Purple Boots Creative is Kathleen Brazie.
MA, RSME, RYT-E, Cancer Veteran

CAREER SUMMARY

      • Accomplished arts professional and somatic educator with demonstrated ability to teach, motivate, and direct students from diverse backgrounds and academic levels. 
      • Articulate communicator with strong creative, academic, and leadership skills.
      • Dedicated to supporting whole well-being in professional and personal contexts.
      • Inspired by personal cancer journey to begin speaking, advocating for, and working creatively in healthcare, medical, public policy, and inspirational contexts. 

EDUCATION

M.A., Dance and Somatic Well-Being, University of Central Lancashire, 2015

      • Thesis: “Moving Self, Moving Matter: Inner impulse in creative living process through Somatic Movement Education”
      • Thesis Advisor: Mary Abrams
      • Graduated with Highest Distinction 

Professional Education Certificate, Teaching at Community Colleges, Rio Salado College, 2006

Yoga RYT Certification Program, Carlyn Sykes/Yoga Alliance, 2005

Including work with:

      • Douglas Brooks, Yoga and Sanskrit Philosophy
      • Erich Schiffman, Yoga Asana
      • Judith Hanson Lasater, Restorative Yoga

Pilates Equipment/Mat Certification Program, PhysicalMind Institute, 2003

Personal Training Certificate Program, Athletics and Fitness Association of America, 1998

Dance Technique/Theory Coursework, Arizona State University, 1996-1997

Including Performance Studies, Cross Cultural Concepts of Dance, Ballet, Modern, African.

B.A., English Literature (minor in Business), University of Arizona, 1992

Graduated Summa Cum Laude

Renaissance Designs Program, Oxford University (St. John’s College), 1992

Comprehensive coverage of British/Continental Renaissance culture, including Shakespeare, History, Contemporary Social Theory, Art, and Design.

Training in modern, ballet, theater, dance history/theory, African, improvisation, Irish, writing, 1992-2012

      • NYC: Alexander Technique, Barbara Mahler, Broadway Dance, Christina Svane, Dance New Amsterdam, Doug Elkins, Erick Hawkins, Gloria McLean, Irene Dowd, Kane School of Core Integration, Lynn Simonson, Laban-Bartenieff Institute, Leslie Powell, Limon Studio, Mark Morris, Movement Research, Movements Afoot, Nancy Topf, Paul Taylor Dance, Peridance, Sean Curran, Steps on Broadway, Zena Rommett Floor Barre.
      • University of Arizona.
      • Phoenix Irish Step Dance.
      • Glendale Community College.
      • Dance Theater West. 
      • Kawambe-Omawale African Drum and Dance Theater.

ACADEMIC HONORS AND AWARDS

Phi Beta Kappa

Nominated by three tenured professors.

Golden Key International Honor Society 

Top 15% of university students, by invitation only.

Mortar Board National Honor Society

Nominated by graduate advisor. 

Dean’s List for Highest Academic Achievement.

6 semesters, including 4 graduate level classes taken as an undergraduate. 

Fielder-Robinson, du Bois, and Tucker Scholarships

Awarded for Outstanding Academic Achievement.

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

“Releasing Restrictions, Befriending Body—Moving within an ‘And/Also’ Framework.” Moving Body Festival. New York City, 2018.

“Freedom and Form—Exploring Processes of De-forming, Un-forming, and Re-forming Experience.” Moving Body Festival. New York City, 2017.

“Choreographic Explorations in Story-Telling—Love is Christmas.” Dream Conference. Phoenix, AZ, 2017.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Arts InterFACE—Advisory Board Member for 501(c)(3) non-profit with international arts projects including arts education, social awareness, outreach, and professional development for educators, and recognized in UN-endorsed publication “Music as a Global Resource”.

ISMETA (International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association)—Registered Somatic Movement Educator (RSME).

Yoga Alliance—Registered Yoga Teacher/Continuing Education Provider (E-RYT-200/YACEP).

Cancer League of Colorado

PROFESSIONAL AWARDS

BroadwayWorld Regional Award

People’s choice award for Best Choreography, 2018.

National Youth Arts Awards

      • Nomination for Best Ensemble, 2018.
      • Award for Best Ensemble/2 Nominations for Best Choreography and Production, 2016.
      • Award for Best Ensemble/Nomination for Best Choreography, 2014.

ariZoni Award for Best Choreography, 2011

Regional/State theatre production award

ariZoni Award Nomination for Best Choreography, 2007

Regional/State theatre production award

US Magazine Showstopper Award for Best Show (Best of Arizona), 2007

Arizona Choreographers’ Showcase at Herberger Theater, 2000

Competed and was accepted to choreograph/perform in showcase at prestigious local theater.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Dream City Creative Arts, 2010-Present

Dance Instructor/Choreographer.

Notre Dame Prep, 2012-2018

Dance Instructor/Choreographer. 

Scottsdale Christian Academy, 2000-2016

Dance Instructor/Choreographer.

Christian Youth Theater, 2011-2012

Dance/Choreography Instructor. 

Phoenix Community College, 2004-2009

Adjunct Faculty, Health Enhancement Department.

Scottsdale Community College, 2003-2006

Adjunct Faculty, Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance Department.

Moon Valley Productions, 2000-2010

Dance/Choreography Instructor. 

Paradise Valley United Methodist, 2003-2004

Dance Instructor/Choreographer.

Pilates Instructor—Private and classes, Equipment and Mat

      • Central Park Square Athletic Club, 2002-Present.
      • Just Breathe Wellness, 2007-2012 (group fitness coordinator, 2008-2009).
      • Pinnacle Peak Pilates Studio, 2003-2008.
      • Fitness Works, 2002-2007.
      • Body Works Studio, 2003-2005.
      • UZone, 2003-2004.

Yoga Instructor

      • Central Park Square Athletic Club, 2002-Present. 
      • Just Breathe Wellness, 2007-2012 (group fitness coordinator, 2008-2009).
      • Body Works Studio, 2003-2005.

PUBLICATIONS

“A fractured corporate fairy tale.” Charlotte Viewpoint. July 2013.

Historical Fictions and Literary Factions: Encountering Danilo Kis.” Charlotte Viewpoint. January 2013.

“Subversive Laughter: The Fiction of Albert Cossery.” Charlotte Viewpoint. July 2012.

“Tangled Realities: Worlds collide in ‘Reamde’.” Charlotte Viewpoint. December 2011.

“Striking gold: Patrick DeWitt’s non-western Western.” Charlotte Viewpoint. July 2011

“Pieces of us: Justin Taylor’s short story collection focuses on fragmented youth of all ages.” Charlotte Viewpoint. November 2010.

“Laughing ourselves into mediocrity: Sam Lipsyte’s The Ask.” Charlotte Viewpoint. July 2010.

“Quantum Fiction: A review of Jean-Philippe Toussaint’s ‘Running Away’.” Charlotte Viewpoint. April 2010.

“The Show That Smells: A Mirror Maze of a Novel.” Charlotte Viewpoint. January 2010.

“Portrait of an Artist at Work: Why You Should Care About Michael Jackson’s ‘This is It’.”

Charlotte Viewpoint. November 2009.

“Mysterious Spaces in “Ghosts” by Cesar Aira.” Charlotte Viewpoint. September 2009.

“Worlds of Meaning in Toni Morrison’s ‘A Mercy’.” Charlotte Viewpoint. March 2009.

WORKSHOPS TAUGHT/CURRICULUM DEVELOPED

Professional Development for Educators in Ecuador—using arts as an educational resource, empowering teachers to be more effective.

Dance for Actors—basic and intermediate movement in embarrassment-free environment to develop performance skills for new or limited dancers.

Dance Audition Preparation—training for commonly needed audition movement skills in ballet, jazz, modern, and theater.

Creative Skills—role playing, teacher in role, problem solving, collaboration, imagination.

Theater in Education—devising, using theater techniques to teach, team projects.

Immersion Retreats—preparing performers through dramaturgy and activities related to the themes, issues, characters, and creative movement styles associated with a specific theater piece.

Youth Drama/Children’s Theater and Dance—working with young actors, building age appropriate skills.

Study Guides—promoting audience discussion and feedback on themes and issues.

Theater Games—philosophy, side coaching/facilitating, exercises that build various skill sets

Creative Collaboration—effective brainstorming, choices that challenge, trusting the process.

Repetitive Stress Injury Reduction—using Pilates, yoga, and somatic-based movement in collaboration with professional musicians to help student musicians develop safe, efficient, and supportive postural and movement patterns when practicing.

CLASSES TAUGHT

Theater Dance—Beginning and Intermediate.

Modern—Beginning and intermediate.

Yoga—Beginning, Intermediate, Restorative, Somatic.

Equipment Pilates—Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced (including Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, Barrel. 

Mat Pilates—Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced, Props (including bands, balls, rollers).

Stretch and Conditioning—All ages, levels.

RESEARCH

Arts InterFACE/Project Creo Educational Research, Quito, Ecuador

Created, tested, and documented the movement portion of a professional development pilot program using arts as an educational resource in the classroom.

Research Assistant, New York City

Worked with Dr. Naomi Jackson for her published work ”Converging Movements: Modern Dance and Jewish Culture at the 92nd Street Y” (Hanover: Wesleyan University Press, 2000), 1998. 

PERFORMING EXPERIENCE

Company Member:

Center Dance Ensemble (resident modern dance company of Herberger Theater), 1996-2007

Full season performing company, including:

      • Premieres
      • Repertory choreography
      • Residential and educational outreach programs
      • Guest choreography

 DeVere Dance Company, 1998-2003

      • Original and educational performances.
      • Dramaturgy for full-length, community-collaboration, grant-funded production of life of Joan of Arc. 
      • Performed at Scottsdale Center for the Arts, Chandler Center for the Arts, Arizona Dance Arts Alliance, Herberger Theater, Glendale Community College, Chandler-Gilbert College.

Desert Dance Theatre, 1998-2000

      • Repertory choreography.
      • Outreach program performances.
      • Social awareness productions including full-scale works on Harriet Tubman and youth violence. 

Individual Guest Artist Performances:

(appearances in various productions/pieces 1998-2012)

      • Grounding Point Dance
      • Footwork Dance
      • Physical Graffiti
      • Glendale Community College
      • Chandler-Gilbert College
      • Phoenix Gay Pride Festival
      • Arizona Art Museum
      • Phoenix Fringe Dance Festival
      • Dream City Creative Arts

PRODUCTION EXPERIENCE

Theater:

Annie Dream City Creative Arts Choreographer 2018

Curtains Notre Dame Prep Choreographer 2018

(National Youth Art Award Nomination for Best Ensemble)

Disney’s Little Mermaid Dream City Creative Arts Choreographer 2017

Sound of Music Notre Dame Prep Choreographer 2017

Joseph…Dreamcoat Dream City Creative Arts Choreographer 2016

Big Fish Notre Dame Prep Choreographer 2016

(National Youth Art Award for Best Ensemble, Nominations for Best Choreography, Best Production)

Godspell Scottsdale Christian Academy Assistant Dir./Chor. 2016

Disney’s Mary Poppins Dream City Creative Arts Choreographer 2015

Addams Family Scottsdale Christian Academy Assistant Dir/.Chor. 2015

Urinetown: The Musical Notre Dame Prep Choreographer 2014

(National Youth Art Award for Best Ensemble, Nomination for Best Choreography)

Bye Bye Birdie Scottsdale Christian Academy Director/Chor. 2014

Seussical Phoenix First Choreographer 2014 Suessical Scottsdale Christian Academy Choreographer/AD 2013

Curtains Scottsdale Christian Academy Choreographer/AD 2012

Music Man Theater Works Choreographer 2012

Urinetown: The Musical Paradise Valley Comm. College Choreographer/AD 2011

(ariZoni Regional Theater Award for Best Choreography)

Once Upon A Mattress Scottsdale Christian Academy Choreographer 2011

Midsummer’s Night Dream Scottsdale Christian Academy Movement Director 2010

Glam (original musical) Phoenix First Choreographer 2010

Music Man Paradise Valley Comm. College Choreographer 2010

Into the Woods Paradise Valley Comm. College Choreographer/AD 2009

Joseph…Dreamcoat Scottsdale Christian Academy Choreographer 2009

Oklahoma! Scottsdale Christian Academy Choreographer 2008

Once on This Island South Mountain Colllege Choreographer 2007

(ariZoni Regional Theater Award Nomination for Best Choreography)

Suessical Scottsdale Christian Academy Choreographer 2007

Bye Bye Birdie Scottsdale Christian Academy Choreographer 2007

(USA Magazine Showstopper Best of Arizona)

Honk! Moon Valley Productions Choreographer 2006

Working Scottsdale Christian Academy Choreographer 2006

West Side Story Scottsdale Christian Academy Choreographer 2005

Godspell Moon Valley Productions Choreographer 2005

You’re…Charlie Brown Scottsdale Christian Academy Choreographer 2004

Twelfth Night Scottsdale Christian Academy Movement Director 2004

Romeo and Juliet Moon Valley Productions Choreographer 2003

Summer Music Camps Paradise Valley United Movement Director 2001

Bye Bye Birdie Arcadia High School Choreographer 2002

Pirates of Penzance Scottsdale Christian Academy Choreographer 2001

Sound of Music Paradise Valley United Choreographer 2001

Music Man Scottsdale Christian Academy Choreographer 2000

Snoopy! Mesa Encore Theater Choreographer 1999

A Funny Thing…Forum Tempe Little Theater Choreographer 1999

Fiddler on the Roof Tempe Little Theater Choreographer 1998

Rocky Horror Show Smeltzer Productions Assistant Chor. 1997

Theater Camps(Jr/Sr. HS) Moon Valley Productions Choreographer/AD   2000-2011

Choirs:

Adv. Show Choir Concert Notre Dame Prep Choreographer 2018

70s Pops Concert Scottsdale Christian Academy Choreographer 2008

Pops Concert McClintock High School Choreographer 2005

Gershwin Concert Scottsdale Christian Academy Choreographer 2004

Specialty Productions:

Celebration of Christmas Dream City Creative Arts 2010-Present 

  • Choreographer/Scene Producer 
  • Senior Choreographer in a team of 10-12 leaders.
  • Large-scale production with a cast of 250-350 (all ages), including elements such as aerial artists, live animals, and original scenes.
  • Responsible for all choreography in assigned sections as well as lighting/costume/narrative design, production coordination, and mentoring.
  • New scenes developed every year.

A Life Connected Phoenix First 2012-2013

  • Movement Director for original show commissioned to showcase the difficulties of children in the foster care programs and encourage adoption.
  • Created a movement style to embody the emotional difficulties. 
  • Toured with the show around the state of Arizona in several different iterations. 

Modern Dance Guest Artist 1997-2002

  • “American Love”, Phoenix Art Museum, AZ 2002
  • “Selections of Rent”, Footwork Dance, Phoenix, AZ 2002
  • “Luna”, Glendale Comm. College, AZ 2000
  • “Tears in the Rain”, Glendale Comm. College, AZ 1999
  • “Chasing Tales 2”, Chandler-Gilbert College, AZ 1998
  • “Present”, Physical Graffiti, Glendale, AZ 1997
  • “Moving Words”, Moving Works, New York City 1997
  • “Chasing Tales”, Herberger Theater, AZ 1997
  • “Dynamis”, Physical Graffiti, Glendale, AZ 1997

Video:  

Production Assistant 2008

  • Los Angeles commercial shoot, Yosh Perfume, SoHo Harvest Productions (Mark Solter, Director). 
  • Assistant to the Producer and Director.
  • Helped structure creative concept in preproduction and stayed on monitor during production to provide creative input to director and producer.
  • Worked directly with director in solving emergency wardrobe issues.
  • Aided in setting up shots, organizing talent, running emergency errands, assisting with craft services.
  • Handled money and receipts.

Production Assistant, Digital Film Assistant 2007

  • Location Shoot, Phoebus Productions (Shari Norton, Director). 
  • Hi Def and Digital media assistant to Director and Digital Photographer.
  • High end (HD P2 Media) shoot of wilderness area for private contractor.
  • Worked with multiple camera crews and award-winning still photographer to capture a 400 acre privately-held property in the middle of a 20,000 acre wilderness area in Northern AZ.

Assistant Editor 2007

  • “Bicycle World”, Fox Sports Net ( Shari Norton, Post Producer).
  • Digitized, organized, and logged footage under pressured weekly for on air deadline. 
  • Edited basic segments for online editor. 
  • Suggested stories for sports news color show on Cycling Industry 9Season 1 2007: 13 episodes).

Second Assistant Director 2007

  • “The Oracle”, Alexis Films (Akil Williams, Director). 
  • Acted as liaison between director and talent. Wrangled talent during production.
  • Assisted DP and gaffer in setting up shots when needed.

BUSINESS

Purple Boots Creative (Phoenix, AZ/NYC/LA), 2018-Present

Principal, Speaker, Consultant, Educator

  • Newly-formed business venture integrating speaking, consulting, education, and coaching to support artistic and somatic wholeness and well-being in creative, movement, inspirational, and medical contexts.
  • Inspired by the purple boots loved and worn throughout both earning an MA and going through cancer treatment and healing. 

Ghost Tours of Phoenix (Phoenix, AZ), 2008-2012

Independent Consultant

  • Developed registration system for quick and accurate processing, tracking, and verifying of customer reservations.
  • Maintained up-to-date records on sales patterns and projections.
  • Assisted owners in establishing customer service policies and procedures.

KMI, Inc. (Phoenix, AZ), 1999-2001

Writer/Communications Editor

  • Wrote in-house manuals for customer service and commissions departments. 
  • Reorganized and updated manuals as necessary.
  • Edited/proofread articles for nationally distributed brochures and weekly web-based newsletters. 
  • Developed marketing correspondence for various departments.
  • Demonstrated effective verbal and written communication skills.
  • Utilized Microsoft Word and Excel and internet research skills.

Fender Musical Instruments (Scottsdale, AZ), 1996-1999

Temporary Administrative Position, Special Projects

  • Operated as administrative and financial assistant in accounts reconciliation and accounts payable. 
  • Researched shipping discrepancies and damage claims. 
  • Reconciled fixed assets records with off-site physical inventories.
  • Prepared and recorded debit/credit memos.
  • Assisted with customer service complaints 
  • Demonstrated accurate and timely processing, tracking, and reporting of detailed data using Excel and a proprietary database.

OTHER/PERSONAL INTERESTS

Medical Consulting/Patient Support 

Engaging with doctors, medical facilities, patients, and support agencies through whole well-being movement faciliation, communication, and soma-aesthetics to improve individual experience within the medical-industrial complex.

Public Policy 

Volunteering for local politicians to use my story to advocate for healthcare for all.

Entertainment/Social

  • Pop Culture/Sci-Fi and Fantasy Geekdoms
  • Travel
  • Irish genealogy
  • Reading
  • Skydiving
  • Maintaining blue and purple hair
  • Attempting to learn to cook *sigh*