Becoming a Well Rounded Kreative
Kendahl the Kreative is a Brooklyn born Afro-Latina currently working towards a B.F.A. In dance at the University of Houston. Kendahl has earned her Associates from Florida School of the Arts where she trained under Jessica Mayhew Borerro, Mary Love Ward, and Kandie Smith.
Kendahl began dancing at the age of 15 with Flagler Palm Coast High School (FPC). There she studied under Janice Monsanto, Nikki Cherry, and the late great Wendy Ellis. With FPC, Kendahl had the opportunity to join the team to participate in Florida Dance Performance Assessment, hosted by the Florida Dance Education Organization. That year, the dance department received 29 superior ratings. After being awarded funds from the Police Athletic League, Kendahl was able to work under Wendy Ellis to teach dance to local underprivileged youth in town.
During a brief hiatus from training as a performer, Kendahl began administratively working full time for one of the largest ballet companies in the United States co-managing a $6-million departmental budget. Kendahl was able to work with administrative and creatives such as Lauren Anderson, Melissa Bowman, Sue Ellen Hill, and Jen Sommers. It was here that Kendahl began to explore graphic design and she hopes to use these tools she’s learned to work deeper within the arts.
At University of Houston, Kendahl has had the privilege to train under John Beasant III, Teresa Chapman, Firat Özsoy, Karen Stokes, and Toni Valle. With John Beasant III’s direction, Kendahl was able to create and submit a dance film entered into the 2022 ACDA Screendance Film Festival.
Since the opportunity given to Kendahl by Wendy Ellis, she has never stopped choreographing and allowing a story to be told through movement. Kendahl often uses real life experiences to fuel her creations. Kendahl created a dance film titled Bittersw(WE)et (2021), a piece developed around losing her dance coach, Wendy Ellis. This piece highlighted moments that stood out to her the most in their close relationship while on the journey to teach a segment of choreography Wendy asked to be performed at her service. Kendahl’s first production, V1, a duet performed at Dance Source Houston’s Mind the Gap in March 2022, explores a relationship with someone experiencing and living through a mental health disorder. Kendahl’s inspiration for this piece has come from being both the one living with the mental health disorder as well as being in a relationship with someone living with a mental health disorder.
Kendahl has an authentic desire to work in all areas of the arts to further her vision as well as the vision of others whether that be as a choreographer, administrator, or anything in between.
Artistic Statement
One of a Kind Performance Artist
I am an Afro-Latina choreographer, graphic designer, student, performer, and arts administrator living a very human experience. I often have been told I am too emotional but just scratched the surface of my own emotions. In many different ways, I have been made to feel insignificant, and my feelings unimportant. In other instances, I have been unable to use my words to express emotions but I have fought to have a platform to share things that have been apart of my human experience. My intention as an artist is to show myself as well as others that our human experiences and the interpretation of our experiences will never be too emotional. Through my graphic design I also want to show others that I am willing to express their human experiences in a way that is appropriate to them as well. I have had a few chances to tell stories that have been stuck inside of my mind and body and I do not plan on stopping anytime soon.
