Katrena Cohea ballet

Oh haaaaay! I'm so excited you're here. 

I’m Katrena, the CEO of Different Drummer Dance. I have lots of awesome credentials and years of experience as a professional dancer, and as a movement educator (more on those in a min), but here’s what I really want you to know about me, and my business:

I’ve never felt like a typical ballerina. I love ballet, but ballet hasn’t always loved me back. Staring at myself in the ballet classroom mirror often left me wondering if I was too much, or not enough. After 20+ years of dancing, and 15+ years of teaching, I'm creating the products, classes, and communities I wish I had as a young dancer.

Count on a body positive, growth mindset, affirmation based, holistic, big-hearted approach from me. I focus on ballet AND body positivity. Jazz hands AND growth mindset. Technique AND giggles. Affirmations AND arabesques. I’ve always been a personal development junkie and am all about that holistic (mind, body, spirit) approach.

I believe any body who has a body is a dancer. You can read more about my musings on this topic on my blog. I’m also a contributor for Apolla Performance Wear.

I promise to build you (and your dancer) up. We live in a time when women’s voices and bodies are striving to be heard. Disordered eating, skewed body image and sexualization are common in dance and in our society. What better gift can we give students, and ourselves, than tools to develop a holistic dialogue and approach to dance that will empower them inside and outside of the dance studio?

And have a great time doing it. One of my super powers is my sense of humor. To learn anything we need a good giggle every now and again. If you appreciate community oriented, positive, big-hearted work, we’re a great fit to work together! Joining a class, booking a workshop, or taking an online course are just a few of the ways to work with me.

Katrena Cohea

Still interested in those impressive credentials?

I'm trained in the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabus, and have completed their Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies (CBTS).

I also trained at the San Francisco Conservatory of dance and performed professionally with Brisas de Espana, a Flamenco and Spanish dance company.

I've been teaching for over 10 years, teaching at both for profit and not for profit schools and serving a diverse community of dancers. Benicia Ballet School, Community Youth Center, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, Sonoma Conservatory of Dance are just a few of the places that have been my dance homes.

I graduated with B.A. in Theater and Dance from CSUEB, where I had the opportunity to add to my training in modern, choreography, jazz and hip-hop from noted Bay Area directors/choreographers Nina Haft, Eric Kupers and Laura Elaine Ellis.

I have performed and taught across the United States and Canada including Vancouver, New Mexico, and New York.

Want to get in touch, ask about classes, or just say hello? Let's connect!

The people have spoken! Here's what they're saying about Different Drummer Dance...

Katrena has a gentle and kind way to make all of the kids feel comfortable to perform and most importantly, simply have fun!
— Michele, dance parent
Katrena Cohea ballerina