Kirsten Russell was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, and began her dance training at the age of ten. After graduating from high school, she continued her education at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where she discovered a passion for choreography and began developing her distinctive creative voice.

Kirsten’s choreographic talent quickly gained national recognition when she won the prestigious Capezio A.C.E. Awards, earning $15,000 to create and produce her own full-length work in Los Angeles. Since then, her choreography has been featured on NBC’s World of Dance, Canada’s largest televised dance competition, Revolution, and in numerous productions and showcases throughout the U.S.

Kirsten currently serves as the choreographer for Rutgers University’s Division I-A jazz routines, which compete annually at the UDA. Her work has earned numerous industry accolades, including Choreography of the Year at the Industry Dance Awards. Through her choreography and teaching, Kirsten remains deeply committed to fostering creativity, confidence, and artistry in the next generation of dancers.

Today, Kirsten is the co-owner and Artistic Director of CC & Co. Dance Complex and is a sought-after choreographer who travels extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and South America. She has also been a beloved contemporary faculty member with Jump Dance Convention for more than a decade, where she continues to inspire and mentor dancers across the country.