Artist’s Statement

I am a director, choreographer, intimacy professional, and educator whose creative voice is rooted in movement. My creative process is informed by a range of influences—from musical theatre and postmodern theory to community-based social change—which empower me to craft works that challenge conventional narratives while honoring the expressive potential of the human body. In every creative space, I prioritize consent-based methods to explore embodied ideas, fuel collaboration, and nurture self-expression.

Theatre is about cultivating community.  I approach every project with the conviction that the way we treat our creative spaces sets the precedent for what unfolds on stage. As a director, I strive to create inclusive spaces where we can explore and express our unique lived experiences, reflect thoughtfully on our differences, and forge authentic connections through our shared humanity. By centering consent-based practices, I champion personal agency and foster environments where diversity and authenticity are celebrated. It is in these collaborative spaces that the best work is created and the true magic of theatre comes alive.

My journey as an artist has been deeply influenced by both my personal background and my professional evolution. Growing up in my mother’s dance studio instilled in me an enduring love for movement. As I matured, I began creating my own stories through dance—a period of exploration that ultimately led me to recognize the importance of formalizing my vision through direction. This realization propelled me to graduate school, where I immersed myself in technique, dramaturgy, and analysis. These experiences deepened my understanding of the director’s role as facilitator, guide, and editor, affirming my belief that the discipline behind the creative process is as vital as the artistry that graces the stage.

Bio

Cassie Nordgren (she/her) is a director, choreographer, and teaching artist who specializes in musical theatre, physical storytelling, and dance. She is a two-time finalist for the Capezio A.C.E. Awards for Choreographic Excellence and was the SDCF Observer for Tony-nominated and Emmy-winning choreographer Josh Bergasse for the 2014 Broadway Revival of ON THE TOWN. Her choreography can be seen in two feature films: WAITING IN THE WINGS, THE MUSICAL (featuring Shirley Jones) and its sequel, STILL WAITING (featuring Seth Rudetsky, & Chita Rivera).

As a lifelong advocate for accessibility in the arts, Cassie started ThruLines, a non-profit dance initiative committed to exploring physical storytelling and dance as a unifying tool for the diverse audiences of Washington Heights. Under the ThruLines banner head, Cassie has created two original works: ALEXA, a new immersive dance experience created with Roddy Kennedy and Ali Marconi at the Inwood Art Works Pop-Up Culture Hub in NYC; and THE LAST BITE, which Cassie conceived, choreographed, and directed at the 3,400-seat United Palace Theatre in Washington Heights. Cassie also served as the Artistic Director and Curator of the Danza Highbridge Festival, an annual dance concert staged in a drained, Olympic-size wading pool, and Danza: Fish Out of Water, a digital showcase produced during the pandemic.

Cassie has worked with theatres across the country. Favorite credits include New York New Works Festival on Theatre Row, The Neighborhood Playhouse, Sierra Repertory Theatre, Cabrillo Stage, and Center REPertory Theatre, where she earned a Theatre Bay Area Award nomination for Outstanding Choreography for David Ives’ play THE LIAR.

Cassie holds a B.S. in Theatre for Social Change from CUNY/BA and an M.F.A. in Directing from Baylor University. She loves teaching and has taught at studios and institutions across the country including Peridance Capezio Center, Praize Productions, Inc., Baylor University, Austin Community College, and Cabrillo College. She is currently an Adjunct Professor at Columbia College in Chicago.