K.J. Holmes

K.J. Holmes's biography

K.J. Holmes, based in New York, has been practicing Improvisational forms as process and performance since 1981. These practices have deeply informed her journey as an independent dance artist as well as an actor, vocalist, writer and teacher. An avid improviser and creator of solo/duo and ensemble work, she has studied with the early pioneers of contact improvisation including Steve Paxton, Nancy Stark Smith and Daniel Lepkoff, has collaborated and led work with and of Simone Forti and Troupe, and was a member of Image Lab performing the Tuning Score of Lisa Nelson. Other collaborators include poets Julie Carr and Edwin Torres, dancer Karen Nelson, drummer Jeremy Carlstedt, trumpeter Roy Campbell, Jr., actor Keith Biesack, and the Feel Trio (violinist Ramsey Ameen and poet/writer Fred Moten). Her influences include Body Mind Centering ® and the work of Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, Ideokinesis with Andre Bernard, Meisner acting work with Terry Knickerbocker, voice and singing with Richard Armstrong, Barbara Maier Gustern and Samita Singha, among others. K.J. is a certified Yoga teacher through her studies with Sondra Loring, and a certified Ayurvedic Holistic Health Counselor through her studies with Dr. Naina Marballi. She teaches at NYU/Experimental Theatre Wing and Movement Research in NYC, as well as traveling nationally and internationally teaching, performing and creating, most recently at the Montreal Contact Festival, Italy Contact Festival and at Tictac Art Center in Brussels.

K.J. has performed in the work of filmmaker/artist Matthew Barney, dancer/writer Karinne Keithley Seyers, music video of Mitski, Steve Paxton, Miguel Gutierrez, Xavier Le Roy, among others, as well as developing her own solo and group work. She is currently conducting a new ensemble piece, Blu/print, that began Fall 2023 with a grant from the New York State Choreographers Initiative through the New York State Dance Force and with the mentorships of composer/instrumentalist Henry Threadgill.