We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kathryn Roszak. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kathryn below.

Kathryn, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I produce the Women Directors, Choreographers, and Composers Program in San Francisco and New York City. It’s a legacy project to highlight women. While I’ve built an impressive body of my own work, like many women, I’m not in a position to erect a building. My legacy is my work, particularly highlighting outstanding women in the arts and presenting the challenges they have overcome. We are part of the movement to improve the dance field for women.

Kathryn, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I had unusual artistic parents, author Theodore Roszak (“The Making of a Counter Culture”) and poet Betty Roszak. They introduced me to the world of art and culture. I became a dancer, training at San Francisco Ballet, and performing as a Soloist with San Francisco Opera Ballet. I trained as an actress with the American Conservatory Theatre. Later I became a choreographer working with San Francisco Opera, the American Conservatory Theatre, and the Martha Graham Dance Company. I create independent productions featuring dance and literature and have collaborated with the works of renowned authors such as Isabel Allende, Maxine Hong Kingston, and Michael McClure amongst others. I’m an educator and have taught performers such as actress Jean Stapleton, soprano Joyce DiDonato, and actor Ar’iel Stachel. I’ve produced films and the annual Women Directors, Choreographers, and Composers Program in San Francisco and New York City.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I’m interested in storytelling. That’s what draws me to novels and poetry for the dances I create. I am currently creating a ballet inspired by Isabel Allende’s “The House of the Spirits” and another work regarding women and entangled relationships with power. I also interview artists and am passionate about drawing out their stories. My dance company highlights women artists and supports their voices in being heard and their stories in being told.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

As a single mom in the arts, I feel compelled to advocate for women. Women are pulled off the job in so many ways-from early motherhood, to single parenthood and/or divorce, to eldercare. I have been a caregiver for over 16 years for four different family members as well as a practicing artist. Anytime women achieve accomplishments with their art, it’s a cause for celebration as there are many obstacles, seen and unseen. Society does not support artists or create the space or economics for most women to follow a creative path.    

Contact Info:

• Website: dlkdance.com
• Instagram: @danselumiere
• Facebook: emailed to sarah garcia
• Linkedin: emailed to sarah garcia
• Other: www.dlkdance.com

Image Credits
Gregory Bartning Jonathan Slaff