Trista Federspiel
Trista Kite Federspiel BFA, ABT-NTC Certified Teacher®
Trista is a distinguished ballet educator, choreographer, and mentor with extensive experience in both professional performance and dance instruction. She is an ABT® National Training Curriculum Certified Teacher (Pre-Primary through Level 7 & Partnering) and holds the Professional Dancers’ Graduate Teaching Diploma from the Royal Academy of Dance. She is also a Certified Pilates Instructor through the PhysicalMind Institute, a Certified Yoga Instructor and a Perfect Pointe System® Certified Teacher.
As a performer, Trista danced with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Alberta Ballet, Eugene Ballet, and Utah Metropolitan Ballet. Her repertoire includes ballets by Petipa, Fokine, and Ashton, as well as works by Jirí Kylián, James Kudelka, Paul Taylor, Jerome Robbins, George Balanchine, and William Forsythe. She received ballet training from esteemed mentors Nancy & Murray Kilgour, Margaret Flynn, and David Adams, and studied Graham technique under Paul Sanasardo.
Trista has been a dedicated dance educator for nearly two decades, teaching at institutions such as Pacific Northwest Ballet School, City Opera Ballet, Evergreen City Ballet, Brenau University, and the American College Dance Association. She is the Founder and Director of Thriving Dancer, a program integrating classical ballet training with Pilates, yoga, and mindfulness practices to support dancers' physical and mental well-being. Additionally, she has choreographed and directed productions, developed comprehensive dance curriculums, and trained aspiring dancers through guest teaching and intensive programs across the U.S. and Canada.
Trista's teaching philosophy is rooted in safe, developmentally appropriate training, emphasizing technical excellence, injury prevention, and artistry while fostering a nurturing and empowering learning environment. Through her expertise in biomechanics, conditioning, and holistic training, she equips dancers with the tools to excel in both professional and pre-professional settings.