Kelly McGill

Kelly A. McGill is a dance artist, choreographer, and educator currently serving as dance program coordinator and adjunct instructor in the Dance Program. She brings extensive experience in higher education and performance, with a commitment to student-centered learning and creative development.

McGill holds an MFA in Dance from the University of California, Irvine, where she graduated summa cum laude and completed her thesis, Creativity in the Choreographic Process, exploring the psychology of creativity and choreographic creation. She also earned her BFA in Dance Performance & Choreography from Shenandoah Conservatory. Her academic work informs her teaching, which integrates technical rigor, anatomical awareness, and critical inquiry into the creative process.

At Sacred Heart University, McGill teaches courses in choreography, contemporary-modern, ballet, and yoga, while coordinating performances, international travel, and program events. She collaborates closely with faculty, guest artists, and student choreographers to produce 12-14 performances annually and support student success and retention.

As a professional artist, McGill has performed with companies including Backhausdance and Motion X Dance DC and has presented choreography at festivals and venues across the United States and internationally. Her creative work often explores themes of the human experience through contemporary movement.

McGill has also worked with nonprofit organizations such as Backhausdance’s Dance For Kindess and Angel’s Gate Cultural Center of LA, to bring dance programming and arts education to underserved communities. Her research and teaching interests center on creativity, choreographic processes, and fostering innovative artistic voices in the next generation of dancers.