Madison
is a professional dancer, actor, and singer based in New York City.
After a successful 15 years in some of the world’s top ballet companies — San Francisco Ballet, English National Ballet (London), and The Hamburg Ballet — she is expanding into film, tv, broadway and more.
Madison is also available to be booked as a Principal Guest Artist for ballet companies and gala performances.
Short Bio
Madison Keesler, a multifaceted artist based in New York City, has made a name for herself as a dancer, actor, and singer. With an illustrious career as a professional ballet dancer, Madison has worked for renowned companies worldwide, including The Hamburg Ballet, English National Ballet, and most recently as a Soloist with San Francisco Ballet.
Recognized for her versatility and expressiveness, Madison has been cast in principal and soloist roles in acclaimed productions such as Akram Khan's 'Giselle,' John Neumeier's 'The Little Mermaid,' Christopher Wheeldon's 'Cinderella,' William Forsythe's 'In The Middle Somewhat Elevated,’ and in classics such as ‘Coppelia,’ ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ and ‘Giselle’.
In 2022, Madison moved to New York City, where she continues her ballet career as a Principal Guest Artist and Freelance Dancer. In addition to her passion for ballet, Madison is also an accomplished actor who recently made a guest star appearance on CBS's 'FBI International,' and anticipates exciting opportunities with upcoming TV, film, and Broadway roles on the horizon.
Long Bio
Born in California, Madison began her performing arts training at the age of six when her family moved to Colorado. She studied musical theater, jazz, tap, and ballet at Derby Dance Arts and focused more intensely on ballet at the International Ballet School with German Zamuel, Valentina Moukhanova, and Mark Carlson. At ten, Keesler moved to Pennsylvania to train under the tutelage of Marcia Dale Weary at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. She also trained with a number of teachers there including Laszlo Berdo, Leslie Hench, Alan Hineline, Darla Hoover, and Melinda Howe. Madison completed her last year of dance training on full-scholarship at the San Francisco Ballet School under the direction of Lola de Avila.
After working with John Neumeier during her time in the San Francisco Ballet School, Madison received a contract to join his company, The Hamburg Ballet, when she was only 17 years old. That year she performed in almost every production and gained invaluable experience and knowledge. After that year, she moved back to San Francisco Ballet to join the company as a corps de ballet member. During the next four years Madison performed numerous corps and soloist roles and was cast to understudy and learn principal roles such as "Juliet" in Romeo and Juliet and "The Princess" in The Little Mermaid.
During this time in San Francisco, Madison also began training in other disciplines -- acting classes at American Conservatory Theater, voice and guitar lessons, modeling, learning about photography and film, and more. She received her first professional work as an actor when she was cast as the role of “Jennifer” in the feature length film Test by Chris Mason Johnson.
While Madison was extremely grateful for everything her career had given her, she wanted to push herself to grow even further. She accepted an offer from Tamara Rojo to join the English National Ballet as a First Artist, where she performed corps, soloist, and principal roles. Madison worked in the creation process and performed the principal role of "Giselle" in Akram Kahn’s highly acclaimed rework of the classic ballet to sold out audiences.
After four years with English National Ballet, she decided to come back to the one place that always felt like home, San Francisco Ballet. In 2019 Madison was promoted to Soloist.
In June of 2022 Madison moved to New York City to continue her career in classical ballet as a principal guest artist available for short-term company contracts, guest performances, and galas. She is also expanding her performing career into acting and singing in film, tv, broadway and more.
“Keesler stood out for a sensitivity and expressiveness in her dancing, for ports de bras that seem to unfurl endlessly, for her fluid transitions, and that piercing focus that connects her with her partners as well as the audience.”