MJK DanceWorks
Matthew Kiel
Matthew Kiel holds an MFA in Choreography from Jacksonville University, FL; a BA in Dance from Huntingdon College, AL; an AA in Vocal Performance from Northwest Shoals Community College, AL and is certified Ballroom Instructor. He is currently the Director of Dance for Florence City Schools, the artistic director of the Florence Academy of Fine Arts Dance Company, and Adjunct Instructor at the University of North Alabama. He is also the Resident Choreographer for Eastern Shore Repertory Theater of Fairhope, AL.
Matthew’s dance and creative process has been mentored by Christina Teague-Mann, a graduate of Laban Center London, England and Diana F Green, UC Irvine graduate under Eugene Loring, and Antony Tudor. He has also been educated through intensive dance labs by international dance artist Alonzo King, Juri Neil, Michael Klein, Mayra Morales, John-Paul Zaccarini and Ana Sanchez-Colberg anf Bill Evans.
Matthew focuses mostly on the educational and creative process of theatrical contemporary works and musical theatre dance. His recent research on character development through movement has led him to the beginning stages of creating a methodology for teaching and creating work based on traditional acting methods.
Recently, Matthew choreographed Newsies Jr. and Godspell for Eastern Shore Repertory Theater presented in New York City’s Central Park. He has also produced and written three original contemporary concept shows for Florence Academy of Fine Arts Dance Company. His choreography “Helen” for the FAFA Dance Co. which is endorsed by the Alabama Bicentennial Commission. His FAFA Dance Co. was also invited to attend the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2020, 2022 and 2025. He has choreographed five world premier shows for Musical Theatre International’s Junior Theatre Festival and has been nominated for two IAPPA awards for shows he co-wrote and choreographed for Six Flags Theme Parks.
Performance wise, Matthew has danced in many venues on contracts across the US including the Paris Hotel and Casino and the Hilton Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV, The Kennedy Center, The Andy Williams Theater, Opryland Hotel, and the Gaylord Texan to name a few. While living in Los Angles, Matthew was ranked the No.6 Ballroom Instructor in the world by Arthur Murray Dance Studios.
Workshop Training
Ana Sanchez-Colberg DEREE – The American College of Greece Athens, Greece
Alonzo King Alonzo King LINES Ballet San Francisco, CA
Michael Klien Independent Artist Vienna, Greece
Juri Neil Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts London, UK
Mayra Morales Universidad de las Americas Puebla, Mexico
John-Paul Zaccarini Stockholm University of the Arts Stockholm, Sweden
Bill Evans Bill Evans Teacher Institute Port Townsend, WA
Achievements and Awards
- Alabama Arts Alliance Tag Grant Recipient 2023
- Florence City Schools 2023-2024 Teacher of the Year – Nominee for Alabama District 8 Teacher of the Year
- The Stanley Awards 2023 – Winner of Best Director, Best Choreographer, Best Costumer, and Best High School Musical for Disney’s Newsies Jr.
- Newsies Jr. – Central Park Ny, Ny – Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre 2022-
- Godspell Jr. - Choreographer - Central Park New York, New York. Special arrangement by MTI - Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre
- World Premier of Descendants Jr. choreography - Junior Theater Festival West - 2022
- FAFA Dance Company accepted to 2022 Fringe Festival, Edinburgh, Scotland
- World Premier of The Big One-Oh! Jr. choreography - Junior Theater Festival - 2021
- World Premier of Newsies Jr choreography - Junior Theater Festival West - 2020
- Winner Excellence in Dance - Junior Theatre Festival 2020 - High School Musical
- FAFA Dance Company accepted to 2020 Fringe Festival, Edinburgh, Scotland
- Florence Falcons Foundation Grant Recipient 2019
- Choreographer of “Helen” endorsed by the Alabama Bicentennial Commission 2019
- Alabama Dance Festival Faculty 2019
- Winner Best Overall Award – Junior Theatre Festival 2019 – Mary Poppins
- Clinician for 2017-2020 Alabama State Thespian Festival
- Winner Best Overall Award - Junior Theatre Festival 2017 – Singing in the Rain
- World Premier of Junie B Jones Jr choreography– Junior Theatre Festival 2017
- Winner Excellence in Dance - Junior Theatre Festival 2016 – The Music Man
- Alabama Dance Festival Showcase 2013-2020
- Selected for Teacher Leadership Committee 2014-2015 – MCPSS
- Choreographer – Seussical the Musical – Southeastern Theatre Conference
- No. 6 Ranked Ballroom Instructor in the World by Arthur Murray Dance Studios 2014
- Three IAAPA nominations; Honorary Mention for Pure Country best show under $25,000 with Six Flags theme parks
- Irene Ryan Acting Award Nomination by the American College Theatre Festival
- Selected choreographer for the informal concert at the American College Dance Festival
- Awarded best actor in a musical in 2001 Huntingdon College
- Dancer for selected piece at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, DC
- Lane Hill Memorial Award for Music NWSCC
Board Positions and Memberships
- Alabama Dance Council - Secretary 2019-2022
- Alabama Dance Teachers Association - Vice President 2019-2021
- National Dance Educators Association
Matthew Kiel
Comprehensive Musical Theatre Choreography Credits
Musical Theatre Directing/Choreography Credits
Aladdin Jr. - Florence Academy of Fine Arts - 2021
Cats - Young Actors Pilot Production - Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre - 2022
Newsies Jr. - Florence Academy of Fine Arts - 2022
Musical Theatre Choreography Credits
Cats - Eastern Shore Repertory - 2024
Bye Bye Birdie - Florence Academy of Fine Arts - 2023
Shrek Jr. – Eastern Shore Repertory - 2023
Beauty and the Beast – Eastern Shore Repertory - 2023
Newsies Jr. - Central Park New York, New York - Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre - 2022
Pippin - Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre - 2022
Descendants Jr. - Junior Theater Festival New Works Showcase - Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre - 2022
Godspell Jr. - Central Park New York, New York - Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre - 2021
The Wizard of Oz - Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre -2020
The Big One-Oh! Jr. - Junior Theater Festival New Works Showcase - Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre - 2021
Matilda Jr. - Junior Theater Festival - Overall Outstanding Winner - Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre - 2021
Moana Jr. - Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre - 2020
Newsies Jr. - Junior Theater Festival New Works Showcase - Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre - 2020
Lion King Jr. - Junior Theater Festival - Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre - 2020
High School Musical Jr. - Junior Theater Festival - Eastern Shore Repertory -2020
West Side Story - Summer Stock at the Ritz - 2019 (Ballet)
Little Shop of Horrors - University of North Alabama - 2019
Matilda - Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre - 2019
The Music Man - Florence High School - 2019
Mary Poppins Jr. - Junior Theater Festival - Overall Outstanding Winner - Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre - 2019
A Christmas Carol - Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre - 2018
Oklahoma! - Summer Stock at the Ritz - 2018
Hairspray - University of North Alabama - 2018
The Addams Family Musical - Florence High School - 2018
Newsies - Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre - 2018
Mulan Jr. - Junior Theater Festival - Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre - 2018
Junie B Jones Jr. - Junior Theater Festival New Works Showcase - Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre - 2018
Peter Pan Jr. - Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre - 2017
Circus of Dreams - Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre - 2017
The Little Mermaid - Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre - 2017
Once on this Island - Florence High School - 2017
Singin’ in the Rain Jr. - Jr. Theater Festival - Overall Outstanding Winner - 2017
James and the Giant Peach Jr. - Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre - 2016
Carousel - Summer Stock at the Ritz - 2016
The Little Mermaid - Shoals Community Theater - 2016
Big River - Florence High School - 2016
Magic Treehouse: A Ghost Tale for Mr. Dickens - Junior Theater Festival New Works Showcase - Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre - 2016
The Music Man Jr. - Junior Theater Festival - 2016
The Lion King Jr. - Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre - 2015
The Music Man - Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre - 2015
Once on this Island Jr. - Junior Theater Festival - Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre - 2015
Beauty and the Beast - Eastern Shore Repertory Theater - 2015
Mary Poppins - The Playhouse in the Park - 2015
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - Eastern Shore Repertory Theater - 2014
Oliver - The Playhouse in the Park - 2014
Babes in Toyland - The Playhouse in the Park - 2014
Cinderella The Musical - The Playhouse in the Park - 2014
A Christmas Carol - The Playhouse in the Park - 2013
The Sound of Music - The Playhouse in the Park 2013
Annie Jr. - Eastern Shore Repertory Theatre - 2013
The Little Mermaid- Jitterbug Theatre Productions - 2012
The Wizard of Oz - The Playhouse in the Park - 2012
Charlotte’s Web the Musical - The Playhouse in the Park - 2012
Seussical Jr. - Southeastern Theater Conference - Jitterbug Theatre Productions - 2012
High School Musical II - The Playhouse in the Park 2011
High School Musical - Gulf Shores Community Theater - 2010
Broadway My Way - IAPPA Nominee - Six Flags Theme Park New Orleans - 2005
Pure Country - IAPPA Nominee - Honorable Mention - Six Flags Theme Park New Orleans - 2005
Dead Man’s Party - Six Flags Theme Park New Orleans - 2004
