Catherine Liu is originally from Reston, Virginia, and currently lives in Crystal City. She attended Elon University, where she earned a BFA in Dance Performance & Choreography with a minor in Music and a concentration in Violin.

Catherine brings extensive teaching experience across ballet, contemporary, and modern dance. Most recently, she served as the main ballet teacher and a YAGP private instructor at Kitty Lee Dance in Omaha, Nebraska, along with teaching at Adair Dance Academy, Omaha Academy of Ballet, The Studio Dundee, and The Rose Theater. Her earlier teaching experience in the DMV includes American Dance Institute, Bowen McCauley Dance’s outreach program, Center City Public Charter Schools, and Conservatory Ballet.

Her professional performance background includes work as a guest artist with Vox Dance Collective, founder, artistic director, and performer with KWENTO Dance, and freelance work with Garrett + Moulton Productions and Alive and Well Productions. She has also performed with Mid to West Dance Collective, Karen Reedy Dance, the Sax Restaurant & Lounge Cabaret Dance Company, and Sharna Fabiano Tango Company.

This year, Catherine will be teaching at both DAV locations in the Youth and Academy Programs. Dancers in her classes can expect clear instruction and thoughtful corrections, along with an environment that balances the rigor of dance training with fun and opportunities to connect with one another. Her advice to students is a great reminder about performance quality: “Your eyes and eyebrows are just as important as your limbs and torso—don’t forget to use them!”