Artistic Director of Irish National Youth Ballet, Katherine Lewis has enjoyed a long and varied theatrical career, which in addition to classical ballet has embraced musical theatre, radio and television appearances, and vast experience as teacher and coach. As ballet consultant to The Opera House, Cork, Katherine has been responsible for the direction of their Youth Dance Performance Programme; during long-term tenures as Ballet Mistress for ballet companies Cork Ballet, Cork City Ballet and Ballet Ireland, she has been able to coach a succeeding generation of performers; as assistant to Brenda Last (Royal Ballet, UK.), Katherine was joint recipient of the Cork Arts Theatre Club Annual Award for ‘Best Production’ (Giselle, 1992).
Katherine began her dance training with the late Myrtle Lambkin in Dublin. At the age of 16, she was the first Irish student to be awarded a place at Britain’s Royal Ballet School; concurrently being the first recipient of a dance bursary from the Arts Council. A year later she became the first Princess Grace Scholar, making her the first Irish dancer to attend the prestigious Acadamie de Danse Classique in Monte Carlo, under the tutelage of Marika Besobrasova.
In 1979, Katherine was engaged with Irish National Ballet. For a decade, under the directorship of Joan Denise Moriarty, she performed soloist and principal roles, working closely with the choreographers Charles Czarny and Roysten Muldoon. She danced many roles, foremost amongst which was that of ‘Widow Quinn’ in the acclaimed production of Playboy of the Western World, touring both to London and France. Subsequent appearances in the commercial theatre have included, notably, the lead role of Mavis in “Stepping Out” (Everyman Palace, Cork), and collaborations with the Irish Operatic Repertory Company, Die Fledermaus, Lilac Time and The Desert Song.
As assistant to Director and Choreographer Domy Reiter-Soffer, Katherine was particularly involved in Roseleen Linehan’s acclaimed production of “Mary Makebelieve” (1993), at the Gate Theatre, Dublin.
As Artistic Director of INYB, Katherine intends to broaden current repertoire with both newly commissioned works and existing works from international choreographers. She will extend the performance schedules, and will explore ways to increase exposure of the company’s work through the medium of television and increased international touring.
Katherine continues to fulfil regular teaching commitments with the College of Dance (Monkstown, Dublin), Dance Ireland (formerly APDI), Cork City Ballet and Ballet Ireland.