Choosing a College Where She Could Explore

Katie wanted a smaller college where she would get more one-on-one attention from faculty in an environment that felt familiar and comfortable. “I also needed a college that offered humanities since I was interested in that field, but couldn’t decide where I wanted to settle myself,” she says.

“Once I found myself in a dance class, I was immediately hooked. The dance faculty let me know that although I was starting from scratch as a dancer, I still belonged in their department.”

Music’s Influence on Her Life at Luther and Beyond

While at Luther, Katie was involved not only in dance and theatre performances, but a variety of musical ensembles as well. She was a member of Aurora, Collegium Musicum, Cathedral Choir, Collegiate Chorale, and Nordic Choir, where she performed in Christmas at Luther and Messiah. She says, “Singing with a group taught me a great deal about large-scale group management and performances.”

She also minored in music: “I use the skills I learned in music theory to create my own sound scores and teach dancers how to integrate music and sound into their choreography. It gave me a great foundation with which to pursue further certifications and build professional skills.”

Her Path after Graduation

Katie’s career in dance has taken her to Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Miami, and Chicago, and she is currently settled in Washington, D.C., where she teaches at the University of Maryland College Park. She has worked as an actor, dancer, choreographer, and collaborator. As a professor, she is able to refine her choreography skills while she collaborates with Mountain Empire Performance Collective, a dance organization that connects performers across America.