Christina Marie Kautzky

Born on September 23, 1951, in San Diego, California, Christina Marie Kautzky's dance journey unfolded across various stages of her life.  Her dad, enticed by the allure of Alaska, left California, and settled in Anchorage in 1960. At the age of 13, Christina experienced show dance jazz at Jack and Nona Baker’s School of Dance. 

Formal dance training commenced through university studies, where she trained with Modern dance pioneers like Charles Weidman, Betty Jones, Jose Limon Company, Carolyn Brown, Merce Cunningham Company, Bettie de Jong, Paul Taylor Dance Company, and Ethel Winter, Martha Graham Company.  By 1975, Christina earned a BFA in dance performance, choreography, and education, along with a BA in Elementary Education with a fine arts emphasis from the University of Utah. She continued to refine her skills with highly regarded Ballet instructor Steve Primis in Anchorage. 

In 1976, Christina assumed a pivotal role, leading dance instruction at Anchorage Community College/UAA and becoming the Artistic and Producing Director of Moving Company North, sponsored by the Department of Theatre and Dance under Michael Hood. The company provided both performances and education for students and community dancers. Collaborating with Jill Flanders Crosby, who joined UAA as the jazz instructor, performer, and choreographer, Moving Company North flourished over three years, performing at various venues throughout Anchorage, including the UAA Performing Arts Center, Anchorage Community Theater, schools, parks, and public spaces.   

A significant landmark for dance at UAA was in 1978-1979 when Ira Perman, manager of the UAA Performing Arts Center, shared Christina's vision for a UAA Alaska dance company residency. This led to the inaugural two-summer dance residency with the NYC professional dance company, 5 x 2.  In the spring of 1979, Anchorage embraced a dance renaissance as Moving Company North delivered its final performance, featuring a captivating blend of live music and dance to a sold-out, standing-room-only audience. The enthusiasm generated by this performance served as a catalyst, opening doors for subsequent dance companies, notably the Alaska Contemporary Dance Company, guided by choreographer Lisa Kerr. Anchorage's dance scene was transformed, with Moving Company North leaving a legacy that inspired a new era of dance artists. 

In 1983, Christina achieved a milestone, earning an MFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Her dance studies at Tisch culminated as a soloist for Senta Driver Company, an original Paul Taylor company member.  Her return to Anchorage marked the commencement of ballet training with Anchorage’s Margaret Webber’s School of Dance.

Christina's vision for an Anchorage resident dance company endured, giving rise to MOBIUS, in collaboration with Alice Bassler Sullivan, the Artistic Director of Alaska Dance Theatre. In 1985 the inaugural MOBIUS performance premiered with Christina as Producing Director, and, later as Artistic and Technical advisor through 1990, playing a pivotal role in the company’s future.  ADT’s company grew to prominence in the community and statewide for its diverse and professional programming.

Throughout 1981-1991, Christina remained an integral part of the Anchorage community, choreographing for Anchorage Community Theater (ACT) Musical productions and the Anchorage Opera. Simultaneously, as an Artist-in-the-Schools educator she taught dance for K-12 school residencies for students and integrating dance into the curriculum for teachers. From 1991 to 1992, serving as the Acting Dance Chair at UAA, Christina embarked on her next artistic venture, "Expanding the Stage" for the UAA Black Box theater. This performance blended the talents of theater majors, UAA dancers, and community dancers. The collaborative efforts with Jill Flanders Crosby, Dance Chair, at UAA continued, contributing to the realization of the dance vision in Anchorage until the winter of 1995. 

The winter of 1995, Christina relocated to Atlanta, Georgia. From 1995 to 2002, she annually journeyed to Israel with fellow national dancers, participating in performances of Israeli dances, concluding with a final year in Kiev. Since 1998, she has thrived as a certified educator, imparting her enthusiasm for dance and arts education in elementary classrooms.  For 45 years, Christina has devoted herself to sharing artistic and educational experiences, leaving a legacy through her performances and teaching endeavors. Her impact spans from elementary school to higher education, where her dedication has enriched the lives of countless students.