Director / Choreographer / Producer

Kathleen Rea is a graduate of the National Ballet School and has danced with Ballet Jörgen Canada, the National Ballet of Canada and Tiroler Landestheater. In 2000, Kathleen formed REAson d'être dance productions, an organization that produces dance/theatre classes, workshops and performances.

Kathleen Rea has emerged as a choreographic presence. Her work is "fabulously original" [Sheena Wilson, www.danceinsider.com] . Kathleen's individuality of expression stems from her varied background, which includes ballet, modern, contact improvisation, and dance theatre and is influenced by the multi-disciplinary art techniques involved in Expressive Arts. These elements combine to create a unique artistic voice that is focused, spontaneous and expressive.

Kathleen has choreographed over 30 original works for various organizations including the Before During After Festival of Duets, Bravo Television Network, Ballet Jörgen Canada, Canadian Olympic Association, Decadence Films, Dusk Dances, the fringe Festival of Independent Dance Artists , Gender Play, George Brown Dance , Good Hair Day Productions, princess productions , Prologue for the Performing Arts , Ryerson University Dance Program , Studio 303 and Toronto Dance Theatre .

Her work was mentioned in the Now Magazine Top Ten Dance Shows of 2002 as being "Imaginative, richly theatrical...with a clown inspired whimsy...a delight" (Glenn Sumi). Kathleen's full-length ballet, the Velveteen Rabbit, has been performed by Ballet Jorgen Canada on tour across North America and her award winning film Lapinthrope directed and produced by Alec Kinnear premiered at international festivals world wide and aired on Bravo!Canada television network.

Kathleen's recent choreographic work Long Live (2008) was nominated for three Dora Mavor Moore Awards including outstanding choreography. She also is the choreographic facilitator for a youth theatre project exploring gender produced by Gender Play (through CTYS's Pride and Prejudice Program).

In spring 2010 Kathleen received the K.M Hunter award for her achievements in dance.