Karen Grotts

Karen Grotts came to Alaska in August of 1978. Within the month she was teaching classes for Lynda Lorimer’s Elmendorf AFB (now JBER) dance program and was taking classes at the Conservatory of Dance. She directed her first recital on Elmendorf for the Conservatory in May of 1979 and continued teaching on base for the next 39 years. She danced for Anchorage Civic Ballet under Lynda’s direction for six years, performing various roles in The Nutcracker and participated in several spring productions. She taught ballet for the Conservatory of Dance in Anchorage.

When Lynda passed away in 1993, Karen was fortunate to gain the dance contract on Elmendorf and thus Center Stage was born. Center Stage served approximately 165 to 200 students per year. “I was so proud to teach the children of military parents; I grew up as an Air Force brat myself so I felt I understood them. I wasn’t there to necessarily make professional dancers but instead to offer a fun, rewarding, and rich recreational dance program to students as long as they were stationed on Elmendorf.”

In 1995, having worked with and known Gail Florio in the office of the Conservatory of Dance, Karen started choreographing and performing with Dance Spectrum Alaska. Karen worked with Gail until she passed away in July 2010. “I was so fortunate to work with the two people most dedicated to the dance world that I have ever met; Lynda Lorimer and Gail Florio. They providedme with opportunities to practice my art through dancing, teaching and choreographing. I will be eternally grateful and I was very privileged to call them both my friends.” Karen Grotts retired in May 2019.