Meet Kathy King

Meet 2015 BDF Faculty Member and Director KATHY KING

We asked Kathy a few questions to get to know her better, and here is what she had to say:

What has been your favorite dance gig during your career?

"Not to sound corny or anything, but Brighton Dance Fest has been and continues to be an absolutely amazing journey in my career. It's a dream job! But, I also really loved traveling the country as an assistant teacher to the amazing Mr. Robert Schultz during my first two years in college. He's a mega inspiration and taught me a lot about the business of teaching."

What inspires you most as an artist?

"Music, people, relationships (good and bad), nature.... the list goes on! I think an artists mind is always being stimilated and inspired by everything around us!"

When you're in the car, what's on the radio?

"I jump between XM stations AltNation, Coffee House, 90s on 9, Chill, BPM, plus a lot of NPR and news radio."

If you could have lunch with any choreographer, past or present, who would it be?

"Ahhh, that's a hard one! Gus Giordano, Twyla Tharp, and Merce Cunningham are at the top of my list."

What's in your dance bag?

"My BDF water bottle (seriously), Twilight Woods body spray, tennis ball, foot tape, extra clothes, calendar, journal, almonds and usually an apple."

What has been a favorite BDF moment?

"For me personally, I think it was the moment the first student walked through the door back in 2010. Yeah, I know, that's cheesy, but I will never forget how nervous and excited I was to be starting this new "thing" that I didn't know would end up becoming so important to so many people. Every summer I have students AND faculty tell me that the week was "life changing", and I'm proud and honored to be able to facilitate all of this!"

 (Photo: Kathy (third from left) with the 2014 BDF Interns following the Student Showcase)

A little more about Kathy:

Kathy is a life-long dancer, spending time living and training in Memphis, Chicago, Los Angeles and Detroit. Currently, you can find her teaching the college kids in the Department of Music and Dance at Eastern Michigan University, and working with students of all ages at Michelle's Academy of Dance & Performing Arts Center. Kathy is also the founder and director of Michigan Dance Project, which she established in 2006 while attending Wayne State University studying dance and public relations. In April 2013, Kathy received the high honor of being named to the Crain's Detroit Business "20 in their 20s" Class of 2013 for her work as a dance educator in metro Detroit.

Kathy has studied intensively at Wayne State University, EDGE Performing Arts Center, Broadway Dance Center, and the Bates Dance Festival. She began dancing professionally at the age of 15, and has been assistant to choreographers Robert Schultz (Artists-in-Training Dance Convention) and Joaquin Escamilla (Urban Jamm Dance Convention & EDGE PAC). Teaching credits include the Cecchetti Council of America's Eastern Michigan Committee, American College Dance Festival, Eastern Michigan University, Rhythm Plus Dance Company (Hamilton, Ontario), Dance Extreme (London, Ontario), The Movement Dance Company, Dance Odyssey Competitions, Fusion Dance Studio (Torrance, CA), University of Michigan Dance Team, and many other studios and schools nationwide. In addition to teaching, Kathy has served as an adjudicator for Dance Masters of America, Dance Odyssey Competitions, and the Flint Youth Ballet. Through her work with MDP, Kathy has founded and directed the Brighton Dance Festival, Get Up & MOVE! Choreographers' Showcases, and the Jumping Through the Lens photography and dance exhibit. You can also find her traveling nationwide on faculty with in-studio convention Artists-in-Training, and serving on the board of directors at the Brighton Center for the Performing Arts.