About Chantelle
Chantelle Carey grew up in Sligo, Ireland before beginning her professional training at LCPA (Leicester College of Performing Arts) at the age of 16.
For over a decade, Chantelle garnered her career as a performer both on tour and in London’s prestigious “West End”. Performing credits include Chicago (Garrick and Cambridge Theaters), Sweet Charity (English Theatre, Frankfurt), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (UK and International Tour) and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (New London Theatre).
Diving into the world of choreography, Chantelle’s first major credit was for her work on the feature film Jimmy’s Hall, directed by Ken Loach. The film received the Palme d’Or nomination at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival.
Her career as an international choreographer began to take off that same year when she began work as Associate and Resident Choreographer on the Icelandic production of Billy Elliot at Borgarleikhúsíð (The City Theatre of Reykjavík), and subsequently as Assistant Choreographer on their production of Mamma Mia!.
Work brought Chantelle back to the UK as Resident Director & Assistant Choreographer on the Rent 20th Anniversary production (St. James Theatre) and UK tour, as well as Assistant Choreographer on the Leicester Curve production of Legally Blonde (Opera de Monte Carlo).
The year 2016 saw Chantelle back in Iceland, working as choreographer on the original musical Blái Hnötturin (The Blue Planet) at Borgarleikhúsíð. She received the prestigious “Gríman Award” (Icelandic National Theatre Award) in 2017 for “Best Choreography and Stage Movement” in Blái Hnötturin . She then won another “Gríman” in 2018 for her choreography on the original show Slá Í Gegn at þjóðleikhúsið (The National Theater of Iceland).
Making her mark in the Icelandic theatre and dance scene, she went on to choreograph þjóðleikhúsið ‘s production of Meistarinn og Margaríta (The Master and Margarita) and the first Icelandic professional production of We Will Rock You at Háskólabío, both in 2019. She has since choreographed the iconic children’s show Kardemommubærinn at þjóðleikhúsið (2020), Ávaxtakarfan at Harpa (2022), and Frost (the Icelandic production of Disney’s Frozen) at The National Theatre of Iceland (2024).
Among her TV credits, Chantelle was a choreographer and coach on “Iceland’s Got Talent” in 2015, choreographer for the legendary “Áramótaskaup” (RÚV) 2019, and numerous ad campaigns for Republík Films.
Alongside choreography, Chantelle is known for her dedicated work as a dance and theatre educator. She has worked as a teacher and choreographer for major colleges and arts institutions such as Italia Conti, Urdang, London Studio Centre, Leicester College of Performing Arts, The University of Arts Iceland, Menntaskóli Í Reykjavík, FÍH and Söngskólinn Í Reykjavík.
You can read more about Chantelle’s independent courses and training programs HERE.
She is the official organizer for the Nordic Branches of the Dance World Cup, and adjudicator for the British Dance Theatre Association and the World Lyrical Dance Federation.
