Kathryn Karipides

Kathryn Karipides is a choreographer, modern dancer, and former professor at Case Western Reserve University. In 1969, Karipides and her colleague Henry Kurth formed The Dance Theatre of Kathryn Karipides and Henry Kurth at Case Western. There, she worked for ten years as a co-director, choreographer, and a principal dancer.

Who in the blanket?

She is a proponent of modern dance and believes in expressing "anatomical truths" through choreography and movement.

Early Life

Karipides was born in Canton, Ohio on February 29, 1934. She had little formal dance training, participating primarily the Greek dancing style prevalent in her native community. It wasn't until she attended college at Miami University (Ohio) that she began her formal dance education. In 1956, Karipides graduated from Miami University with a B.S. Degree in Physical Education. Upon graduation, she began her career at the Flora Stone Mather College for Women, part of Western Reserve University, now Case Western Reserve University. Karipides grew her dance program from a physical education class program within her theatre department.

Case Western Reserve University

First hired within the Flora Stone Mather College, Karipides initially started her career as a temporary professor in the women's physical education department. She was promoted to an associate professor with tenure in 1963. In 1972, the dance program she started as a part of the physical education curriculum became a part of the theatre arts department. In 1975, She became a co-director for the new Graduate Dance Program and later became a full professor in 1980. Throughout her career, She served in a variety of administrative roles within the dance department including Acting Chair and Interim Deputy Provost. In 1998, she retired from Case Western as a Samuel B. and Virginia C. Knight Professor Emerita.

Intensive Studies

When Karipides started her career at Case Western Reserve University, she spent her summers studying modern dance outside of the institution. For three summers, she studied at Connecticut College. At Connecticut College, she studied with modern dance artists including Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Lucas Hoving, José Limón, and Louis Horst.

Throughout her career, she studied with many other modern dancers and at many studios around the world, including Hanya Holm, Erick Hawkins, Kelly Holt, Hawkins Studio, Mary Wigman Studio, Dalcroze Institute, and Laban Art of Movement Studio.

Cleveland Arts Prize

The Cleveland Arts Prize aims to recognize exemplary artists in areas such as design, literature, theater, dance, music, and visual arts. In 1974, Kathryn Karipides received the Cleveland Arts Prize for Dance. After winning this award, she became closely involved with the organization, joining the board and chairing the Dance Prize Committee. In 2017, she was recognized as a Cleveland Arts Prize "special honoree", selected from the pool of past candidates.

Other Awards and Honors

• Carl F. Wittke Award for outstanding undergraduate teaching (CWRU)
• Samuel B. and Virginia C. Knight Professor of Humanities Honoree (CWRU)
• OhioDance Award
• Northern Ohio Live Award of Achievement for Dance
• YWCA Career Women of Achievement Award for the Cultural Arts
• Dionysian Award Recipient (Cleveland Chapter, American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association)

Notable Premieres

Source:

• Burning Water
• A Galaxy of Instants
• Lyre of Orpheus
• By Disposition of Angels
• The Praise of Folly
• With Antecedents-Mounds
• Landscape with Creature
• Applause
• Anatoli
• Four by Four