about cat!

Cat Cogliandro (they/them) holds a BFA from SUNY Purchase and an MFA from University of Arizona. They have worked with creators such as Cherice Barton, Phillip Chbeeb, Tyce Diorio, Ian Eastwood, Mike Esperanza, Hayden J Frederick, Janelle Ginestra, Jason Gorman,  Juliette Irons, Lukas McFarlane, Jaci Royal, Sophia Stoller, Megan Lawson, Sonya Tayeh, Andrew Winghart, and more. Cat has been featured in Dance Spirit Magazine, Dance Teacher Magazine, Dance Magazine, Dance Informa, and have been a guest on DanceSpeak Podcast, WeirdAdults, Barretender Podcast, Stance Elements, Real Talks, Dance Your Life by Maxt Out, and Move True. Cat was a featured dancer in the movie "Supporting Characters," directed by Daniel Schechter, danced in The Neighbourhood music video, "R.I.P 2 My Youth", directed by Hype Williams and supervising choreographer, Ian Eastwood, and danced and acted in Phillip Chbeeb’s short film “S Y N C: A Modern Love Story.” They were the assistant choreographer to Ian Eastwood in Trevor Wesley's Official 360 Music Video "Chivalry is Dead," a choreographer for an episode of "Alone Together" on Freeform, Eva Gutoski's (@mylifeaseva) music video "Dance As A Distraction,” and was one of ten choreographers chosen to compete in Nigel Lythgoe's first season of a competitive choreographer show on Go90, Every Single Step, where they made it to the final four. In 2019, Cat danced the role of the Queen in Lukas McFarlane’s “Astoria” which premiered at the Montalbán Theatre in Los Angeles. Cat is represented by LDC Artist Representation.

Cat is an educator and choreographer who works nationally and internationally to "help people find a better understanding of themselves through dance.” In New York, you can find them teaching weekly classes at Broadway Dance Center and Steps on Broadway, and guest teaches at studios like Peridance and Movement Lifestyle. Cat has taught at University of Arizona, Hussian College (formerly Relativity School), The Joffrey West Summer Intensive, Joffrey Spectrum, and The Los Angeles Dance Festival, as well as international dance camps in Brazil, Poland, Italy, India, and more. Cat is currently on faculty with Joffrey Ballet School’s Jazz and Contemporary Trainee program where dancers can pursue their BFA’s in dance and was commissioned to set a work which premiered in December of 2023. They have also teamed up with clinical psychologist, Dr. Christina Donaldson, to create a dance + self-esteem dance workshop called Soul Meets Body, and are also the co-creator, in collaboration with Gabriel Braga and Mariana Feitosa, of SoulSync, a self-love dance workshop that takes place in Brazil. Cat is a passionate advocate for safer and more accessible spaces in dance, with their work featured in The New York Times. They also serve on the advisory board for Dance Teacher+, where they offer their expertise and insights.

Cat is driven by a deep passion for humanity: art, expression, connection, freedom, and love. As a dedicated educator, dancer, choreographer, and advocate, Cat is committed to creating safer and more inclusive spaces within the dance community. They aim to promote a culture of acceptance and compassion by actively working to dismantle systems of oppression through education, accountability, and community care. Their dance company, cat.astrophe!, is a platform that underscores the potency and urgency of advocacy through artistic expression. Infusing codified contemporary techniques with their unique artistic vision, Cat's choreography stands out for its musicality, narrative complexity, structural composition, and the nuanced texture of movement. Cat leverages their artistic platform to confront pertinent social issues and defy conventional societal norms. Through cat.astrophe!s performances, they aim to ignite dialogue, stimulate contemplation, and catalyze meaningful societal transformation.

see their work here