My pronouns are she/her/ella.
I'm a born Californian of Mexican, Croatian, and Irish heritage, hailing from the Ancestral Homelands of the Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe and a family of entertainers.
Hi, I'm Katherine Cooper.
About
Growing up, I studied dance (duh) -- I also practiced martial arts. I went through kindergarten longing to become a Ninja Turtle, and when first grade began, I started Tae Kwon Do classes. Even on the mats, I took to performing; with the studio's Demo Squad, I got to fight like a girl (not a pejorative) and break boards in front of audiences all over northern California. And though my sparring career wasn't long, the pinnacle was high: meeting The Greatest of All Time, Muhammad Ali.
Since then, I've amassed a collection of increasingly disparate interests, including special penchants for philosophy, philanthropy, and physics (say that five times fast). Still, in all that time, I've never abandoned my first love -- Musical Theatre.
I was first bitten by
the stage bug at age 3.
I spent childhood summers in the pool. I started synchro when I was 5, and I just kept swimming for 15 years. Synchronized Swimming (now Artistic Swimming) is where I got my first opportunity in coaching, I got to hone leadership skills and I found I had a passion for imparting. It's also where I first learned how to watch with a meticulous eye and clean a routine. I borrowed a lot from the musical canon, choreographing & swimming to Annie, Chicago -- even adapting Will Rogers Follies showstopper Our Favorite Son for the water. There were literal oohs & ahs as our two lines fanned out into one while clapping each other's hands and the surface of the water. I knox-gelatined my hair (yep) for the last time at the end of my second year of college, for the FINA World Masters Championship meet, where my team placed 7th.
Saint Mary's and the SMC Dance Company introduced me to Modern Dance and afforded me the opportunity to choreograph for and perform in ACDF and Company dance concerts, as well as the Bay Area's distinguished Works In The Works festival. I was also featured on ESPN Big Monday Broadcasts as the premier vocalist for Gael Athletics, and I accepted awards & nominations for my work in musical productions on and off campus. Moreover, as a declared student of The Integral Program (an independently accredited school within the school), I studied ancient Greek and trained in logic & persuasive writing. Along with my cohort, I worked mathematical proofs from Euclid to Einstiein, and dissected great works of literature & philosophy, from The Allegory of the Cave to The Fire Next Time. My coursework culminated with the publication of my thesis, On the Unity of Multitude, an analysis and extrapolation of Plato's Parmenides. QED
I'm a big believer in the power of education and the pursuit of Balance; I love delving into new disciplines, and learning about new ideas & discoveries. I've been caught geeking out about cephalopods, updates to the periodic table, running water on Mars, and the History channel (honorable mention to National Geographic & Animal Planet). I believe in changing the world -- and in the value of the non-profit model. A life-long champion of arts education and social equity causes, I have also advocated for public broadcasting as one of the voices of CapRadio, and I created the Perennial fundraising campaign for climate science & biodiversity conservation in my home state of California, a global biodiversity hotspot. I'm Complementary Medicine Association accredited LCE certified sound healer, an RIDQC certified member of the Designer Society of America, and a proud member of Actors' Equity Association. I've appeared at TEDx & debuted new material alongside Broadway composer L. Jay Kuo; I've hit the road with Grammy winning rock legends Los Lobos, collaborating with Louie Perez on short stories & poetry projects; and I've been honored to perform in my hometown's favorite summer tradition: Broadway Sacramento's Music Circus.
for opportunities
to tell important stories,
share joy, and serve my community.
Recommended Reads (non-fiction)
all in her head
Favorite Drink
tom collins (iykyk)
Favorite Season
christmastime
Dream Vacation
the parthenon
Recommended Reads (fiction)
demon copperhead
Favorite TV Show
Buffy
Q&A
@coopercocreative
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© 2025 Katherine cooper. all rights reserved.
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