Cristala 'Krys' Dorsey
- Talent Agent
- Casting Department
- Casting Director
From her beginnings as a trained dancer of 20+ years, she has become an unstoppable force in the performing arts and entertainment community in Houston. Krys is a native Houstonian, and has been featured on local and live television having performed in several professional shows and for mainstream artists. She obtained her B.A with a minor in Spanish from the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), and continued her graduate education in Non-Profit Leadership and Management at Texas A&M University. At Ole Miss, Krys made history as the only African-American tenured dance team member. Over the years, she used her talents as a platform to mentor other artists and creatives young and old, as well as empower communities in the Houston area as a strong advocate for artists within the entertainment and performing arts industries.
Leading the way as Creative Director for Upward Artistry, the only Black-owned, full-fledged talent agency in Houston, the agency specializes in serving artists and creatives of color in the entertainment and performing arts industries she redefined the agency's purpose by providing a platform for talented individuals throughout Houston to inform, empower, and engage artists and creatives who are seeking guidance and opportunities within all aspects of the entertainment industry. For not only Black creatives, but artists of color and those who are not blessed with "resources", we have seen how much harder it is to break into the industry based on demographics, accessibility, and how much money a person has alone. This serves as a disadvantage for those extremely talented people. Krys found a way for talent in Houston to thrive and receive in-house services at lower costs to propel their artistry.
Through the agency, she's worked with a countless number of industry professionals within film, television, music, theater and dance from L.A. to Atlanta, to NYC with a nurtured relationship from representatives with HBO, Universal, Londyn Town Pictures, 26th Street Pictures, and others media and production companies large and small. She's also shared the privilege of working with music industry executives within the genres of hip-hop, to soul, to pop and worked alongside music producers, record companies, and recording studios....too many to count!
With her expertise in creative direction, she's also worked with music tours, several dance and theater companies as a visiting teaching artist including the world renowned A.D. Players Theater, colleges/universities, non-profits, churches, and several organizations. She has partnered with Soundbox Studios and So Real Crew that was featured on MTV's America's Best Dance Crew. Her appearance and work in media extends into many realms of entertainment having previously worked for CBS Radio, and featured on segments with Radio One's 97.9 The Box and Majic 102.1, 104.1 KRBE, 90.9 KTSU, and several independent radio stations. She has also worked with World of Dance (Los Angeles), H-town Sneaker Summit, hosted Houston Margarita Fest and Woodlands Margarita Fest for five years, coordinator for African Fashion Week Houston, NRG Energy and Carnival Houston. She has been a featured artist for RAW Artists (Los Angeles) and interviewed on several occasions on highlighted segments for KHOU Channel 11, Fox 26, KPRC Channel 2, and ABC 13. Krys has been recognized by T-Mobile, Voyage Houston Magazine, African-American News Magazine, and her childhood school district here in Houston.
Yet, no matter how busy she gets, her heart still lies with providing opportunities and programs for minority youth in the performing arts making them triple threat talent in music, dance and acting. She continues to serve as Artistic Director and Vice President for HeartBEAT Performing Arts Charities in Houston, TX as well as serve on the Board of Directors for Houston Metropolitan Dance, and the Education Committee for Young Audiences. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Leading the way as Creative Director for Upward Artistry, the only Black-owned, full-fledged talent agency in Houston, the agency specializes in serving artists and creatives of color in the entertainment and performing arts industries she redefined the agency's purpose by providing a platform for talented individuals throughout Houston to inform, empower, and engage artists and creatives who are seeking guidance and opportunities within all aspects of the entertainment industry. For not only Black creatives, but artists of color and those who are not blessed with "resources", we have seen how much harder it is to break into the industry based on demographics, accessibility, and how much money a person has alone. This serves as a disadvantage for those extremely talented people. Krys found a way for talent in Houston to thrive and receive in-house services at lower costs to propel their artistry.
Through the agency, she's worked with a countless number of industry professionals within film, television, music, theater and dance from L.A. to Atlanta, to NYC with a nurtured relationship from representatives with HBO, Universal, Londyn Town Pictures, 26th Street Pictures, and others media and production companies large and small. She's also shared the privilege of working with music industry executives within the genres of hip-hop, to soul, to pop and worked alongside music producers, record companies, and recording studios....too many to count!
With her expertise in creative direction, she's also worked with music tours, several dance and theater companies as a visiting teaching artist including the world renowned A.D. Players Theater, colleges/universities, non-profits, churches, and several organizations. She has partnered with Soundbox Studios and So Real Crew that was featured on MTV's America's Best Dance Crew. Her appearance and work in media extends into many realms of entertainment having previously worked for CBS Radio, and featured on segments with Radio One's 97.9 The Box and Majic 102.1, 104.1 KRBE, 90.9 KTSU, and several independent radio stations. She has also worked with World of Dance (Los Angeles), H-town Sneaker Summit, hosted Houston Margarita Fest and Woodlands Margarita Fest for five years, coordinator for African Fashion Week Houston, NRG Energy and Carnival Houston. She has been a featured artist for RAW Artists (Los Angeles) and interviewed on several occasions on highlighted segments for KHOU Channel 11, Fox 26, KPRC Channel 2, and ABC 13. Krys has been recognized by T-Mobile, Voyage Houston Magazine, African-American News Magazine, and her childhood school district here in Houston.
Yet, no matter how busy she gets, her heart still lies with providing opportunities and programs for minority youth in the performing arts making them triple threat talent in music, dance and acting. She continues to serve as Artistic Director and Vice President for HeartBEAT Performing Arts Charities in Houston, TX as well as serve on the Board of Directors for Houston Metropolitan Dance, and the Education Committee for Young Audiences. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.