CRISTEN BENSON
Ballet Director
Director of Teen Company,
Teen Principal Company &
Principal Company
Cristen Benson grew up in the Dallas area and trained locally in all forms of dance at several award winning studios. She has received numerous scholarships as a competitive dancer to top studios in L.A., Chicago, and New York. Some of the instructors she has trained with include Debbie Allen, Finis Jhung, Tyce Diorio, Savion Glover, and David Howard. Cristen also received many accolades including Distinguished Performer of the Year, several titles including Miss Starpower and Miss Showbiz, along with multiple 1st overall awards as a top soloist. She also was lucky to have the opportunity to perform excerpts of famous ballets as a principle with her studio’s ballet company. Cristen is also an accomplished vocalist in the styles of classical, pop, and musical theatre.
Cristen performed in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular for 6 years both in New York City and on tours across the United States. She is also featured in the Radio City Christmas DVD and national commercial! Recently, Cristen was also a principle dancer in a commercial for the Texas lottery. Other credits include choreography and performances for companies such as Sally Beauty Supply, DIFFA, and Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS in their annual conventions. She has also performed in shows and videos for Mary Kay Cosmetics and Chuck E. Cheese as a featured dancer and vocalist. Some other credits include performances with regional theaters in productions of Fame, Footloose, and Cinderella with the Joffery Ballet.
Cristen has been teaching ballet for over 10 years and loves sharing the art and discipline of ballet with her students. Her goal is to teach ballet in a healthy way which focuses on correct ballet technique and also injury prevention.
