KJ Dance Designs Katie Drablos Alumni Page

Where are they now?

Katie Drablos

	Katie Drablos was born in Dallas, Texas, and began her dance training at the age of three and her study of dance with Kristy Ulmer at KJ Dance Designs, Inc. in Plano at the age of eight. During her time at KJ Katie was awarded numerous dance scholarships and awards including the 2002-2003 Tremaine Dance Convention Teen Female Dancer of the Year. She traveled extensively as a dance performer, competitor, and teaching assistant from 2002-2005. She graduated from Allen High School in 2005 with an International Baccalaureate Diploma and then from Southern Methodist University in 2009 summa cum laude with two degrees, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and a Bachelor in Business Administration in Finance.
During her time in the Meadows Dance Division at SMU Katie performed modern dance works including Martha Graham’s “Steps in the Street”, Maurice Bejart’s “Batucada”, and Paul Taylor’s “Cloven Kingdom”. She worked extensively with jazz professor and choreographer, Danny Buraczeski’s, understudying Buraczeski’s “Ezekiel’s Wheel”, dancing a lead role in Buraczeski’s premiere of “Umbra” in the fall of 2007, and dancing in Buraczeski’s “Swing Concerto”. She has been in numerous student choreography shows and choreographed “With or Without You” with Chris Jarosz, “Let It Be” with Lauren Perry, “Bring on the Men” with Erin McCormick, and “Annie” for the 2009 Senior Sharp Show. Katie teaches at KJ Dance as time permits and has choreographed a number of competition dances for KJ companies. Her pieces for KJ include: in 2006 “Not Too Far From Here”-Junior and Junior Elite companies; in 2007 “For Thomas”- Senior Company, “Love Will Come To You”-Junior Company, “Iris”-Teen Elite Company , and “The Real Me”-Junior Elite Company; in 2008 “Acquaintance”-Senior Company, “The Power is Now Mine” -Teen Elite Company, and “The Journal”- Junior Elite and Teen Companies; in 2009 “Fix You” and “The Rain”-Senior Company; and in 2010 “Little Bird”-Junior Company, “Have a Little Faith in Me”-Junior, Teen and Teen Elite Companies, “White Blank Page”-Senior, Teen and Teen Elite Companies, and “Celine”-Senior Company. “For Thomas” was performed in the Closing Night Gala at the New York City Dance Alliance National Convention in the summer of 2007 and received a choreography award. “Acquaintance” was awarded fourth place in the “Senior Division summer09 Dance Off” at West Coast Dance Explosion’s National Convention in Las Vegas.
“For Thomas”, “Iris”, “Acquaintance”, and “Fix You” have all received judge’s choice, choreography, and/or high point type awards at regional dance competitions. “The Rain” and “Fix You” were performed at the University Of Arizona Jazz Dance Showcase in October of 2010. “White Blank Page” was nominated for a choreography award at the 2011 New York City Dance Alliance National Convention.
	Katie poses with a camel named Ted in front of Radio City Music Hall as camels, sheep, and a donkey arrive at rehearsals for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.