— About
Charissa Barton's is a director, producer, choreographer, mentor and teacher with a multifaceted skill set that includes leadership in the arts, business, and non-profit industries. Embodying a lifetime of diverse experiences, she is known for bringing excellence to all her professional endeavors.
Charissa began dance training at the age of three, laying the foundation for a lifelong passion and dedication to the art form. She continued rigorous training until she joined the Alberta Ballet Company, where she quickly established herself as a promising young artist. She then moved to NYC to attend the Juilliard School under the direction of Benjamin Harkarvy. As a professional dance artist, she has worked alongside esteemed directors and choreographers including David Parsons, Robert Battle, Daniel Ezralow, Aszure Barton, Julie Taymor, James Gunn, Alan Tudyk, and Danielle Brooks, among others. Her work for theater has been performed at the Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago and Ailey Theater in New York City. Her work for screen can be seen on HBO/Max, SyFy, and Netflix, and in 2021 she gained international acclaim for choreographing the opening title sequence for James Gunn’s hit HBO series Peacemaker, which became a viral sensation.
Charissa's artistic career has taken her to renowned venues worldwide, including runs at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Sydney Opera House, Maison de la Danse, Teatro La Fenice, and Teatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro, and appearances at esteemed festivals including Spoleto, Umbria Jazz Festival, and Jacob's Pillow, among numerous others. Her accomplishments have garnered media attention from Variety, the New York Times, Washington Post, Vogue Magazine, Dance Magazine, and several prominent international outlets.
Alongside her achievements in the performing arts, Charissa has made a lasting impact through her business and non-profit endeavors. She studied Computer Technology and Applications at Columbia University, founded a boutique consulting firm in NYC, then established and ran a Wellness company out of Ireland. As co-founder of Axis Connect, she has empowered dance artists through a platform that fosters connection, collaboration and industry insights. She was also President of SQ Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization that provided education, humanitarian aid, and life-changing opportunities to underserved communities across India, Ethiopia, Peru, Bolivia, and other countries. Alongside her husband, Alan Tudyk, she now runs One Love Fund, raising funds and awareness for charitable projects globally.
Driven by her passion and dedication to the performing arts, Charissa continually expands her horizons as a lifelong learner. She recently completed the director program at UCLA Extension and has started to learn the piano. Her exceptional leadership skills, collaborative spirit, and experience across multiple disciplines make her an invaluable asset and a dynamic collaborator in any professional environment.