Celia Rowlson-Hall is an American dancer, choreographer, and film director. She has choreographed numerous music videos and commercials, and has directed several short films. Her debut feature film, MA, was released in 2015.
Early life Rowlson-Hall grew up in Urbanna, Virginia, and began dancing at age five. She graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in 2006 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance.
Rowlson-Hall has cited Pina Bausch’s dance theater and the British dance company DV8 as early influences on her career in dance and choreography.
Career Rowlson-Hall moved to New York after finishing college and initially worked in theater dance and choreography. She was mentored by New York choreographer Faye Driscoll, and won a Bessie Award for performance in Driscoll's 837 Venice Blvd in 2009. She first became involved in filmmaking in 2008, when director Ray Tintori hired her to choreograph the music video for MGMT's song "Electric Feel". In 2010, she directed her first short film, Prom Night, in which she also cast herself; it was nominated for a Grand Jury Award at South by Southwest. She went on to direct two further short films, The Audition (2012) and Si Nos Dejan (2013).
In 2013, Rowlson-Hall began working as a choreographer on the HBO series Girls; she also choreographed Girls creator Lena Dunham in a video for Vogue magazine. She has choreographed commercials for clients including Lee Jeans and Kate Spade New York, and music videos for artists including Alicia Keys and Sleigh Bells. She was named one of Filmmaker magazine's "25 New Faces of Independent Film" in 2015.
Rowlson-Hall's first feature film, MA (2015), is a modern retelling of the story of the Virgin Mary in which Rowlson-Hall plays the lead role. The film, which Rowlson-Hall funded via Kickstarter, was screened at the 72nd Venice International Film Festival and AFI Fest. In 2017, she created the short film (The [End) of History Illusion] for Miu Miu as the 14th installment in their Women's Tales series.
Rowlson-Hall portrays adult Sophie in the 2022 film Aftersun.
In 2025, Rowlson-Hall served as choreographer for The Testament of Ann Lee. In interviews, she mentions how her own religious upbringing in the Christian Scientist movement informed her approach to the film's choreography. Although she no longer participates in the religion, she described the film as an opportunity to revisit her relationship with prayer through choreography.
In the same year, Rowlson-Hall created and directed SISSY, a dance-theater work that premiered at the Baryshnikov Arts Center. The cast included dancers and actors such as Marisa Tomei and Lucas Hedges. This production was her first time back on stage after nearly two decades of working within the film industry.
Personal life In September 2018, Rowlson-Hall married Mia Lidofsky, a filmmaker whom she had met in 2013 when they worked together on Girls. Rowlson-Hall and Lidofsky have one son.
Filmography
Film; as actress YearTitleRoleNote2010Prom NightShort film2015MaMaThe NutcrackedClaraShort filmA Morning LightEllyn2022AftersunAdult Sophie2026The DramaDance Instructor
Film YearTitleWorkNoteDirectorWriterProducerEditorChoreographer2010Prom Night2013The AuditionShort film2014Cover GirlShort film2015Molly Takes a TripAll These VoicesShort filmMaThe NutcrackedShort film2017The Incredible Jessica James2018Tommy Battles the Silver Sea Dragon2020Taxi!Short filmOmniboat: A Fast Boat Fantasia2021After YangBirds of Paradise2024Smile 22025The PlagueThe Testament of Ann LeeMerv2026The Drama
Television YearTitleWorkNoteDirectorProducerChoreographer2014Manhattan Love Story2 episodes2014-2017Girls4 episodes2017-2018Strangers3 episodes2018Orange Is the New BlackEpisode; "Who Knows Better Than I"2019The Other TwoEpisode; "Pilot"Tales of the City3 episodesJohn Mulaney & the Sack Lunch BunchTelevision movie2021-2022Ziwe10 episodes2022The Staircase3 episodesTBDConstanceTelevision film; Completed
Music Videos YearTitleWorkArtist(s)AlbumDirectorChoreographer2008"Electric Feel"MGMTOracular Spectacular2011"Love In Motion"SebastiAn, Mayer HawthorneTotal2016In CommonAlicia KeysHere2019"Cry Cry Cry"ColdplayEveryday Life2020"Win It"Lola Kirke2025"Love Takes Miles"Cameron WinterHeavy Metal
References
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