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Read About Katherine

Katherine is a well-known multi-disciplinary dance artist in the Calgary (Moh-kins-tsis) community. She has trained in Vancouver, Toronto, New York, LA, London and Tokyo, and holds a BA in Dance with Distinction from the University of Calgary. Katherine has been a well-known performer, instructor and choreographer in the Alberta arts community for two decades, and has trained across the world in locations like; Vancouver, Toronto, New York, Los Angeles, London UK and Tokyo . She has trained in many genres of dance such as Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Ballet, Tap, Musical Theatre, West African, Swing, and Latin but has focussed the past decade on training in Street Dance styles such as Hip-Hop, Locking, Popping, Animation, R&B, House, Dancehall, Afro-styles, Vogue, and Waacking.

Katherine began her performance training studying Musical Theatre with the Youth Singers of Calgary in 1995, and soon after began studio dance training with Absolute Dance Inc. simultaneously. She followed her passion for dance to the University of Calgary Dance Program, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Dance, graduating with Distinction. While at U of C Katherine began training in Vogue and Waacking styles with the collective House of Dangerkat, and later also began studying with the Decidedly Jazz Danceworks Professional Training Program focussing on Jazz, Tap, Swing, Cuban and West African dance.

Meanwhile Katherine began performing professionally for corporate events and commercial projects such as Groove Academy, The Calgary Spurs, House of Dangerkat, Shine Ensemble, Elektra Dance Company, Decidedly Jazz Danceworks and various entertainment agencies. She has also had the privilege of performing on numerous international tours including touring China with the production Dragonfly Cafe. While at DJD, Katherine reconnected with colleagues Edgar Reyes, Cody Jaxon and Joey Braunwarth over a shared love of Hip-Hop and Street dance, which lead them to co-found the successful Street Dance company illFX Entertainment Inc. Years later the trio of Katherine, Edgar and Cody expanded to create a sister company called illFX Education, which is a Street Dance training program for youth and young adults.

Katherine is currently Co-Artistic Director of illFX Education and Entertainment Inc. and continues to teach and choreograph for numerous dance studios, schools and performing groups across Alberta. She strives for knowledge and excellence in dance, and firmly believes in the arts as a crucial avenue for self-expression and the personal development of young people and our society.