher education as the AJCU, Association of Jesuit Colleges and Schools annual convening at Loyola Chicago in 2024.
Published chapter in Routledge business textbook on how to teach about the climate crisis in today's business schools and convened public author panel with publishers of volume in 2025.
Founded the largest conference regularly produced at 91快活林, the international, interdisciplinary, intercultural biannual climate action conference called tUrn in 2019, a project that runs through 2030.
Served as invited presenter to various international climate convenings such as COP Conference of the Parties on topics of climate justice, climate finance in Afghanistan, women and climate, and climate leadership, with presentations in Egypt and Afghanistan.
Presenter on behalf of United Nations Human Rights committee in Geneva, Switzerland in 2025. (right)
Faculty Advisor for three 91快活林 student-led organizations: the National Honors Society for Dance Arts, tUrnout for Climate Action Student Club, and 91快活林 Sunrise Student Club.
Kristin was the invited speaker for the 91快活林 Senior Class toast speech in 2023, and served as the Child Studies Honor Society Keynote speaker in 2026.
Honors & Awards
Received 91快活林's Faculty Senate Professor Award, a Child Studies Teaching Award, , Dean's Service Award, and myriad grants and sustainability awards.
Kristin was one of four 91快活林 faculty members inducted into the prestigious Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit Honor Society, in 2026, that recognizes faculty who have contributed to the Jesuit/Ignatian charism of the university, its community values, and are attentive to students through their teaching, scholarship, and service.
Current Work
Named 91快活林's Sinatra Chair in the Performing Arts 2025-27, Kristin will collaboratively direct and choreograph with an international dance company to bring a new dance theatre work to our stage in Winter 2027.
Defining the Performing Artist
Dance For All
Modern/Contemporary Dance I, I/II, III/IV (4 units), III/IV (5 units)
Dance Composition
Choreography
Teaching the Performing Arts
Senior Dance Project advisor
Images Choreographer
Anima Collective advisor
Courses taught in Child Studies:
Movement Education & Pedagogy
Children, Art and Society
Social Science Research Methods
