This week I’m featuring dancer Katherine Gant. Katherine received her dance training in Memphis, Tennessee, under the direction of Pat Gillispie at Classical Ballet Memphis. Trained in the RAD syllabus, Katherine graduated with honors, RAD’s highest mark. During her years at Classical Ballet Memphis, Katherine performed many leading roles and was Assistant to the Artistic Director. She also performed as a guest with Yuma Ballet Theatre as Cinderella in Thom Clower’s “Cinderella.” In 2002, Katherine joined Ad Deum Dance Company as an Apprentice and was promoted to Company Member later that year (www.danceaddeum.com). While with Ad Deum, she performed works by Steve Rooks (formerly principal dancer with Martha Graham Company) and performed at Project Dance in New York City (www.projectdance.com). [Note: I featured Steve Rooks on the blog last month: www.christiansinthearts.blogspot.com/2007/07/steve-rooks-part-2-god-given-honor.html] Katherine then went on to dance with Ballet Magnificat! under the direction of Kathy Thibodeaux. Since moving to Atlanta in 2005, Katherine has continued to teach and dance throughout the Atlanta metro area, including being a founding member of the Atlanta Christian Dance Community (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/atlchristiandance). Katherine and her husband David have two children, Elizabeth and Caleb.
LeAnne: How did you get involved with Project Dance? What do you do?
Katherine: In 2003, I attended Project Dance’s New York event as a member of Ad Deum Dance Company and I fell in love with the idea of dancers from around the world coming together to bless a city. Since then, I have become friends with Cheryl Cutlip, Project Dance’s founder, and I felt called to bring Project Dance to Atlanta. I am now the Event Coordinator for the Project Dance’s inaugural event to be held in Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta on Sept. 22, 2007.
LM: Tell me about your dancing and teaching in Atlanta.
KG: I teach for Atlanta Ballet and I am a dancer/director of Refuge Dance Company, which is made up of mostly members of the Atlanta Christian Dance Community.
LM: You are a founding member of the Atlanta Christian Dance Community. What is the purpose of the group?
KG: Our purpose is to build and grow the network of Christian dancers and other related artists in and around the metro Atlanta area. It is very easy to get discouraged, thinking that you are the only one out there doing your type of ministry. The community provides a safe place for artists to gather, collaborate and encourage one another.
More from Katherine Gant on Thursday. Next week I'll be talking with essayist Robert Benson.
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