Professor, Department Chair, Head of Dance
MFA University of Iowa, 2006
kbest@siue.edu
618-650-1039

 Kristin Best-Kinscherff is a dancer, choreographer, educator, and arts leader whose career spans concert dance, musical theatre, commercial performance, and dance education. She currently serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Theater and Dance at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), where she is also Head of Dance and Director of the University Dance Company.

An SIUE alumna, Kristin earned her Bachelor of Science in Theater and Dance before completing her Master of Fine Arts in Dance Performance at the University of Iowa. Her professional performance career has taken her from concert stages to nationally televised events. She has performed with The Big Muddy Dance Company (now St. Louis Dance Theatre), Duarte Dance Works, Dancers in Company (the University of Iowa's premier touring ensemble), and The Slaughter Project. She is a founding member and choreographer of Turn of Change Dance Collective and previously served as Assistant Artistic Director, choreographer, and dancer with aTrek Dance Collective.

Kristin's performance and choreographic credits extend well beyond the traditional stage. Her work has been featured in performances associated with the Nokia Sugar Bowl, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, London's New Year's Parade, and ESPN's National Dance Team Championship. She has also choreographed and performed in opening acts for entertainers including comedian Phyllis Diller and hypnotist Tony Z.

As a choreographer, Kristin brings versatility, theatricality, and a passion for storytelling through movement. Her work has been selected for the American College Dance Association's Gala Concert and presented at numerous festivals, universities, and professional venues, including the Midwest Dance Festival, Grand Dance Fest, National Dance Week, Dancing in the Streets, Victoria Ballet Theater, and the St. Louis Science Center's Body Worlds 3 Gala. Her musical theatre choreography credits highlights include Chicago, Mamma Mia!, Beauty and the Beast, RENT, Alice in Wonderland, FAME, and The Drowsy Chaperone. She has also created choreography for the Universal Dance Association's national summer curriculum and numerous award-winning competitive dance routines.

Equally passionate about developing the next generation of performers, Kristin has taught at the University of Iowa, Lewis and Clark College, Lindenwood University, and SIUE, along with numerous dance studios and summer intensives. Her work with the Universal Dance Association as a head instructor, choreographer, and adjudicator has allowed her to mentor dancers and educators across the country.

One of Kristin’s most meaningful contributions to the field is her dedication to making dance accessible to everyone. Together with her lifelong friend and collaborator, Dianna Andrews Gaither, Kristin developed Dance for Everyone, an innovative adaptive dance and fitness curriculum designed to celebrate movement, encourage self-expression, and create meaningful opportunities for inpiduals of all abilities. As a certified Autism Movement Therapy instructor, Kristin brings specialized training and a passion for inclusive dance education to this work. Their curriculum was selected for presentation at the 2017 National Dance Education Organization Conference, highlighting their shared belief that dance transcends limitations and has the power to connect, empower, and inspire everyone.