Around the World to Come Home

Kara (Madden) Brems danced for five seasons with Verb Ballets. She went on to also dance with SLATE Contemporary Dance Company in Shanghai, China and Dance in the Annex in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She received her M.F.A. in dance from the University of Arizona in 2019. Her research on the effect of dance in popular culture on dance education was selected to be presented at the National Dance Education Organization’s 2018 national conference. She is now the Assistant Professor of Dance Instruction at Hope College in Michigan and is the dance department’s culture and inclusion champion. Kara is also a certified Vinyasa Yoga instructor and Fletcher-style Pilates instructor. Kara loves to dabble in many other art forms and is a classically trained pianist, a crafter, knitter, amateur potter and a baker of sourdough bread. Kara loves hiking, camping and traveling to new parts of the world to explore different cultures and meet new people. Recently she and her husband Jeff welcomed a new addition to their family. We caught up with her to ask her what she has been up to since leaving Cleveland.

After leaving Verb what did you go onto do?After leaving Verb I moved to Shanghai, China with my husband Jeff. In Shanghai I taught dance at various studios, taught English at an international school, and performed with a local dance company called SLATE. We moved back to the states in 2017 so I could pursue my M.F.A. in Dance at the University of

Arizona. Now I teach as an Assistant Professor of Dance at Hope College in Holland, Michigan. It’s been a dream come true to move home to Michigan and contribute to growing the arts community here, where my love of dance was first sparked. I also still perform locally with the Grand Rapids-based collaborative dance company, Dance In The Annex.

Tell us about how your background in dance contributed to your successful career? As a dancer I had to be disciplined in all aspects of my life. There is no substitute for hard work and humility when it comes to being successful as a dancer and choreographer. In addition, it’s important to take risks and try new things without letting the fear of failure stifle you. These habits were invaluable as I pushed myself to take the next steps in my career after leaving Verb. I took chances and put myself out there as a performer and choreographer. Ultimately, this led me to pursue my M.F.A. and seek employment in academia. As a dance professor I can’t be complacent—there are always new things to learn and explore. I constantly tap into my experience as a dancer and lean into the discomfort that accompanies learning. I believe that persisting through uncomfortable experiences is the only way to truly grow!

You most recently had a child. What skills do dancers and parents share? Being a dancer, I think my time management skills and ability to multitask are both very helpful to me as I navigate working full time as a new mom. Also, the body awareness and muscular strength I have developed through dance, Pilates and yoga are helpful as I heal and rehabilitate after a cesarean section and pregnancy induced abdominal separation (diastasisrecti).