Karen Amirault

Karen is well known for her intensive work with children, adults & communities as a Touring Artist, Artist-in-Residence, choreographer & educator for over forty years. She holds a BA from Middlebury College & has received numerous awards from the Vermont Arts Council & the Governor's Award for Arts in Education. Dance for & with others, she teaches, is a lesson in self-esteem & group dynamics. It builds confidence in one's body & provides a real emotional outlet. Paula Routly of Seven Days wrote "Amirault... has singlehandedly turned more people on to dance... than any other choreographer in Vermont."

The Karen Amirault Dance Company performs high-energy jazz, tap, Latin, African, hip hop, vaudeville, swing & Broadway. The troupe's unique blend of street-smart moves & show-biz glitz celebrate jazz music, dance, multigenerations & multiculturalism. Monkton parent Eugenie Doyle wrote that she's a "rare combination of... technique, flare & heart unequaled in this state.

Residencies: In daily intensive movement sessions, students & faculty are introduced to a variety of traditional & contemporary jazz dance styles that may include hip hop, break, street, West African, Latin, swing & musical theatre. Creating original dances challenges creativity & movement memory & familiarizes students with the body/mind connection. Residencies are designed according to the sponsor's needs & include a Teacher/Parent Workshop as well as a final sharing for peers, staff, families & community.  Curriculum tie-ins have involved habitats (penguins jitterbugging to keep warm), tall tales, American history through the decades, science (metamorphosis, water cycle, solar system), Vermont geography, contemporary dance, music, visual art & cultural trends.

She also works with special needs adults & at risk teens. Learning about personalities, physical & emotional considerations, & past movement experiences gives each program direction.

Karen offers In-service Workshops for faculty & staff as well as grant-writing consultation. Evening jitterbug workshops for parents & adults are especially popular during school residencies. As a choreographer, Karen enjoys working with Very Merry Theatre, The White River Valley Players, youth & adult theatre troupes, a cappella singing groups, & elementary, middle & high schools statewide.