Kate Thomas came to NYC to study at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance with such notable teachers as Ms. Graham, Yuriko Kimuro, Kazuko Hirayabashi, Takako Asakawa and David Hatch-Walker. Ms Thomas founded B.Muse Inc, a not for profit corporation to support her passion for choreography and dance education. B. Muse, Inc. provided dance programs, lecture demonstrations and performances to schools in Harlem, the South Bronx, and throughout Upper Manhattan. She introduced a specific program for children in Upper Manhattan called the Morningside Dance Development Program to bring dance to areas that often were overlooked. B.Muse, Inc. has received support from the New York State Council for the Arts, The Harkness Foundation for Dance, Newman’s Own Foundation, California First Foundation Citibank and others. Ms. Thomas began teaching dance to children in 1993 and developed an approach that was utilized by many studios and pre-schools throughout the city. Ms. Thomas introduced her toddler program to The School at Steps, under the title “Little Steps” in 2000. In 2002, she became full-time at The School at Steps in the position of Registrar, became Co-Director in 2003 and in 2004 was named the Director. She currently teaches Advanced Contemporary Ballet Repertory in the Pre-Professional Program. Thomas continues to choreograph for her contemporary ballet company, Ballet Neo. The company has performed at the Downtown Dance Festival (August 2006), Dancers Responding to AIDS, International Dance Festival, An Evening with Chamber Ballet, Ballet Arts Showcase, Steps Faculty Showcase and Academy of Performing Arts in Hudson, NY. In 2008, Ballet Neo premiered “Measurement and Caution,” music by Nini Raviolette and Acoustica in the New Choreographers on Pointe’, Ballet Builders, at the Kaye Playhouse in New York City. An exciting new collaboration began in 2009 with Grammy Award winning violinist, composer, Mark O’ Connor. A full-length ballet “The Appalachian Suites Project, Flowers of Darkness, The Women of Monongah” inspired by the largest industrial disaster in the United States, the Monongah, West Virginia mining disaster of 1907. Ballet Neo performances of this work in progress include APAP at Peridance 2012, two New Choreographers on Pointe’s Previews at the 92nd Street Y and the Ailey Citigroup Theater, John Prinz and Friends at the Ailey CitigroupTheater. In the position of Director, she has redefined and developed the academic year curriculum-based program in all three divisions (Young Dancers, Technique and Pre-Professional), has created new programs for the Young Dancers Program, and has enhanced the Summer Programs offered by the school.
