Known to nearly everyone as “Kat,” she danced her way into Sally McDermott Dance Studios (SMDC) as a new dancer at four years of age. Many years later, taking quite a “leap,” Kat became the owner of SMDC (in early 2025).

 In between those milestones, she continued her dance training and competed in Massachusetts as well as Philadelphia where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree of Fine Arts in Jazz Dance Performance. 

While earning her degree she was honored to study under professionals such as Ronen Koresh, Scott Jovovich, Zane Booker, and Robert Burden.

An original member of Xhale Dance Company, Kat has performed with them at the well-known Fringe Festival in Philadelphia. After graduation, she danced and choreographed with Project Moshen, another Philadelphia dance company.

One standout: she has choreographed routines performed at the baseball games of the Philadelphia Phillies (“Go Phillies!).

Not one to stand still, Kat also teaches Inferno Hot Pilates.

She has taught at SMDC since 2011 and considers Sally Heaney a mentor. Commenting on Sally she says, “She believed in me . . . which made me believe in me!” A great foundation for an entrepreneur! 

As a business owner, Kat’s training as a choreographer comes into play, too. What better foundation than the Alignment and Balance of choreography can a budding entrepreneur ask for?

Kat believes her transition to business owner is her single greatest accomplishment. Her journey as an entrepreneur has forced her to step out of her comfort zone to become her own boss.

She continues to be personally and professionally rewarded by seeing some students she has taught since their pre-school days advancing as dancers.

When not dancing, teaching hot pilates, choreographing, and running a business, Kat likes to hang with her family and her two cats Christofurr and Kevin Bacon(!).