Hettie Barnhill

Hettie Barnhill a Broadway actress, director, choreographer, and founder of 'Movement & Characters' a school dedicated to providing industry level, professional classes in the performing arts for students of all ages, levels, and financial backgrounds operating in Greater New York & New York City. In 2016, Hettie founded 'Create A Space NOW' an interactive social platform that uses performing arts and multimedia to further discussion around #blacklivesmatter and the recent events and race relations in America. Nominated for a 2017 New York Innovative Theater Award for Outstanding Choreography, Hettie has performed on Broadway in the production's "Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark", Tony Award-winning "FELA! (original cast), and the Tony award-nominated "Leap Of Faith" (original cast). Offstage, Hettie uses her art as therapy for people in need receiving many awards including an NAACP and the Shirley Chisholm Women of Excellence Award, for her outreach and service in communities. Since 2006, Hettie has been involved with A Long Walk Home Inc. a nonprofit organization that uses art therapy and the visual and performing arts to document, to educate, and to bring about social change for survivors of rape and violence Other selected credits include; Rochester Fringe, Head Of The Table, and NYIT Award (nomination). A Cabaret At The End Of The World (choreographer) The Metropolitan Opera's Romeo & Juliet, Elektra, and Lulu, Dallas Theater Center's "FLY" A New Musical, Face-Off Unlimited Improv NYC's Batsu, Pillow Fight (choreographer) The St. Louis MUNY Opera's Hairspray, Aida, Camelot and Meet Me In St. Louis. Riverside Theater's La Cage Aux Follies and St. Louis Black Rep, Guys & Dolls. Television and Film; Law & Order SVU, The Knick and King Bolden. Hettie Graduated from Columbia College in Chicago, IL. As an instructor, Hettie has taught dance and musical theater at Nazareth College. Rochester NY. Stephens College, MO, Mark Morris, NY, SUNY Ulster, NY Theater Department, JCC Triple Threat, Mohonk Mountain House, SUNY, New Paltz, NY, Music Department and Encore Dance Competition for the Stars NJ ( judge). Hettie began dancing at Pelagie Green Wren Dance Academy when she was three years old and later at the Katherine Dunham Center of Performing Arts School. She is a graduate of COCA Pre-Professional Program & COCAdance and a 2002 graduate of Central Visual Performing Arts High School of St. Louis, Missouri. During high school, she spent her summers as a student at The Alvin Ailey Theater.