Kent Dance Ensemble

Since its inception in 1990, the Kent Dance Ensemble, Kent State's pre-professional dance company, has been introducing modern dance to audiences of all ages throughout Northeast Ohio.

About the Kent Dance Ensemble

Under artistic director Catherine Meredith, the company provides a professional atmosphere and structure that prepares its student members to bridge the gap between a college dance experience and working with a professional dance company. KDE produces dance concerts every year, performs at other universities and in neighboring communities, presents lectures/demonstrations at schools in northeastern Ohio, offers movement workshops for all ages and abilities and participates in regional and national dance festivals. The repertory of modern and jazz dance is developed by the company artistic director and by KSU faculty members and invited guest artists. 

Educational residencies bring arts appreciation and educational enhancement to the K-12 schools of the region. Fees are modest and are designed to cover production costs for costumes, lighting, publicity and guest artists, and to support travel expenses and workshop materials for their work on tour.


Company Activities

  • Dance concerts
  • Mini-concerts
  • Assembly presentations
  • Lecture/Demonstration performances
  • Movement workshops
  • Dance technique classes/Choreography classes

Annual Kent Dance Ensemble Concert

Every spring, the Kent Dance Ensemble performs its annual dance concert in E. Turner Stump Theatre. The concert features choreography from Kent State School of Theatre and Dance faculty members and guest artists who visit the university in residence during the academic term. 


Guest Artists

The Kent Dance Ensemble regularly invites guest artists to Kent State University to work with members of the ensemble.


For More Information:

Catherine Meredith

Artistic Director 
cmeredi5@kent.edu