Kitty McNamee is an artist, a creator and most importantly a collaborator.
Her early years in LA were spent honing her craft as Artistic Director of Hysterica Dance Co., a consistently prolific and creative collective that redefined dance in Los Angeles. Her unique approach to direction and choreography was declared by Dance Magazine to possess “an outsize talent for that most elusive gift, originality.” Kitty’s dance films have screened at over 50 festivals worldwide. She currently has several dance-centric documentary projects in development.
Coming to dance late, Kitty’s deep appreciation and hunger for engagement has kept her creative practice at the forefront of her life ever since. She is deeply committed to the LA dance community, serving as mentor and advocate for the next generation of dancers and choreographers.
Kitty has a long and fruitful relationship with the LA Philharmonic, where she has choreographed, directed, and developed new productions including Esa-Pekka Salonen’s Wing on Wing, Rite of Spring, The Firebird, Bolero and many more.
Opera work includes Marriage of Figaro, Romeo et Juliette, La Traviata, Don Carlo, La Rondine, Lucia di Lammermoor and Tales of Hoffman for LA Opera, San Francisco Opera , San Diego Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago. Theater credits include Secret Cinema’s groundbreaking live performances with Laura Marling in London, the World Premiere of Colony Collapse (commissioned by Oregon Shakespeare Festival), Sense and Sensibility (South Coast Rep), The Fantasticks (Pasadena Playhouse), Midsummer Night’s Dream (LA Phil/Disney Hall), Man of LaMancha (Reprise!) and Sondheim’s 75th (Hollywood Bowl).
Commissions include: The Farewell, a work inspired by Agnes de Mille and commissioned by SDC’s Abbott Awards and RIFT commissioned by Marin Alsop and Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music performed there and at the Kennedy Center. She has also created the ballets Traces and Transit for National Choreographer’s Initiative and colony for LA Ballet.
She moves effortlessly between her work for the stage and campaigns for Target, Adobe MAX, Zimmerman, Mercedes Benz, Grey Ant and Uniqlo.
Headshot by Nate Lusk