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About: Inner_about

ABOUT 

Katie Burks is an American dancer, choreographer, theatrical creator, and educator
who has been privileged to perform, teach, and present choreography and performance work across the USA and internationally. Katie is also proud to be the Founder and Executive Director of Artists Sans Frontières, a nonprofit that provides performing arts outreach, enrichment, and entertainment for all ages in areas impacted by war, violence, disaster, and economic disparity.

To view performance, production, choreographic, and/or educational work,

hover over the Work menu button at the top of the screen.

The Closest Thing to a CV
This American Will Ever Provide

Anything more is an adventure to discover -

I hope your life is twice as wild and truly as wonderful as mine.

RulesForLife_KB.png

ARTIST STATEMENT

I find I spend most of my time rampaging about the fact that the performing arts are essential - to emotional well-being and stability, to humanitarian aid, and to existence and life itself. (I should clarify that while my arts rampages may feel exactly the same as any rampage of Adam Reed’s Archer, mine tend to function with significantly less arms fights, prolific explosions, and casualties. I mean… mostly. I will never pass up a good explosion.) ​ Practically speaking, maintaining a full-time career in sarcasm keeps me extensibly busy, much less juggling a creative career alongside starting and developing a performing arts nonprofit. Wrap all three together with a big shiny bow, and you’ve got a pretty decent idea of what consumes most of my time, energy, effort, and sanity these days. (And why my sleep is lacking.) But doing so also keeps me incredibly humble and grateful - for the experiences that come from pursuit of passion, the jaw-dropping and awe-inspiring people that come into my life because of the arts and all that entails creating, and for the ability to share that same passion with anyone that will allow… be it via rampage, kind communication, or finding creative mediums in between.  As I inhabit and experience the unforeseen adventure that is pursuit of creativity, and as someone who crafts live performances, I don't have many strict rules or guidelines that I follow regarding creating, devising, or collaborating. Most choreographers and directors, same as myself, work instinctively. Sure, their - and my - process is underpinned by an almost obscene amount of research, education, and practical experience in the medium(s) of chosen expression. That, and the the requirement to articulate at least something in order to accrue funding and grant assistance to create and sustain. But all in all, I’ve found that at least a third of all performing arts creators - Choreographers, Directors, even a handful of music and theatrical Producers - are completely incapable of articulating the root of what they’re after through words. They’ll certainly try. Any with a sense of humor will let that person continue to fail in doing so before finally stepping in with their expert medium to help. But more often than not, it’s through sound effects, drawings, or physical movement that what a creative wants, desires, and believes can be fully articulated. This is especially true for dancers and dance-makers, and before any other title, I am a dancer through and through. ​ Most simply put, If you're looking to get to know me, the best way to do so is through my work. Please stalk anything on this website or on ASF's website linked above - I invite and implore you to explore to your heart's content. If possible, please come see a show, showing, or performance in-person. There will almost always be a post-show Q&A to hear about the work, the team, and the choices made throughout creating the project itself. And if the 18 paragraphs of text doesn't make this inherently apparent, I love to talk! Please also feel free to contact me to chat via email, video, or to grab a meal in-person and ask me anything you want. I'm notoriously terrible at responding quickly, but I'll eventually reply nonetheless. ​ I hope to hear from you soon, but until I do, I wish you the best.  Cheers, Katie Burks

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