About
Biography
Katie Jo Fulks is an arts administrator, performer, and choreographer originally from Huntington, West Virginia. She recently relocated to Durham, NC after a year dancing and touring with the West Virginia Dance Company. Katie is currently a Grant Writer and Guest Artist for Shaleigh Dance Works and the West Virginia Dance Company, Social Media Manager at Ninth Street Dance, and teaching dance and theatre throughout the Triangle. Katie holds a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography and a BA in Arts Administration from Elon University. Her professional experience ranges from arts management to performance to technical work to choreography. Through Katie’s work on and off stage, she strives to emphasize the power and necessity of art.
Artist Statement
I believe art is powerful. I believe art is dangerous. I believe art is necessary.
As a performer, creator, and educator, the foundation of my work lies in artistic inquiry. My work aims to uncover the complexities of the social and political climate by challenging ideas and beliefs. I strive to create art that generates an internal conflict within myself, my dancers, and audiences alike, because conflict and questions stimulate exploration and discovery. My work evolves through collaboration with my performers, empowering them to make my work their own. Dialogue with my performers and students ensures their voices are heard and represented.
As an arts administrator, I see the potential of art to threaten and be threatened. It takes courage to make art at any time, but many works that linger with observers are the most prone to censorship and edits. All art made has deep connections to history, traditions, and important societal changes. Even if this is not at the forefront of a work, I believe in the importance of understanding those ties to the past. I am a historian, valuing and honoring traditions and classics while finding ways to break away from them.
My training in ballet and musical theatre has shaped my choreographic fascinations. I am drawn to small, defined movements, whether it be the flick of a hand or a delicate roll of the hips. Jazz and musical theatre influences often trickle into my choreography. I find value in simplicity and clarity in intricacy. My work emphasizes production elements and utilizes storytelling techniques to explore relationships and taboo topics.
Making the audience leave a performance or presentation with more questions than answers is my primary intention. I want them to become introspective and ask themselves why.
I believe art has the power of change.
"The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live only as you can."
Neil Gaiman