ABOUT 

Katie Burks is an American dancer, choreographer, educator and adventurer. She has been privileged to perform, teach, and present choreographic work across the USA and internationally.  Passionate about all types of movement, Katie pursues a location independent lifestyle that prioritizes global exploration and travel. 

Biography

Dance

A proud native of Dallas, Texas, Katie is a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Point Park University, from where she graduated cum laude. 

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Katie has enjoyed a diverse and international performance, choreographic, and teaching career. She has worked for dance companies including Fault Line Dance (PDX) and Attack Theatre (PGH) and has performed alongside various organizations as different as Shen Wei Dance Arts (NYC) and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (DFW). A founding member of Portland, Oregon's Leoné Dance Theatre, Katie served as the Jazz dance company's Rehearsal Director throughout their 2017-2018 season. She has additionally been blessed to work with and perform the works of many life-changing dance icons including Mr. Robert Battle, Peter Chu, Larry Keigwin, Jessica Lang, and the ineffable Twyla Tharp. Her choreography has been presented across the USA and in China, England, Europe, and Mexico. 

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​In November of 2020, Katie produced her first global "solo" show, TOTAL FEAR, as the capstone project of her MFA graduate research. She is proud to announce she now holds a Master of Fine Arts in Choreography from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, with distinction.

Recent Projects (That I Think Are Pretty Cool)

TOTAL FEAR Global | October 30th 2020 Arteur. Global "solo" production presented as the capstone project of MFA research combining elements of fear, movement, sound design, and lighting design Ways of Seeing Portland, OR | September 14th 2019 Creator. 90-minute benefit dance production based on research of perception and accessibility which raised approximately $3,000 for non-profit The Aspire Project Creative Dance Workshop Wenzhou, China | July 5-8th 2019 Teaching Artist. Creative Dance, Technique, and Choreography workshop organized by UK-China Performing Arts Greenwich Music Time Festival London, England | July 2nd 2019 Performer, Boundless Skies; Instructor, Painting the Sky - an adaptation of Boundless Skies through dance and music composition workshops held with 40+ Primary School students and musician Richard Navarro Spatial Performance Festival Athens, Greece | June 14– 15th, 2019 Choreographer and Performer, Processing (in collaboration with AAIS) and solo work Thread (world premiere) as part of Interdisciplinary Festival presented by GesamtAtelier



Companies That Hired Me (Some Even Paying Actual Money)

Leoné Dance Theatre | Portland, OR One Year Contract, 2017- 2018 Founding Member, Rehearsal Director Fault Line Dance | Portland, OR One Year Contract, 2016-2017 Founding Member, Executive Assistant to Artistic Director Eliza Larson Attack Theatre | Pittsburgh, PA Independent Artist, 2011 - 2014 Teaching Artist, Dancer – Game Night and the Seven-Minute Dance Series, annual productions of The Dirty Ball, etc Shen Wei Dance Arts | New York, NY Performance Project, 2012 Undivided Divided presented at North Carolina Museum of Art Repertory Dance Companies I and II | Dallas, TX Educational, 2007-2009 Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts



Additional Artists That Put Up With Me (Both On and Offstage)

Those Gracious Enough To Let Me Perform Their Work: ​ Camille A. Brown, Sand | Peter Chu, Smell Memory with Nine | Bill T. Jones via Stuart Singer, Chapel Chapter | Larry Keigwin, Angels of Anxiety | Jessica Lang, Prayers | Mark Morris via Elisa Clark, Polka and Bedtime | Judith Leifer-Bentz, 9 Minutes | Solveig Santillano, Faces of Trafficking | Kate Skarpetowska, Tidal Intersections | Twyla Tharp, Treefrog in Stonehenge | Christopher Vo, On The Cusp and Remembrance ​ ​ Those Gracious Enough to Teach Me: ​ Doug Bentz | Mr. Robert Battle | Elisa Clark | Dr. Rosanne Cox | Sue Darrow | Michele de la Reza | Melissa Glasgow | Mark Haim | Ms. Gerri Houlihan | Dr. Linda James | Peter Kope | Eliza Larson | Garfield Lemonius | Theo Lorenz | Jason McDole | Ariane Reinhart | Kyle Richards | Tanja Siems | Laura Stilwell | Jeannie Strain | Tony Thatcher | Deborah Weaver | Lee Ann Strain-Whittington | Lily Weiss | Dr. Sara Wookey | Jesse Zaritt | And so many more...



Education (Schools I’ll Be Financing Forever)

Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance | London, England Master of Fine Arts in Choreography, with Distinction 2020 Programme Leader: Tony Thatcher Point Park University | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Bachelor of Arts in Dance, cum laude 2013 Artistic Director: Susan Stowe Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts | Dallas, Texas
Artistic Director: Lilly Weiss



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