cleek.creates is the vision behind my mission. I am called to CREATE LIGHT in the industry. Whether I am dancing, choreographing, or teaching, I create a space that is inviting to allow authenticity to flourish. As a working professional I not only diligently work on my craft, but I make a monumental impact on those around me. The light bulb represents my mission in being a light and the flower in the center represents the core of it all, that the beauty of the work is growing and expressing its beauty as it is rooted in the light. Connect with me to hear more of my story: I would love to chat with you about my dreams and passions behind this mission 💛 let's do what we were created for :)
Love, Katie Cleek
my mission.
Here is a sample of my most recent passion project called swimming upstream. Full video linked here.
CLEEK. CREATES REEL
Katie Cleek is from Carpinteria, CA. Her passion for dance started in her hometown with Curtis Studio of Dance and led her to the Industry Dance Academy in Los Angeles. In high school, she performed the leading role in several musicals including "Belle" from Beauty and the Beast and "Peggy Sawyer" from 42nd Street. She recently graduated from Chapman University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Minor in Musical Theater Studies. While at Chapman she trained with Dwight Rhoden, Will Johnston, Alicia Guy, Brandee Lara, Wilson Mendieta, Ido Tadmor, and Steven Sofia. She had the opportunity to perform in several shows including Chapman Celebrates, Happy Chappy Tappy Show, Masters at Chapman, Fall Faculty Dance Concert, Intime, Spring Dance Concert, Works in Progress, Frameworks, and Chapman Dance Alliance Showcase. Katie was also a dancer in a Dodge film production entitled "Tapped Out", directed by Audrey Lamis and choreographed by Cole Neville. Some of her professional credits include dancing in Independent Feature Films such as "Gold Mine" and "Seeing Other People". Katie is very grateful for all of the opportunities she has had so far and can not wait for what is next :)
Biography.
Passion dance
TEACHING STATEMENT
As a teacher, I strive to create a space that is inviting, inclusive, welcoming, and community based. I will get to know the students and understand what they are interested in exploring in the dance space. I will challenge my dancers with critical thinking about the topics at hand and I will encourage them to think further beyond surface level.
Something that is crucial to me when teaching is acknowledging the dancer as a whole being and not just as a dancer. Although dance is a great escape from the world, we are also still a part of the world and it is important to recognize how the way we think and move outside the studio affects and interplays in the studio. I will support them in acknowledging that they are enough and that they can take authority in their training as well. I also want the class to be driven by joy and gratitude, in an environment where students will feel comfortable to be completely themselves and work diligently.
I will utilize a combination of all teaching styles, including kinesthetic and auditory, to adhere to all type of students. I will also include moments in the class to work with partners and engage in hands on learning to enhance one another's experience by learning from each other.
One of my favorite parts of teaching is learning from the students and hearing what they are learning in their individual practices. Within this, it creates a class that is a healthy relationship between teacher, students, and peers, where every student has authority to take ownership of learning. I will also utilize what the students share with me to craft an environment that is enjoyable for them and challenges them to think about dance in new and exciting ways!
