KIRSTIN E. WILLIAMS (Artistic Director) is the choreographer, director, and producer of the all women dance company, STRONG CURRENT, which she founded in San Francisco January of 1998. Since then, STRONG CURRENT has toured throughout California and New York presenting full evening performances benefiting the community. STRONG CURRENT contributes a portion of their proceeds to local social activism groups and protective services for women. Ms. Williams is committed to giving voice to women and questioning societal and political views placed upon us and continues to haunt us today globally and locally. She aims for peace, liberation of all people, and change in our world through the power of movement, art, spoken word, & music.

Ms. Williams obtained her MFA in dance from Mills College in Oakland, CA in May 1999. She received her BA in dance from San Diego State University in 1995. In August 1999 she moved to New York City to work with the Jennifer Muller Dance Company, teach at Dancespace and Broadway Dance Center, and premiere five of her works in several NYC venues. She has studied dance in New York with the David Parsons Company, Alvin Ailey School of Dance, Martha Graham School, Cunningham School, Limon Institute, and Simonson jazz technique.

Ms. Williams teaches modern, jazz, hip-hop, tap, yoga, cardio-kickboxing, cardio-dance, stretch, body sculpt, water aerobics, & swim classes throughout Bay Area Sport Clubs & NYC. Currently Ms. Williams is teaching hip-hop, yoga, modern, jazz, aerobics at City College of San Francisco. She is excited to be teaching beg. modern at the San Francisco Dance Center. Ms. Williams also has taught modern/jazz, yoga, & aerobics at San Francisco State University. This year she will be teaching hip-hop for the San Francisco Ballet School’s after-school educational program. She has given master dance classes, lectures, and demonstrations at Palomar City College, San Diego City College, San Diego State University, Mills College, San Francisco State University, and UC San Diego. In the Bay Area Ms. Williams has danced with Asian American Dance Performances, Ann Berman, Katherine Davis Dance, Chimene Pollard, Eclipse Dance Theater, San Jose Dance Theater, & currently with Anne Bluethenthal and Dancers.

Awards/honors received by Ms. Williams: The Zellerbach Family Fund Grant 2001-2005, Cunningham Dance Foundation to perform a full evening of work in NYC 2001, 2002,& 2003, Fort Mason Foundation Grant 2001, CA$H Grant 2000, “Best Choreographer” award for her piece Awaken in Vision Series 2000 in SF, NYC Technical College produced Ms. Williams’ At Stake, Different Degrees, & Delicate Choice for a Women’s History Month Performance in NYC, Hatch Series by Muller Dance Co. NYC 99 & 2000, and in August 2000 New Dance Group Arts Center in NYC produced Corporate Canopy & Different Degrees to open and close their off Broadway performance. She has premiered concert and site specific work in San Francisco, San Diego, Santa Cruz, Palo Alto, Oakland, Hawai’i, Maine, Brooklyn, and New York City. While surfing, she becomes inspired by the rhythm of the ocean waves and our environment.