Kathy King

Kathy King joined Crain's Detroit Business 20 in their 20s in 2013 at the age of 27. She is the founder/director of the Brighton Dance Festival, a summer training program for dance students that has grown to the national scale. Kathy also founded and ran the Michigan Dance Project, a professional contemporary dance company, for eight full seasons, closing the doors in 2014 to focus on the growth of BDF.

Interview Notes

• 0:57  - The Brighton Dance Festival is her current focus - it's a summer event but takes an entire year of planning. She's teamed up with Cleary University for the festival. Kathy teaches full time, to ages 7+ at a studio called Michelle's Academy of Dance and at EMU. Most recently was hired as the head dance coach at Cleary University. Dance, Dance, Dance!
• 2:32 - Kathy was honored in 2013 by Crain's Detroit Business Magazine. She was nominated by her friends. Kathy has been teaching dance since she was 16, so to be recognized in the business world for the arts was extremely validating for her.
• 3:59 - Why did Kathy's friends nominate her? She says she's the world's most stubborn person, a trait that has helped her efforts. Rather than throwing in the towel when things aren't going her way, Kathy finds creative strategies to solve the problems she's facing. That quality has helped her as she's been running her own business.
• 5:41 - Some of the best business advice Kathy has received: Her Dad is constantly reminding her to "Never give up and go after what you want to go after." Kathy's always heard "What's your backup plan?" or "What's going to be your real career?"  Ignore the people who try and keep you from what you want.
• 7:27 - One of Kathy's biggest successes has been creating the Brighton Dance Festival. Seeing it grow year after year has been amazing!
• 7:58 - The Brighton Dance Festival started in 2010 and was intended to be regional originally. Over the years, it has grown from 5 days to 2 weeks, including housing and students coming from across the country. There are many summer events where the faculty isn't paid, but Kathy has been able to pay and significantly increase the amount paid to her staff.
• 10:29 - When you're building something new, go with your gut! Kathy felt like something was missing and she kept pushing to build the project she was envisioning. If it's something that keeps you awake at night, then take the leap. You never know until you go for it.
• 12:10 - Kathy's goal is to keep growing the festival! She enjoys connecting with the arts, dance and education communities.
• 13:07 - When she's not dancing, Kathy is a foodie! She cooks three meals a day and loves being in the kitchen. She loves to travel with her fiancee. Kathy works hard but is good at relaxing.

Lightning Round

• 14:06 - Did you deserve to be on the 40 Under 40 list? It was humbling and a shock, but Kathy feels like she does deserve it. She's worked her butt off and does feel she deserves the recognition!
• 14:24 - A book that's had a significant impact on Kathy? The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp.
• 15:44 - All Kathy needs is her alarm app!
• 16:58 - If Kathy was starting over, she'd continue to be persistent, stubborn and to think outside of the box.
• 17:31 - If Kathy were starting over, she'd network more at a younger age. Initially shy, it took her time to become comfortable introducing herself...something she sees as silly when she looks back.

Conclusion

• 19:25 - Want to contact Kathy? Visit Brightondancefestival.com! Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Email Kathy - [email protected] or find her on Facebook.
• 20:52 - Her Final Piece of Advice - Put your head down and get your work done! Take the time to get to the place where you're in a field that energizes you. Don't focus on making a list or get caught in the trap of working for money...take a risk and leap of faith to find what you're passionate about.