About Brooke Katsafados
Bio
Brooke Katsafados (she/her) is a dancer, choreographer, and educator from Brick, New Jersey. She is set to graduate in May 2025 from George Mason University with a BFA in Dance and with a minor in Business. Her training began at Shore Dance Center, a small competition studio, before transitioning to pre-professional programs at New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble, where she deepened her foundation in ballet, modern, and contemporary dance. Brooke has performed in works by choreographers such as Manuelle Vignouelle, Susan Shields, and Larry Keigwin, gaining experience in a diverse range of movement styles and performance settings.
Dedicated to dance education, Brooke has been teaching young dancers since 2020 and is passionate about fostering confidence, creativity, and technical excellence in her students. She founded Brooke Ashlee Modern Movement, through which she offers private lessons, choreography services, and pop-up classes. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes both the physical and emotional aspects of dance, guiding students to develop artistry alongside technical skill.
Brooke has been recognized for her leadership and artistic excellence, receiving the New Jersey Governor’s Award for Artistic Excellence and Leadership in Dance and the NDEO Artistic Merit, Leadership, and Academic Achievement Award in 2021. She continues to expand her knowledge of dance through research and performance, exploring themes of movement efficiency, release, and personal expression.
Her choreographic work is informed by her own journey of balancing control and freedom in movement. She is particularly interested in the interplay of technical precision and organic release, a focus that has influenced her performance practice and teaching methodologies. As she progresses in her career, Brooke aims to pursue further education, potentially an MFA in Dance, to continue merging her interests in performance, choreography, and pedagogy.
Brooke’s work as a dancer and educator is grounded in a belief that dance is both a personal and communal practice—a space for exploration, vulnerability, and empowerment. She hopes to continue inspiring dancers of all ages by sharing her love for movement, curiosity, and artistic expression.