Where Precision Dance meets passion and determination
Katie Walker Henein
At age 12, Katie began studying ballet extensively at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. There, she continued her studies through high school graduation in 2004. During those years, Katie also trained with Houston Ballet, Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theater and Kaatsbaan International Ballet. Upon graduation, Katie joined Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet in NYC and performed works by Benoit Swan-Pouffer, Nicole Fonte, Edward Liang and Christina Johnson.
In 2007, Katie saw the Radio City Christmas spectacular and was inspired by the precision, cleanliness, structure and scale of the show. The following spring, she auditioned and joined the Radio City Rockettes. In her 15 years as a Rockette, Katie has been assistant dance captain, swing, dance captain and assistant choreographer. In 2015 and 2016, Katie helped create and teach the New York Spring Spectacular and the New York Spectacular alongside Warren Carlyle and Mia Michaels. During her time as a Rockette, Katie also performed on the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade, The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, the Today Show, Live with Regis and Kelly, The White House Christmas Party, and America’s Got Talent. As an assistant choreographer, Katie has helped direct and choreograph for the The Tony Awards, Video Music Awards, USO Partnership Performances, MLB Home Run Derby, America’s Got Talent, The Kacey Musgraves Christmas
Special, Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting, and a Hallmark Channel Movie “A Holiday Spectacular”. Katie has also choreographed and created numerous dances for the Rockettes Instagram and Tik Tok pages.
Katie is the founder and teacher for Elevate Ballet, a company that focuses on ballet training for aspiring Rockettes, jazz, broadway and musical theater dancers.
Sarah Grooms Hoge
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Sarah Grooms started dancing at the young age of three when her mother realized how much fun she had in pigtails and pink tutus. Having fourteen seasons as a Radio City Rockette under her belt, Sarah understands the importance of a healthy lifestyle to maintain longevity not only in the professional dance industry but everyday life. After performing in Europe with the Tanzsommer Stars of Tomorrow throughout her teen years, she then headed to the Big Apple in 2007 to pursue a professional career in dance and fitness. Sarah’s dreams came true as she went on to perform in numerous television shows such as Saturday Night Live, America’s Got Talent, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Live With Kelly and Ryan, The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, Michael Buble’s Christmas Special, Oprah’s 10th Anniversary of “O” Magazine Special, Project Runway, The Rockefeller Center’s Tree Lighting Ceremony, The View, The Today Show, and a Very Kacey Christmas on Amazon. Most recently, you can see Sarah in the Hallmark Channel Movie, “A Holiday Spectacular”!
Alongside her dancing roots, Sarah is an Adult and Pediatric First Aid CPR/AED Certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and a Pre/Post Natal Specialist through PRONatal. Over the course of her professional career, Sarah has realized that strength training and discipline go hand in hand with longevity in the performing arts industry. Sarah’s mission is to continue spreading her knowledge of the human body to the youth so that they, too, can go on to perform safely for years to come in the professional world.
Sarah’s choreography can be seen featured at the Commercial Dance Intensive at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee as well as the Junior Youth Program at Broadway Dance Center. When Sarah’s not performing or teaching, you can find her pursuing her undergraduate degree via Harvard Extension School as well as running marathons and volunteering for Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City!
