Anna Wilson Instructor/Choreographer
Anna Wilson is a teaching artist, dancer, choreographer, and musician based in Lexington, Kentucky. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Sociology at the University of Kentucky, and is a company member of Blackbird Dance Theatre. Anna facilitates a movement experience that emphasizes self-discovery and an appreciation of the body where physical safety and emotional wellness are top priorities. She is focused on producing artists that are self-aware, intrinsically motivated, empathetic, confident, and adaptable. Discussion and collaboration are integral parts of her classes, as she believes comprehensive understanding comes from the ability to LISTEN and SHARE. She teaches through creative and anatomical imagery, breath, rhythmic vocalizations, and physical manipulation allowing students to find both logical and visceral connections to movement. She teaches ballet, rhythm tap, modern, contemporary, jazz, and improvisation to students ages 5-70 at Blackbird Dance Theatre and Dancers' Studio. Her choreography has been seen at the regional American College Dance Association Conference, Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center, Woodford County Theatre, the University of Kentucky, Western Kentucky University, and Beeler Auditorium. Through her choreography, Anna strives to demonstrate how differences in experience and perspective inspire an exchange of stories which leads to a greater understanding and respect for all people and cultures.
Nell Adkins
Instructor/Choreographer
Nell Adkins grew up in Lexington, Kentucky studying dance and theatre at Blackbird Dance Theatre under the instruction of Jenny Fitzpatrick. At Blackbird Nell has participated in numerous productions both on stage and off, acting, dancing, singing, designing, directing, teaching and choreographing. She now attends Smith College and is in her second year of study there in Dance, Theatre, and Jewish Studies. At Smith, Nell has participated in student directed theatrical productions and is a member of the Smith improv comedy group, SIKOS, as well as the student run dance company, Celebrations. Last year, Nell performed in the Five College Dance Faculty Concert, a performance showcasing the work of Five College Consortium dancers and professors from Smith, UMass, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke, and Amherst. Since being home from school Nell has enjoyed teaching private dance lessons to young children in their backyards as well as teaching more formally in the classroom at Blackbird Dance Theatre. Though she was only physically at Smith for a short period of time, Nell feels grateful to be brining influences from her Smith dance teachers, Xan Burley and Alex Springer, of Doug Varone and Dancers, as well as the Ballet insights of Rodger Blum and Onalie Arts, to the classes she teaches at Blackbird.
Claire Rose
Instructor/Choreographer
Claire has been trained extensively in ballet from the age of 3. She began at Kentucky Ballet Theater and later moved to Bluegrass Youth Ballet where she had most of her training. She graduated in 2015 after 15 years of ballet classes and started teaching at Blackbird Dance Theatre in 2020. She has experience with solo and ensemble dance and some knowledge of contemporary and modern technique. She has been involved in two interactive theater productions with Afterculture Theater in recent years and choreographed a piece with Blackbird Dance Theatre in Mecca Dance Studio’s production of One Veiling in 2019.