Katy started dancing when she was three years old, and she hasn’t stopped moving since. Her expertise stems from 25 years of belly dance training, 24 years of study in Tahitian/Polynesian dance, and 21 years of instruction, choreography and performance as a studio owner and director of fusion troupe Anaya Belly Dance in Cincinnati, Ohio. She has taught sold out classes at national dance conventions, universities, and NFL cheerleader training camps and has performed hundreds of shows for audiences at Lollapalooza, Taste of NFL, Cincinnati Ballet, and longstanding engagements with other Cincinnati arts organizations.
Katy believes that it is essential to present polished material based in strong technique, and that serious belly dance deserves a platform in professional venues. She produces well-attended, highly praised, original dance productions, including What Moves Us, now in its tenth year at the Aronoff Center for the Arts and Fairfield Community Arts Center. Katy’s commitment to athleticism in dance is further fueled by her other interests – she is a registered yoga teacher, internationally-published fitness author, and a 6th degree black belt in Chinese kung fu. She is a Board of Trustees at the Cincinnati Ballet and has dedicated her life to dance, fitness, and creative expression.