Katherine Corby

Katherine Corby is a Professor in the Dance Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's School of Education, where she has served since 2008 and chaired the department from 2017-2020. An active professional choreographer, she divides her time between Madison and Chicago while leading Kate Corby & Dancers.

• Education: MFA in Dance from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2007)
• Education: BA in Dance and Women's Studies from Beloit College (1999)

Her research centers on innovative choreographic practices spanning live performance and screen dance, with significant focus on community engagement through Performing Ourselves – a program empowering youth through movement curriculum. Corby's work explores embodiment, self-concept, and resiliency, integrating dance/movement therapy with educational psychology. Her choreography has evolved from stage performances to acclaimed screen dance works featured in international film festivals.

Corby's recent artistic output demonstrates a clear trajectory toward digital mediums, with screen dance pieces like Hungars Beach gaining festival recognition after her transition from traditional stage works like Digging and Passing. This evolution reflects broader trends in contemporary dance adapting to multimedia platforms while maintaining thematic depth in embodiment studies.

• Creative Communities Grant for Performing Ourselves (Wisconsin Arts Board, 2019)
• Distinguished Faculty Award (UW-Madison, 2019)
• Fulbright Fellowship to Hungary (2006)
• Nettl Award for Outstanding Student Choreography (2007)

Through Performing Ourselves, Corby mentors undergraduate dance students while securing substantial grants from the Wisconsin Arts Board, Dane Arts, Madison Arts Commission, and Evjue Foundation. This program has served 750+ youth and evolved into the UW Arts Collaboratory – a multidisciplinary initiative connecting dance with educational psychology, theater, and social change advocacy. Future work focuses on expanding screen dance production and deepening community partnerships through the Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Endowment.

Corby co-directs the UW Arts Collaboratory and Performing Ourselves program, leveraging faculty expertise across dance, art, music, and educational psychology to create art-making opportunities that cultivate youth wellness and social advocacy. Her Chicago-Madison practice maintains active performance schedules while developing new film works.