CREATURE WORKS YOUTH
Creature Works Youth offers performance opportunities and training rooted in the signature artistic approach of Creature Works. Led by choreographer and director Kelsie Steil, the program invites young dancers into a creative process that values emotional clarity, collaboration, and embodied storytelling.
Drawing from Kelsie Steil’s background as both a choreographer and an experiential educator working with youth in outdoor and group-based settings, Creature Works Youth places strong emphasis on trust, communication, and ensemble connection. Training integrates movement, character work, and team-building practices that support confidence, curiosity, and mutual care.
Through intensives, workshops, and performance-based experiences, dancers engage in a process that is physically rigorous, creatively expansive, and grounded in the belief that young artists thrive when they feel supported, challenged, and seen.
An all-youth (Portland Youth Dance) piece by Kelsie Steil of Creature Works
UPCOMING PROGRAM
Creature Works Youth Winter Intensive
The Creature Works Youth Winter Intensive is a week-long immersive experience for intermediate to advanced dancers who are ready to deepen their training and participate in the creation of original work. Led by choreographer Kelsie Steil, this intensive introduces dancers to contemporary technique, partnering, and a theatrical, character-driven creative process.
Throughout the week, dancers will train, collaborate, and build an original piece that will be shared in an informal presentation for family and friends at the end of the intensive. This program offers young dancers a firsthand look inside a professional rehearsal process, while maintaining a supportive, age-appropriate, and engaging environment.
Intensive Details
Where:
The Dance Annex Studio
647 US Route 1, York, Maine (Meadowbrook Plaza)
Less than one mile from I-95, York Exit #7
When (Maine February Break 2026):
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Monday 2/16: 10:00–2:00
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Tuesday 2/17: 10:00–2:00
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Wednesday 2/18: 10:00–2:00
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Thursday 2/19: 12:00–4:00
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Friday 2/20: 1:00–5:00
Break for snacks and costume change
6:00 PM showing for family and friends
Who:
Intermediate to advanced dancers ages 13–17
Cost:
$325
What Each Day Includes
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Pilates, yoga, or physical therapy–informed movement
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Contemporary technique and partnering
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Lunch break
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Choreography and collaborative creation of the final work
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Snack breaks throughout the day
What Dancers Will Gain
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Increased strength, body awareness, and physical confidence
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Practical skills in contemporary partnering and contact work, with an emphasis on safety, trust, and collaboration
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Experience creating an original work shaped by Kelsie Steil’s choreographic style, emphasizing theatricality, emotional clarity, and physical nuance
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Insight into a professional creative process
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Performance experience in a one-of-a-kind piece developed exclusively for this intensive
FAQs
Who is this program for?
Creature Works Youth programs are designed for intermediate to advanced dancers ages 13–17 who are interested in contemporary dance, performance, and creative exploration. Dancers should be comfortable learning choreography and working collaboratively.
What is contemporary partnering?
Contemporary partnering focuses on shared weight, balance, trust, and responsive movement between dancers. It emphasizes clear communication, safe technique, and mutual awareness rather than lifts for spectacle. All partnering is taught progressively and with a strong focus on safety and consent.
Is this program safe for my child?
Yes. Physical safety, emotional safety, and clear communication are central to the program. Training includes proper warm-ups, strength-building, and rest. Partnering and contact work are introduced thoughtfully and age-appropriately.
Does my child need prior partnering experience?
No prior partnering experience is required. Skills are introduced step by step, with clear instruction and support.
What makes Creature Works Youth different from other programs?
Creature Works Youth combines contemporary dance training with character work, theatrical exploration, and experiential learning practices. Kelsie Steil’s background as an experiential educator informs the pedagogy, placing emphasis on trust-building, group cohesion, and creative agency alongside technical development.
Will there be a performance?
Yes. Each intensive culminates in an informal presentation where dancers share the work they have created during the week with family and friends.
What should dancers bring each day?
Dancers should bring comfortable movement clothing, water, lunch, and snacks. Additional details will be shared after registration.
