ID: A woman photographed from the side, turning her head back over her shoulder to face the camera directly. She has long, straight, light brown hair and pale gray-blue eyes, against a plain mottled gray studio backdrop. She’s wearing a sheer dark brown mesh top. The lighting is soft and directional, coming from one side.
Elsie Neilson (she/her) is a professional dancer, choreographer, educator, and arts administrator originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and now based in Los Angeles. She earned her BFA in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University, graduating summa cum laude, and has built a career that bridges arts leadership, administration, performance, and education.
Prior to joining Dance/USA as Operations and Special Projects Manager, Elsie served as Executive Associate at Urban Bush Women and as personal assistant to interdisciplinary artist Daniel Alexander Jones. She also works as the Media and Communications Consultant for Schuylkill Valley Regional Dance Company and previously supported the leadership teams of PHILADANCO! and Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers while living in Philadelphia. Across these roles, she has developed experience in executive support, communications, operations, project management, and nonprofit administration.
Alongside her administrative work, Elsie maintains an active career as a performer, choreographer, and educator. She currently performs with Indigo Dance Company, Psychopomp Dance Theater, and SpectorDance, in addition to collaborating with freelance choreographers in live performance and film. Her choreographic work has been presented at festivals throughout California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Virginia, and she was selected as a 2024 resident artist for the Brockus SHIFT/WEST Choreographic Residency.
A certified instructor in the Elemental Body Alignment System (EBAS) Levels I and II and a certified Thai Bodywork practitioner, Elsie continues to teach, choreograph, and mentor artists on both coasts while remaining deeply connected to dance communities across the country.
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