Today we’d like to introduce you to Catherine Messina.
Hi Catherine, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I began dancing at the age of two but ended up in Atlanta at Emory University. There, I was exposed to many styles of dance, but also professors who encouraged me to give the professional scene a chance. After graduation, I began freelancing for various choreographers across the city as well as joining Kit Modus. I have been blessed to have a lot of performance opportunities, as well as showing my choreography at festivals around the city. Community engagement is an important part of who I am, though, and I began volunteering with Dance ATL. During summer 2018, I began providing a free summer class series to provide training and teaching opportunities to young professionals in the city.
During Covid, I decided to host an outdoor dance festival to bring some performance opportunities into the city. Over thirty choreographers were able to hire dancers and show local work after having a year of nothing. We also had visual artists and a DJ. There are many outdoor festivals in other cities, but very few in the south. Each night was at a different location, with the goal of providing accessibility and activating different areas of the city. I created the application, ran the technical production, ticket sales, and anything that needed to be done! The goal continues to have two weekends of festivals a year.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This life has been beyond my wildest dreams, and I really am grateful every day. I believe my gratitude comes from many things, but especially from feeling healthy. For a long time, I was struggling with controlling multiple autoimmune diseases. I continued dancing and pushing while trying to find a solution. Though it is something, I have to consider every day and make choices to keep myself healthy, being stable and able to enjoy my time in the studio is something I will always be grateful for.
Naturally, there are ups and downs in this world, as you often do have to hear “no.” But as I have gotten older, I genuinely trust in the universe. I work to put out good energy and hope to receive it back.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I think my pure passion for movement and this world does set me apart. I have a lot of layers and love being a chameleon – accepting all of my different styles and interests – in hopes of growing our community.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I could never get into podcasts! I have tried so many times. I watch a lot of dance. There are a lot of companies I deeply admire, and by watching and absorbing, I hope to grow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://catherinemessina1.wixsite.com/dance
- Instagram: Katiekat_13
Image Credits
Daley Kapperman James Jackson
