Meet Kat | Dance Instructor of the Year | 2020
Meet Kat
Dance Instructor of the Year
Dancers of RVA
My dance journey is quite simple. I was 3 when I began dancing, started competing at 6, participated in high school dance team and school musicals, and received my BFA in Dance Performance from East Carolina University in 2010. I am fortunate to have supportive parents who allowed me to dive into this lifestyle and to encourage me every step of the way. Upon graduation, I moved to Richmond and currently teach Jazz, Contemporary, and Musical Theater, along with being the assistant director of dELIRIUM, our competitive company at Chesterfield Dance Center.
As a dance educator for the last 14 years, the biggest thing that sticks out to me is perseverance. We have a tough job that I believe is often underrated. Our students sometimes spend more time with us than their own parents, so it is up to us to help shape these tiny humans into respectful, hard-working, and kind adults. This task continues to prove difficult as we constantly question ourselves, but I strive to make a positive impact within their dance training and life goals.
My teaching philosophy and style is based off of my teachers growing up. Their love for dance was evident and their motivation was inspiring. I encourage my students to fight for something greater than themselves and to walk out of every class and know that they tried their best. I show them that I care, not just about their training, but about them as people. We have a duty to encourage children and to help them understand what it means to be a good person for the community.
I am extremely honored and humbled to be nominated for Dance Instructor of the year. Being in the same studio for the last decade has not only allowed me to build quality relationships with my students and their families, but to get a greater sense of who my students are. That knowledge has allowed me to dive deeper, to push them, to encourage them, to help them work for what they want. I of course love this challenge through my own artistry and development as an educator, but I also love the joy that it brings knowing that I made the right choice for what I decided to be within my career. Shout-out to our “stood”, the boss lady Carrie Hughes, and my amazing co-workers and students for being nominated in other categories!
A fun fact about me is I started a cultural week and lead a dance camp in Haiti for the last three years as part of the Hope for Haiti foundation. Wasn’t able to go this year due to Covid, but cannot wait to hug those sweet kids and jam with them again soon!
We are so excited to introduce our featured dancers for the upcoming 2nd annual RVA Dance Awards. The 2020 RVA Dance Awards is a live show that celebrates creativity, leadership and innovation by recognizing excellence within our Central Virginia dance community. This event will be held December 2nd virtually.