sandstrommovement

Her choreographic work, under the name SANDSTROMMOVEMENT, has been funded by the Seattle Office of Arts and Culture, by Artist Trust, as well as by numerous private donors. Her work has been presented by organizations such as On the Boards, Seattle Theatre Group, Velocity Dance Center, Perpich Center for the Arts and Creative Dance Center.

She has created new choreographic work through commissions from organizations such as Seattle Dance Project, Velocity Dance Center, Stone Productions, Washington Ensemble Theater, Creative Dance Center, Evoke Productions and Seattle Theatre Group, among others.

"Watching Ellie Sandstrom dance is like watching a spider wrap a fresh kill in its web—it’s fascinating and a little frightening to witness something so precise, innate and powerful. She has fierce presence on stage: Whether the choreography is graceful or gruesome, she never loses her intensity. And when she’s performing in an ensemble piece, her body—inked, pierced and, in a word, ripped—is the one your eye seeks out again and again."

-Brangien Davis for Seattle Magazine

Ellie Sandstrom is a Dance Educator, Performer and Choreographer, who is fueled by movement in many forms.

She was honored as a "Dance Champion" and creative residency recipient from Velocity Dance Center, a "Spotlight Award" winner from Seattle Magazine, and can be seen in a book entitled "Seattle 100" by Photographer Chase Jarvis.

In 2022, Ellie was awarded a Teaching Fellowship from the Jubilation Foundation.

Since receiving her BFA from Cornish College of the Arts in 2000, she has worked with many dance makers and artists, including Scott/Powell Performance and Locust (from 2000-2010), as well as Seattle Dance Project, Jessie Smith/Dead Bird Movement, Amy O'Neal, Mark Haim, Dayna Hansen, Veronica Lee-Baik/The Three Yells, Lynn Shelton with Karn Jukensmith, Etienne Cakpo, Corrie Befort, Reggie Watts and countless others, both in live stage and film work.

Over the last 25 years, through Brain Compatible Dance Education and Culturally Responsive Teaching, she has taught a variety of dance forms at many schools, private studios and universities in Seattle and beyond, including the University of Washington.

She led packed classes at Velocity Dance Center for 16 years in both ballet and modern dance. From 2006-2021, she taught middle and high school students at The Northwest School, where she was the Dance Department Chair for 6 years.

She has also been on faculty for the past 17 years for Seattle Theatre Group's Dance This programming.

She is currently teaching for Seattle Theatre Group's / STG Dance for PD® and their DANCE This programming.

She is also focused on freelance teaching, as well as working on her urban farm in south Seattle, where she raises chickens and enjoys growing food to share with her community.

Ellie is a proud member of the National Dance Education Organization, as well as the Dance Educators Association of Washington.

Seattle 100

By Chase Jarvis

Dance Magazine

By Sandra Kurtz

Seattle Dances
By Imana Gunawan

Seattle Times
By Michael Upchurch

Seattle Magazine
By Brangien Davis

Seattle Met

By Laura Dannen

Dance Magazine

By Sandra Kurtz

Read Essay:

Seattle Dances
By Marcie Sillman