Kat Norton

Associate Director | Company Artist

(Pronoun: She, Her)

Kat earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance from Missouri State University, where she concentrated her studies on contemporary dance, modern dance, lyrical jazz dance, ballet, Horton, Graham, Alexander Technique, movement exploration and contact improvisation. She further broadened her performance expertise by studying anatomy, kinesiology, theater lighting design, stage costuming, and script analysis.

While pursuing her artistic passions at Missouri State, Kat performed with the Inertia Dance Company. In addition to seasonal dance concerts, Inertia’s primary focus was centered on promoting cultural literacy and arts in education for public schools through initiatives that enhanced learning through movement. Aside from members of the ensemble devoting their time and energies to working with underprivileged children, the company also cultivated an innovative approach to bringing stories from children’s books to life through music and dance. During Kat’s tenure with the company, the group would typically visit 30 schools each season, presenting their children’s stories and leading young people through a variety of uniquely gratifying dance experiences. Every season concluded with a two-day performance workshop in Jonesboro, Arkansas, where members of Inertia Dance Company led inspiring classes focused on dance technique and creative movement for over 3,000 children.

Nearing the completion of her degree, Kat’s culminating choreographic work, Torrential Thirst, was one of ten regional dance pieces from the Midwest selected for adjudication and performance at the 2001 American College Dance Festival (ACDF) Master Showcase Concert. ACDF was founded in 1973 to acknowledge and foster the role that colleges had played in the development of dance since the 1960s. The annual festival now encompasses over 300 colleges, universities, and member institutions. Today, ACDF sponsors 11 regional conferences where colleges and universities submit choreographed pieces to be adjudicated by nationally recognized dance professionals.

Post college, Kat returned to her high school alma mater where she is currently serving as the Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent. Throughout her tenure at Maplewood Richmond Heights School District, Kat has continuously initiated and led empowering dance opportunities for high school students. In 2005 she choreographed MRH High School’s production of the musical Godspell. She then went on to lead the High School’s Dance Team from 2006-2008, where her students performed annually at multiple school sporting events, as well as the all-district Academic Awards Celebration.

In 2014 Kat became the choreographer for MRH High School’s nationally recognized Blue Devils Rhythm & Blues Band, where she continued sharing her creative approach to exploring movement and dance while simultaneously enriching the pioneering music performance curriculum. Students participating in this cutting edge ensemble, whether as vocalists or instrumentalists, were exposed to fundamental elements of movement and dance throughout the school year, where they were provided numerous opportunities to integrate movement with music performance at school district and community sponsored events.

Kat eagerly pursues continuous growth and development, both as an artist and in her role as Associate Director, with Consuming Kinetics Dance Company.