Katie began dancing at the age of five at the Angela Reynolds and Dorothy Stevens dance schools. On leaving Mirfield High School, she began her three-year professional dance training at Laine Theatre Arts in 1985 and launched her career dancing on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines sailing from New York to Bermuda. In 1989, she joined the circus, working with choreographer Rex Grey and performing in a huge three-ring tent with American Circus touring Italy and Germany. In this challenging yet rewarding role, Katie met fascinating people from around the world and had a memorable insight into life in the then divided Germany. Katie moved to a small ornate circus in Zurich before working for choreographer Dougie Squires at theatres around Scotland.

Katie then returned to sea, joining Matrix Entertainments and dancing on board the ‘Horizon’, Celebrity Cruises, with the renowned Peter Gordeno before becoming Head Dancer on their brand new ship, the ‘Zenith’. Cruising the East and Western Caribbean, Katie coordinated rehearsals, looked after the well-being of her team and liaised with the cruise director. She then sailed around the world working as Head Dancer with choreographer Alan Harding on another new ship, the ‘Silver Cloud’, Silver Sea Cruises.

In 1997, Katie passed her ISTD teaching exams at the Laton Ash Dance School before enjoying her last season at sea with the Fred Olsen Cruises sailing around the Baltics and Mediterranean. She began her teaching career in East Sussex at Doris Isaacs School of Dance, Deborah Lamb Theatre School, Roedean Girls School and Brighton College before returning to Mirfield.

School friend Steph Hepworth encouraged Katie to hold a dance class for her three-year-old daughter and friends. Enquiries soon came from other age groups and in September 2000, the KPSD was born, performing its first show at Dewsbury Little Theatre with 90 pupils. Steph remains Katie’s close friend and helps organise shows and events.

Katie said the School provides a friendly and accessible environment for all abilities, but maintains a professional approach and strives to achieve high standards in all classes. She is proud of the School’s 100% ISTD exam pass rate and that the students have the invaluable opportunity to perform in professionally staged shows at the Lawrence Batley Theatre.