Kathy Hanson
Kathy Hanson is no stranger to the Gasper family. She grew up training with Mr. Eddie Gasper and Mrs. Kathy Gasper. We are so thrilled she is back teaching with us this season. Kathy teaches our Adult Jazz class at our south studio on Thursday evenings. She brings in a combination of her past with elements of her dance technique and training today.
Q & A with Kathy Hanson
Q. What is your favorite part about teaching?
A. Watching individuals open up to be vulnerable and fall in love with movement.
Q. What inspired you as a dancer? (What inspires you?)
A. Rhythm, music and anything with Gene Kelly.
Q. Tips for our dancers?
A. Keep showing up, expose yourself to different styles/instructors and be open.
Q. Favorite snack?
A. Healthy- Apples. Not-so-healthy-RUFFLE POTATO CHIPS AND CARMELIZED ONION DIP.
Kathy Hanson grew up in Moorhead, MN where she discovered her love for the arts. Whether singing, dancing, writing or acting, she was privileged to learn from a community of extraordinary educators with vision and skills to match. From the early years at Trollwood and Red River Dance and Performing Company, under the direction of Kathy and Eddie Gasper, Kathy was immersed in studying and performing ballet, tap, jazz and musical theatre and eventually became a soloist with RRD&PC. She went on to attend the University of Denver, with a Marketing/Finance major, while continuing to study dance and perform in Denver and Minneapolis after college.
Over the last 20 years, Kathy and her husband have raised their two daughters, Audra and Eve, in Fargo, ND. She is co-founder of Wheelhouse Theatrical Productions (formerly Music Theatre Fargo-Moorhead) and has performed in numerous productions with Wheelhouse, Act Up, Phipps Dance Theatre (Minneapolis), FMBallet, NDSU, Carousel Dance Theatre, Dakota Civic Theatre (Minneapolis) and FMCT.
Kathy is jazzed to return to teaching at Gaspers, where Kathy and Eddie Gasper first encouraged her to be an educator. Since then she has choreographed many musical theatre productions with FMCT, Moorhead Community Ed, Fargo Public Schools, Theatre B, NDSU and Trollwood. “Mentoring individuals from young too old is a joy; there is nothing like watching an artist grow and push boundaries to tell you a story through movement, music, poetry, etc. I am grateful for having the opportunity to be part of that process.” – Kathy Hanson