FACULTY
Celina Morris
Artistic Director
Celina Morris, of Chillicothe, Ohio, is the Artistic Director of Modern Edge Dance Company. She obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts: Dance Performance and Choreography with a Business Management minor, as well as her Master of Education: Curriculum and Instruction from Ohio University. Celina is a lifelong dancer and has dedicated much of her life to teaching students and sharing the art of movement. Alongside directing a dance studio, Celina is a 5th Grade Social Studies teacher at Southeastern Middle School. Celina’s passion for sharing, inspiring, and educating children extends into all aspects of her life. Celina is also a Certified Coach through the Ohio Department of Education, maintaining certifications in CPR, First-Aid, Concussions, and Sudden Cardiac Arrest.
From the age of 3, Celina has been involved with dance. She grew up dancing recreationally, and as a teenager, began dancing competitively. Competing both regionally and nationally, Celina was honored to receive many awards, titles, and scholarships for her work and talent in dance. Celina decided to pursue dance professionally by attending Ohio University, seeking a degree in Dance. During this time, Celina both choreographed and performed in many dance works, as well as worked behind the scenes in Stage Production, Sound Management, and Lighting Design. She also focused on her studies of Pedagogy, Acting, Laban Movement Analysis, Inclusive Recreation, and Kinesiology. Celina was also a member of the Ohio University Dance Team for the 2017 Season. Following her passion for teaching, Celina taught many university dance classes, under the mentorship of Faculty members, and was invited to participate in an internship offered by the Ohio University School of Dance to further her education in dance instruction. Following the completion of her undergraduate studies, Celina was invited back to Ohio University to teach at the esteemed American College Dance Association.
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Alongside her dance and teaching careers, Celina has worked as a Backstage Manager for NexStar National Dance Competition, as well as an Adjudicator for Starpower National Dance Competition and DreamMaker National Dance Competition. Celina has also coached Junior High Cheerleading at Southeastern Middle School for many years. Celina has collaborated with many acclaimed choreographers and teachers such as Matthew Henley, Alexandra Beller, Travis Gatling, Dr. Zelma Badu-Younge, and Nathan Andary, and has taken master classes from a variety of teachers such as Mary Ann Lamb, Dena Rizzo, Arielle Elonys, and The Radio City Rockettes. She also danced with the Columbus Modern Dance Company in Columbus, Ohio. In 2019, Celina had the opportunity to travel to Los Angeles, CA where she performed and was featured on the hit television show “So You Think You Can Dance”. Celina remains connected with the local community through her involvement of Big Brothers Big Sisters “Dance for Kid’s Sake”, as well as developing and teaching specialized dance curriculum to local high school athletes to improve athletic ability. Celina also works with local schools to choreograph drama and musical productions.
Celina’s unwavering passion for dance has led her to create Modern Edge Dance Company, where she strives to make dance accessible and inclusive for all students. Led by her experience and education, Celina works to provide remarkable dance education that inspires and empowers students to know their worth, develop a strong work ethic, and build confidence in a healthy, supportive environment.
