We were lucky to catch up with Catherine Warren recently and have shared our conversation below.
Catherine, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. The first dollar your business earns is always special and we’d love to hear how your brand made its first dollar of revenue.
It’s almost poetic that my background as a cheerleader, a skill I honed through dedication and performance, became the unexpected catalyst for my choreography career. The word-of-mouth referral, bypassing the need for initial advertising, speaks volumes about the impression I must have made on those I interacted with, even in a limited capacity like those tumbling classes I taught. It suggests a natural talent and a positive presence that resonated with people.
The moment I sat down to observe those athletes at my middle school alma mater, Bunche Middle School, a spark ignited within me. It wasn’t just about learning; it was about envisioning. I recognized the potential and the need for something truly special, something that would not only elevate their performance but also etch my name as a visionary choreographer.
The drive to create a routine that was “unforgettable and magical” spoke to a deep passion and a high level of ambition within me. It wasn’t just about fulfilling a task; it was about making a statement, about establishing a reputation for excellence. That feeling of knowing, that intuitive understanding of what was needed to create something extraordinary, was a powerful force.
I wasn’t just aiming for a good routine; I was aiming for a masterpiece, something so impactful that it would naturally lead to recognition and establish me as a sought-after choreographer. It’s the kind of ambition that fuels innovation and often leads to groundbreaking work.
My first client, Bunche Middle School, was incredibly special to me. It wasn’t just a random client; it was a return to my roots, a chance to give back to the program that played a role in shaping who I am. They trusted me enough to choreograph over 12 routines, and the subsequent success – winning countless first-place trophies, grand champion titles, and even adding Georgia Middle School State Champions – is a powerful testament to the “unforgettable and magical” routines I envisioned and brought to life.
That first client, Bunche Middle School cheer program, gave me a chance, and that chance made me who I am today. It wasn’t just a business transaction; it was a full-circle moment, a way to honor my past and contribute to the future success of a program that held personal meaning. The excitement of that first client went beyond just earning revenue; it was intertwined with a sense of gratitude, loyalty, and the satisfaction of contributing to a place that holds a special meaning in my journey.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Hello! For those who are just getting to know me, my name is Catherine Warren, and I’m a choreographer specializing in creating dynamic and unforgettable routines, primarily within the cheerleading industry.
My journey into choreography is deeply intertwined with my lifelong love for cheerleading, a passion that ignited at the tender age of four. I eagerly followed in my older sister’s footsteps, becoming her shadow as we attended countless cheer camps together. She eventually became my all-star coach, leading our teams to multiple victories. It was during those formative years, witnessing her leadership and the thrill of performance, that my own passion for cheer became undeniably evident.
That passion naturally evolved. I, too, embraced the role of a cheer coach, working with athletes at the middle school, high school, and all-star levels. This coaching experience further honed my understanding of technique, teamwork, and the dynamics of creating impactful performances. My first foray into actual choreography came unexpectedly when my middle school alma mater, Bunche Middle School, reached out. They knew about my extensive background and gave me the incredible opportunity to choreograph for their cheer program. That initial chance ignited a specific passion for crafting routines that I didn’t fully realize I possessed. The success we achieved together – countless first-place trophies, grand champion titles, and even a Georgia Middle School State Championship – solidified my path. It wasn’t just about teaching steps; it was about crafting a complete performance experience.
Today, I provide a range of choreography services, including:
Competitive Cheerleading Routines: Tailored to specific levels and age divisions, focusing on maximizing scores in areas like tumbling, stunting, jumps, dance, and overall impression.
Sideline and Performance Routines: Creating engaging and spirited routines for games, pep rallies, and other performance settings.
Dance Team Choreography: Developing routines across various styles, emphasizing technique, artistry, and entertainment value.
Routine Consultation and Enhancement: Offering expert advice and modifications to existing choreography to elevate its impact and effectiveness.
The core problem I solve for my clients is helping them create routines that are not only technically sound but also captivating and memorable. I aim to craft choreography that highlights the strengths of their athletes, tells a story, and leaves a lasting impression on the judges and the audience. I take the time to understand their team’s specific skills, their musical preferences, and their competitive goals to create something truly unique and tailored.
What sets me apart, I believe, is my deep understanding of the performer’s perspective, born from my extensive and early immersion in cheerleading, starting at age four. I don’t just create steps; I create moments. I focus on the flow, the transitions, and the emotional arc of the routine, ensuring that every second contributes to the overall impact. My passion isn’t just about winning; it’s about creating a magical performance experience for the athletes and the audience. My early and significant success with my alma mater also speaks to my ability to quickly understand and elevate a program.
I am most proud of the success my clients have achieved, knowing that my choreography played a part in their hard work and dedication paying off. Seeing the joy and pride on their faces after a winning performance is incredibly rewarding. I’m also deeply proud of the strong relationships I build with the coaches and athletes I work with.
The main things I want potential clients, followers, and fans to know about me and my brand are:
Passion-Driven: Choreography isn’t just a job for me; it’s a genuine passion, fueled by a lifelong love of cheerleading that began in childhood. I pour my heart and soul into every routine.
Experience-Based: My extensive years as a cheerleader and coach, starting at age four, provide a unique and valuable perspective to my work. I understand what it feels like to perform these routines and lead a team.
Results-Oriented: While the performance experience is paramount, I strive to create choreography that is strategically designed for success.
Collaborative: I believe in working closely with my clients to bring their vision to life and create something we are both incredibly proud of.
Rooted in Gratitude: My journey started with a chance from my alma mater, and I carry that gratitude with me in every project I undertake.
I’m excited to continue creating impactful and memorable routines and to help teams achieve their dreams on the performance floor.
Let’s make some magic happen!
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
My reputation within the choreography market has been built on a foundation of tangible results, starting with the early and significant success achieved with my alma mater, Bunche Middle School, which generated considerable positive word-of-mouth and referrals within the cheerleading community. My lifelong immersion in cheerleading, from a young athlete to a coach at various levels, provides a deep and unique understanding of the sport’s technical demands, judging criteria, and the performers’ experience, allowing me to create choreography that is both strategically sound and artistically impactful. From the outset, my focus has been on crafting “unforgettable and magical” routines that go beyond mere steps to create lasting impressions through musicality and storytelling. Prioritizing strong, collaborative relationships with coaches and athletes fosters trust and ensures a positive creative process, leading to satisfied clients who often become advocates for my work. Ultimately, my genuine passion for cheerleading and choreography, coupled with the authentic connection to my roots at Bunche Middle School, resonates within the market, demonstrating a commitment to the craft and a history of delivering successful and memorable performances.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
One significant lesson I had to unlearn was the idea that more complexity automatically equals more impact or sophistication in choreography.
The backstory to this unlearning process stems from my early enthusiasm and ambition after finding success with Bunche Middle School. Riding that wave of initial wins, I fell into the trap of thinking that to continuously impress and elevate my work, I needed to constantly layer in more intricate transitions, more technically demanding stunts, and denser counts of movement. I started to equate “advanced” with “convoluted.”
I remember one particular routine I choreographed for a high school team. I was so eager to showcase my creativity and push their boundaries that I packed the routine with complex interwoven stunts, rapid-fire transitions, and intricate dance sections. The music was a dynamic mix, and I tried to match every beat with a detailed movement or visual.
The result, while technically challenging, felt… cluttered. The overall flow suffered. The moments of genuine impact were often lost in the sheer volume of activity. The judges’ feedback, while acknowledging the difficulty, pointed to a lack of clarity and moments to truly “breathe” and appreciate the highlights. The athletes, while incredibly dedicated, sometimes looked strained, focusing more on executing the next complicated sequence than truly embodying the performance.
It was during the video review of one competition that the lesson truly hit me. Watching the performance, I realized that the moments that resonated most weren’t the most complex ones. They were the clean, powerful stunts held with precision, the synchronized jumps executed with sharp unity, and the moments of genuine connection and emotion conveyed through simpler, more deliberate movements. The complexity, in this case, had actually detracted from the overall impact.
I had to unlearn the notion that constant layering and intricate detail were the keys to sophistication. Instead, I began to appreciate the power of simplicity, clarity, and strategic use of complexity. I learned that a well-placed, clean stunt can be far more impactful than a series of rushed, difficult ones. I started focusing on creating moments of contrast, allowing the audience (and judges) time to absorb and appreciate key elements. I began to prioritize the overall flow and storytelling of the routine over simply showcasing technical difficulty at every turn.
This unlearning process was crucial for my growth as a choreographer. It taught me that true sophistication lies not in the amount of things you do, but in the intention behind each movement and the overall effectiveness of the composition. It’s about knowing when to be intricate and when to let the power of simplicity shine through. This shift in perspective ultimately led to more impactful, cleaner, and ultimately more successful routines for my clients.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://triplethreatchoreo.wixsite.com/triple-threat-choreo
- Instagram: @triplethreatchoreo
Image Credits
Atlanta Cheer Academy
Douglas County High School