Aileen Norris

Teaching Artist

They/She

Aileen Norris is an interdisciplinary dance artist, educator, and community member. Hailing from Iowa City, IA, they started their forever love of dance with ballet before studying modern, post-modern, and improvisational forms. In 2019, she graduated from the University of Utah with a B.F.A. in modern dance and B.A. in English. While in college, Aileen performed works by choreographers including Anouk van Dijk, Satu Hummasti, Daniel Clifton, and Rae Luebbert.

Aileen helped found Salt Lake City’s Queer Spectra Arts Festival in 2019 and served as co-director through 2023. She has performed works by artists including Halie Bahr, Alexandra Barbier, Nora Lang, and Leo Lynn. Their choreographic work has been presented at Dances at the Lake, Melancholics Anonymous, Queer Spectra Arts Festival, and Sugar Space Sample Tracks. Aileen currently creates and performs as one half of DynAmic Dance Collective, which explores the intersection of concert dance practices and dynamic disability.

In the studio, Aileen is passionate about increasing access to dance regardless of socioeconomic status, ability, race, gender, sexuality, or other identity markers that have historically excluded individuals from the arts. They strive to provide positive challenges, foster self-expression, and build community.

Outside of dance, Aileen works as a freelance writer. She loves going on walks with her wife, reading, crocheting, and watching the WNBA (Go Lynx!).

2026/27 Session Teaching Roster: Modern 4 and Community Partnerships

Photo by David J. Owen, www.davidj.owen