Katie received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet, with emphases in teaching and performance, from the University of Utah. Her training also includes Caryl Maxwell Classical Ballet, Ballet West Conservatory, Shenandoah Conservatory, and Frederick Classical Ballet. She went on to dance professionally with Ballet Theatre of Maryland under the direction of Edward Stewart for four seasons.
After five years of teaching throughout the Maryland and Virginia area, Katie co-founded Ashburn Academy of Dance with Anne Marie Kimmell in 2001. What began as a shared passion for dance education has grown into a thriving studio community that is now entering its 25th year. Over the years, Katie has had the privilege of watching generations of dancers grow up at AAD, and she continues to find great joy in helping students develop not only as dancers, but also as confident, creative, and compassionate individuals.
Katie is also the co-artistic director of Ballet Theatre of Ashburn, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) ballet company founded in 2004 to give dancers throughout Loudoun County additional opportunities to perform and share their love of dance. Each year, the company presents a full-stage production of The Nutcracker and brings dance into the community through performances at local nursing homes and retirement communities.
In 2011, Katie co-founded Edge Performance Company, a contemporary dance company sponsored by Ballet Theatre of Ashburn. For the past 15 years, Edge has given dancers the opportunity to explore contemporary movement, perform throughout the community, and participate in dance competitions. Both Ballet Theatre of Ashburn and Edge Performance Company also take part in Ashburn Academy of Dance’s annual fundraising gala, which helps support the studio’s Darby’s Dancers program and its mission of providing meaningful dance opportunities for dancers with special needs.
As Ashburn Academy of Dance approaches its 25th year, Katie is incredibly grateful for the students, families, faculty, and community who have made the studio what it is today. She feels fortunate to continue working alongside Anne Marie and AAD’s dedicated faculty and is proud of the welcoming, supportive community they have built together. After nearly 25 years, one of Katie’s greatest rewards continues to be seeing students discover a lifelong love of dance and watching them grow both inside and outside the studio.
