Dancer turns childhood dream into reality Many kids have grand aspirations when they are asked what they want to be when they are older. Astronaut, soccer player, singer, and ballerina are all a typical response. Often, these dreams form into more realistic careers that are easier to pursue. But for Katrinka Stayton, her childhood aspiration became a reality. Ever since sixth grade, she knew she wanted to pursue a career in dance. Now, as a dance instructor and choreographer at Heartland Conservatory of Dance in Omaha, she did exactly that. Katrinka Stayton grew up in Omaha and trained at Ballet Omaha up until she was 18. Although she did not major in dance in college, she did not let it prevent her from pursuing it. She obtained her first career at Central Dance Theatre and it still holds a special place in her heart. Through that career, she met some amazing people from different states and even some dancers from New York City Ballet. The hardest aspect at the beginning of her job was being short and considered “fat”. “One director literally said to me, ‘I would hire you but you need to lose 15 pounds,’ I was 115 pounds at the time,” Stayton said. Despite this, Stayton has still managed to successfully continue her dance career. Her husband Taylor
by J1 Reporter Audrey Ehlers
Stayton has similarly obtained a unique career as an opera singer. She said that through his career, hers has been allowed to grow. He travels nine months out of the year, and if Stayton is not working, then she is traveling with him. She has been to at least eight countries and this is where she attains some of her biggest inspirations for her work. She said that each place has their own thing with a different culture and unique aspects, which inspires her and helps her grow as an artist. Besides traveling, she likes to cook, garden, and work out, but pursuing other hobbies is difficult because “dance really encompasses my whole life.” On an everyday basis, Stayton teaches from 3 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. at Heartland Conservatory of Dance. She teaches around 20 dance classes a week, and during the day will pick up some
gigs working as a pilates instructor. The majority of her day before teaching is
“I just need to ... treat everybody like they’re willing and deserving to do something great.”
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spent preparing for classes by creating choreography and class plans, registering
