Krista Monson is one of todayís most imaginative and innovative creative, stage, casting and vision directors and an inspiring and evocative instructor and guest speaker.

Krista recently spent the past 11 years with Cirque du Soleil, first as Artistic Director of ìOî, followed by Casting Director for Cirque du Soleilís resident shows worldwide and most recently as Writer and Stage Director.

As Artistic Director of the renowned production ìOî in Las Vegas, she was responsible for upholding the showís artistic vision and integrity – a task she accomplished with success by leading a collaboration of performing artists, coaches, stage managers, performance medicine specialists, and technicians, all stemming from a wide array of cultures, languages and areas of expertise.

Monson was then invited to pilot and develop the first casting department for Cirque du Soleil based in the United States. Along with an international team of scouts and advisors, she was responsible for the placement of hundreds of artists for all resident shows worldwide including those shows in Las Vegas, Asia, Orlando, New York and Los Angeles. In 2012, she was featured in the CNN series Leading Women, an OMEGA Ladymatic sponsored series that features outstanding women at the top of their chosen fields.

Following the creation of the casting department in the US, Monson asked to conceive and direct an exclusive production entitled ONE NIGHT for ONE DROP, a global, philanthropic event raising funds and awareness for One Drop, the philanthropic cause created by Cirque du Soleil founder, Guy LalibertÈ. Ms. Monson and her team created a production involving over 400 Cirque du Soleil artists, designers and technicians and guest artists such as composer Danny Elfman, fashion designer Roberto Cavalli, singing prodigy Jackie Evancho and choreographer Sonya Tayeh.

Most recently, she wrote and directed the Cirque du Soleil show ìAllavita!î exclusively created for World Expo 2015 in Milan, Italy to rave reviews. She also conceived and directed ìMonaco ~ les Amants du Rocherî for which she collaborated with Prince Albert II of Monaco.

Before joining the circus, Ms. Monson was an award-winning director, choreographer, instructor and producing director. A native Canadian, she directed and choreographed more than 40 musicals for professional and young performers throughout Canada and in the United States. Krista acted as principal choreographer for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the 2001 IAAF World Championships in Athletics, the third largest sporting event in the world. She is the recipient of three Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards for outstanding choreography.

Krista lives in Las Vegas with her husband and their two sons. Her biggest quest in life is pursuing a life full of creativity as a contributor to the extraordinary world of live entertainment as well as helping others reach their true potential.