Kristen Harts

Kristen "Missy" Harts, being a dance educator with over 25 years of experience, started out with humble beginnings at her mother's dance studio in 1982, Gail Harts Dance Company in Portsmouth, Virginia. Kristen studied at Virginia Commonwealth University, majoring in Dance and Choreography and Old Dominion University in Dance Education. She is currently pursing her Bachelors of Business Management at Western Governor's University and will be starting her Masters in Performing Arts Leadership and Management in the Fall 2024. She became Assistant Artistic Director at GHDC in 2002. Continuing her passion for dance, she opened up her studio, Youth Dance Society in 2015 in Fredericksburg, VA. YDS was the foundation she needed to start pursuing opportunities beyond the dance studio walls. Kristen established Dance Teachers of Virginia United in 2016, a dance educator group, which seeks to empower dance educators, amplify the arts, break down barriers of social injustice through art, and define the passion behind the movement. She serves as the Assistant Production Manager and Instructor for the Virginia Black Dance Festival, Dance Panelist for National Endowment for the Arts, Education & Community Programs Administrator at Richmond Ballet and speaker and motivator in bringing awareness to Arts Administration and Management. With over 25 years of experience in the dance industry, Kristen is passionate about creating and managing innovative programs that promote diversity, inclusion, equity and education through the arts. Kristen continues working to create opportunities to engage and facilitate programs and partnerships that bring the world of the arts to underserved communities and beyond.