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professional work

This page highlights major professional choreographic work. Her group, rogue wave, presents work at the intersection of psychology and movement, often with a comedic twist. Rogue waves are unusually large, unpredictable and suddenly appearing surface waves. To see Katie's teaching highlights, and choreography on students of all ages, visit here.

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major choreographic works

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bouquet

In neuroscience, individuals are classified as dandelions, tulips, or orchids. Like the flower, dandelions are common and able to adapt in many environments, and orchids are much more rare and sensitive (tulips fall in the middle). What makes an individual a dandelion or tulip? Epigenetics.  Epigenetics is the study of how behaviors and environments can affect the way our genes work, and the genes of our children. Our genes, in particular, our nervous system can be altered as we age - the reason why identical twins can take on wildly different personalities and health cases. I work with my cast to unpack our own personal epigenetic layout, pulling from our culture, background, upbringing, and demographics.

Excerpts Premiere: unKEMpT Dance Festival, Arts on Site, New York, January 2023

ShownEmerging Artist Showcase, New York, March 2023

Spring for Spring Dance Festival, Metuchen, NJ, June 2023

Evening Length: October 6-8, 11th, 2023, The Tank

Work received a residency from Dragon's Egg for further development, summer 2023

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gap junction

gap junction looks into the neurological pathways involved in potentially traumatic events. A cast of six finds their similarities and differences in the brain through movement, drawing on their own experiences, particularily Messina's: a Sicilian-American who spent her formative years in a multi-generational household, followed by eight years in the urban south.

Excerpts Premiere: Fertile Ground, Greenspace, Queens, NY, Spring 2022

Shown: The Village, Lower East Side, Spring 2022

Artist After Hours, Brooklyn, Spring 2022

Spring for Spring, Metuchen, NJ Spring 2022

HOT Dance!, Dixon Place, Summer 2022

Evening Length: Sept 25-Oct 1, 2022, The Tank, Manhattan, NY 

March 2023, Atlanta Science Festival, Atlanta, GA

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Other Works

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bon vivant

Created in collaboration with Emmy Wildermuth

"bon vivant" deconstructs the notion of traditional ballet into weighted, fast floorwork and partnering while maintaining that nostalgic feel and classical music emphasis.

Premiere: unKEMpT Dance Festival, Arts on Site, January 2023

Shown: Movement II Dance Festival, 28th Street Theater, February 2023

Atlanta Science Festival, March 2023

Work received residency from Everwood Artist Retreat for further development

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we let our hair down

This project was supported by a Puffin Foundation Grant

Utilizing highly detailed and physical movement, this duet explores the nature of home. What does home mean when two dancers get together in the studio with backgrounds in very different family structures and cultural regions of the US?  Is home always a place or can it be people or times too? Through humorous and introspective conversations and journaling, we work to create duets that are universal in the language of relationships that transcend boundaries.

Premiere: Dixon Place, New York, NY, June 2022

Shown: An-Tre Portugal, Spring 2022

Hottie Bop, Williamsburg, NY, June 2022

Film created with aid from Puffin Foundation

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gallery:
retrospect

Created in collaboration with Daniel Ricardo Rocha Cartagena

Looks at shared memories, traumas, and past experiences. Sifting through these experiences how do we create a living, breathing collaboration.

Premiered: Roxey Ballet River Dance Festival

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FLesh memories

“Jack of all trades, master of none.” But what if, in this solo, I take this as a positive, and create a dance for myself that is a “flesh memory” of all the dance experiences I have had on a Marley floor, each contributing to the dancer and person I am today?

Premiered: Roxey Ballet Rise Fundraiser, Lambertville, NJ
November 2021

Shown: Koresh Dance Festival, Philadelphia, January 2022

Astoria Dance Festival, July 2022

weave

This project was supported by a City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs Grant 

Premiered: Dance Canvas Skyline Series, Spring 2021

Excerpts: Fall for Fall Dance Festival, Fall 2020

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further west

Looking at unlikely parings that reveal in the most unexpected ways

Premiered: Spring for Spring Dance Festival, April 2021

Shown: KYL/D’s Inhale Performance Series, Philadelphia, October 2021

Decatur City Dance, November 2021

through-line

A cast of six dancers in a work that looks at moments in time - both personally and historically - where strangers connect. Originally meant as a live work to premiere on March 23, 2020, it was converted into a high-quality film premiering Summer 2021

Premiering: Dance Canvas, Summer 2021, Ferst Center for the Performing Arts, Atlanta, GA

Excerpts: Emory University, February 2020

 

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FOR BODIES

A cast of four dancers, investigating each of their personal narratives through film. Emphasizing different camera angles, angles not possible in live performance, and how we move together, alone.

Premiering: femmefest virtual festival, August 2020

Shown: Fall for Fall Dance Festival, Sept 11-13 2020

Modco Dance Company, The Quarantine Chronicles, Fall 2020

Body Language Lab, Culture Mash, Detroit, MI Winter 2020

game.set.match.

A work that examines the relationship between audience and performer, and the range of experiences that this reveals. 

 

Premiered: Immerse ATL, Spring 2019, Emory Performing Arts Studio, Atlanta, GA

Shown: play.risk.research, Fall 2019, Active Space, Atlanta, GA             

Yes! Dance Festival, Winter 2019, Firehouse Playhouse, Richmond, VA

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hour eleven

Why does the brain only sometimes link confinement to danger? What if the confinement is in an idea or situation, not a place?

 

Premiered: Immerse ATL, Spring 2019, Emory Performing Arts Studio, Atlanta, GA

OTher choreographic works

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aftershock

Emory University 2018

Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts

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Chronicle

Dance Film

Breaking New Ground Dance Festival 2020

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phase one.

Emory University 2017

Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts

CHOREOGRAPHIC REEL

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