Artistic Statement

As an artist, my intentions are to create, collaborate, and connect. The work I do aims to provide movers with a platform to share a piece of themselves. This process prioritizes the artist's experience in a way that encourages authentic and meaningful making. I hold the belief that art has the power to heal above all.

Kendra Key was born and raised in St. Louis, where she fell in love with dance. One of her earliest memories is the sense of home she felt at her childhood studio. At just 14, she began teaching and choreographing under the guidance of Sandra Morgan at Dimensions Dance Center.

She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Dance with a minor in Diversity Studies from Missouri State University, where she co-founded MO State Dance Co., a student-led organization that offers scholarship, networking, and performance opportunities. Most recently, Kendra completed her Master of Fine Arts in Dance and a Master of Arts in Teaching with a focus on Dance Education in public schools at Washington University.

Kendra currently serves as the High School Dance Program Coordinator for University City School District. While her passion lies in contemporary dance, her training includes a wide range of western concert, commercial, and internationally recognized styles.

She is a proud recipient of the Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Fellowship for Women in Graduate Study, which supports women of exceptional promise as future leaders. Kendra also completed five seasons working with national dance circuits Beyond the Stars and Breakout, where she contributed in stage management, sales, merchandising, arts administration, and data operations.

In her freelance career, she has received regional and national recognition for choreography, conceptual design, emotional coaching, and attention to detail. Above all, Kendra is driven by her desire to create safe, honest spaces that center the dancer’s experience. She believes dance is a language from within—one that moves us to feel, connect, and experience something greater than ourselves.