FOUNDER and creative director
From her beginnings as a professionally trained dancer of 25 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 in Communications with a minor in Spanish from the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), graduate education in Non-Profit Leadership and Management from Texas A&M University, certification in Music Business from Berklee College of Music, and currently a student at the University of Miami studying for her Master of Arts in Live Entertainment Management. At Ole Miss, Krys was part of the top 5 nationally ranked Rebelettes dance team as the only African-American 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 Founder and Creative Director for Upward Artistry - the only Black-owned, full-fledged talent agency in Houston specializing 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 talent and industry professionals within film, television, music, theater and dance from L.A. to Atlanta, to NYC with a nurtured relationship from representatives with HBO, Columbia Records, Live Nation, Universal, Londyn Town Pictures, 26th Street Pictures, Carnegie Mellon University prestigious theater program, and other media, performing arts, music, and production companies large and small as she works tirelessly representing, managing, and developing up and coming music artists in Houston and beyond by providing them platforms, opportunities, and connections. She’s also shared the privilege of working with music industry executives within the genres of hip-hop, punk, to soul and pop and worked alongside music producers, record companies, venue managers and owners, and recording studios….too many to count!
With her expertise in creative direction, she's also worked with large entertainment festivals garnering over 12,000-17,000 attendees, music tours, several dance and theater companies as a visiting teaching artist, 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, The Amazing 102.6, 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, served as stage host and coordinated the 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, Pulse Magazine, Canvas Rebel, Bold Journey ATL, Voyage Houston Magazine and Voyage Atlanta Magazine, Shoutout HTX, African-American News Magazine, as well as alumni recognition from her childhood school district here in Houston, and recipient of the Female Entrepreneurs Award. She is also a former member of the Television Academy (Emmy Awards). She is currently embracing a new realm of entertainment - sports entertainment - as she embarks on new roles within the scope of entertainment in professional sports.
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 work with multiple schools and teams with their respective dance and theater programs as a guest coach and teaching artist. She also remains to serve as Co-Founder, Artistic Director and Vice President for HeartBEAT Houston Dance and Fitness/HeartBEAT Performing Arts Charities in Houston, TX as well as serve on the Board of Directors for Houston Metropolitan Dance, and a former member of the Education Committee for Young Audiences. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.