You may find Kathryn digging through the camp prop bin, joining in on a game of freeze dance with the little’s, or welcoming families to our latest community event. As our Children’s Program Coordinator, Kathryn has designed and developed a series of successful & popular programs like Page To Stage, Mix It Up, Summer Safari , Storytellers, Water Wonder, Up, Up & Away, Around the World, Moonwalkers, Let The Games Begin. The camps build off of themes combining dance, expressive arts and enrichment. She launched a School’s Out fall schedule for children in grades k-5, built around October half days schedules in area schools. Many caregiver’s rejoiced after she relaunched an expanded Parents’ Night Out! program, First Friday’s: Parents’ Night Out from October-June.
Kathryn is also in charge of community relations, creating opportunities for volunteerism studio-wide and with our Meridian Performance Group. She launched a successful food, clothing & toy donation drive to benefit: Manna Community Kitchen, the Northampton Survival Center, and the Jack Dunphy Toys for Tots program . She also organized our studio fundraiser for TEAM AIWA, to benefit Safe Passage, in the annual Hot Chocolate Run. In addition Kathryn got us involved in The Syrup Stampede 5k , to support Empty Arms Bereavement and the Pride march in downtown Northampton. In March 2024, she developed & launched our first Latin Night & Social Dance at Ascendance for adults, with Masa Mexicano & Latin Dance Made Easy.
Kathryn grew up dancing and eventually competed for her hometown studio in Westfield. Dance was an important part of her personal development, and she credits her youth dance instructor for helping bring out an inner confidence, a
foundation that carried over into a decade long career in Radio/TV and broadcast journalism (WHMP Northampton & ABC40 Springfield). She feels very fortunate to be able to work at Ascendance and give back to children through this artistic format that has given her so much. Kathryn, her husband John, and their two children, Jack and Grace, live in Florence.
