People of DJD – Kathleen Doherty
KATHLEEN DOHERTY
DJD Professional Training Program Alumni & Instructor
1. When was the first time you came to DJD?
I first came to DJD in the summer of 2007 for the Summer Intensive.
2. What do you love most about jazz music and jazz dance?
I love the relationship between jazz music and dance. It’s such a personal connection, live dance and music, and is a really incredible cornerstone of these art forms developing. I’m drawn to working with other artists and working from a personal level in my creative work; I think this all stems from the personal and real human connections jazz dance and music provide for one another.
3. What was it about DJD that made you want to participate in the Professional Training Program?
I was lucky enough to have jazz training as a younger dancer from former DJD dancers and students in Halifax (Cory Bowles and Kendra Armstrong). I fell in love with the style at a young age, and after attending my first summer intensive at DJD in 2007, I knew I was hooked and had to come back for more. I finished up my Commerce degree in Halifax in 2009 and moved to Calgary that summer to be a part of PTP.
4. What were the first couple of months like in the Professional Training Program as opposed to your final weeks? How did it change your dance, teaching, and choreography?
I can remember the nervousness and excitement around the first few weeks of PTP. It was the first time I had moved away from my hometown of Halifax, and I was all the way on the other side of the country—lots of change! I know my time at DJD led me to be a more grounded mover, to find and understand connections to jazz music that I would have never discovered on my own, and allowed me to express my own ideas through choreography. I still visit Calgary regularly and have remained close with many of the amazing folks at DJD. I give so much credit and thanks to Jamie Freeman Cormack for being an amazing teacher, mentor, and friend over the years. I am so grateful for my time at DJD and for the platform the training has provided for me.
5. What’s next for dance in Halifax?
My personal goal is to build a professional jazz dance community in Halifax. We started a jazz training program through my dance company, Votive Dance, and will be continuing with this initiative. I know it will be a slow process, but it is exciting to embark on new endeavours within our community and to provide more opportunities for the artists who are here and keen to learn new styles and techniques. The dance community in Halifax is strong and resilient; I am so proud to be a part of such an incredible community and to provide opportunities for it to grow and build.
Training & Community at DJD
Decidedly Jazz Danceworks provides dancer development programs that connect artists across Canada, nurturing authentic jazz technique, musicality, and artistic leadership.
Looking to train with DJD? Learn more about our Professional Training Program or explore Adult Dance Classes.
