Kathryn Drake McDowell, Artistic Director

Kathryn Drake McDowell grew up in Shreveport and received her initial classical ballet training under Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet founder Marion Mills. After graduating from Caddo Magnet High School, Kathryn went to the University of Oklahoma where she continued her training in classical ballet and other forms of dance under Mary Margaret Holt, Allan Kinzie, Donn Edwards, Kathleen Burnett, Richard Shi, and Denise Vale. While in Oklahoma, Kathryn also had the opportunity to perform leading roles in performances with the Oklahoma Festival Ballet, including Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Swanhilda in Coppelia, and principal roles in several original contemporary ballets. She was also chosen as a member of two Oklahoma Festival Ballet international touring companies to France. After earning a BFA in ballet performance with a math minor from Oklahoma, Kathryn danced professionally with the Lexington Ballet Company in Lexington, Kentucky, and the Universal Ballet Company in Seoul, South Korea.

In 2001, she made a special guest appearance with SMB, dancing the title role in Cinderella. In 2003, Kathryn returned to Shreveport as Artist in Residence with SMB, performing in principal roles in The Nutcracker, Swan Lake Act II, and Sleeping Beauty Act III; and originating the title role in SMB’s original 2003 production of Snow White. Since 2009, Kathryn has appeared as a special guest performer in SMB’s original ballets Wizard of Oz, Aladdin, and Peter Pan, and has delighted many Nutcracker audiences with her lively portrayal of Dr. Drosselmeyer. Kathryn has taught ballet and choreographed in Oklahoma, Kentucky, and most recently in Shreveport at Shreveport Dance Academy.

She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from Centenary College and is currently the chair of the math department at her high school alma mater, Caddo Magnet High School, teaching AP Calculus and Statistics.