Performance and Choreography
Since 2019, Katie has been working in contemporary dance performance & choreography in Smithers. Through strengthening relationships with diverse local and regional organizations, artists and community members, Katie has had impactful and enriching experiences as a remote dancer. Receiving ongoing support from Bulkley Valley Concert Association, Katie’s latest work “Body Landscapes” was presented in an open house and artist talk in October 2023. Free workshop’s were offered to multi-aged community members and participants were able to experience a culmination of Wertz’s year long choregraphic research. The movement and multimedia material was gathered on land, online and in her home in collaboration with 6 community members. Katie is preparing to share an excerpt solo from this body of work in summer of 2024. Full CV here
Community Engagement & Facilitation
Katie is committed to developing community engagement at the core of her practice. Her work aims to deconstruct elitism and create accessible and diverse spaces for multi-age community members to experience movement based art. Katie upholds the value of dance as a vital pillar in the cultural landscape and wellbeing of communities through a Latinx lens. Recent collaborations include co-facilitating and producing free community workshops ‘Dancing the Medicine, Dancing the Land’ with artist in residence Lindsay Delaronde, supported by Bulkley Valley Concert Association and Dance West Network. As well, Katie led a series of free creative movement workshops for young children with visible and invisible disabilties, supported by the Northwest Childhood Development Centre. For collaboration, facilitation and project based inquiries please visit the Contact page.
