Kirsten grew up in Redwood Valley, California, and was a founding member of the Mendocino Ballet Company.  After receiving her BA from the University of California, Irvine, Kirsten moved to San Francisco to dance with Labayen Dance/SF, with whom she danced original works created on her, as well as  touring Europe, Jordan, and New York.  Kirsten has taught ballet for the Mendocino Ballet Company, El Grupo Teatro de Granada, Spain, and at San Francisco Dance Center, home of  LINES Ballet Company.  Kirsten has taught at Mendocino College since the fall of 2006.