Karla Grotting is a founding member, principal dancer and artistic associate with Joe Chvala and the Flying Foot Forum. In her 18 years with the company, she has been continually inspired by the use of rhythm as a language to communicate ideas, emotions, stories and personalities.

Karla first began performing with Zoe Sealy's Minnesota Jazz Dance Company in the 1970's. In the 80’s, she split her career between New York City and Minneapolis, eventually spending 7 years with JAZZDANCE by Danny Buraczeski, during which time, she also owned and operated her own children’s dance studio in St. Cloud, MN.

Karla has performed in a wide range of dance and theater styles including works by William Harren, David Voss, Clarence Teeters, Diane Waller, Cathy Young, Billy Siegenfeld, Lynn Dally, Lane Alexander, Keane Sense of Rhythm, The History Theater and Off-Leash Area.

Karla creates her own works which blend the unique styles of her tap, jazz, modern and percussive dance experiences. Karla received her B.F.A. in Dance and B.A. in Theatre Arts from the University of Minnesota, where she is currently a full-time faculty member. In 2006, she was awarded the University of Minnesota Student’s Choice Award for Outstanding Teacher in the College of Liberal Arts.

Artist Philosophy
The act of dancing has been many different things to me; a release, a joy, a challenge, a passion, a burden, a balm, a quest, a necessity. It has connected me to many unique and beautiful artists. Dancing is an exploration that takes me deeper both into myself and into the world around me. I have done what it takes to keep dancing through injury, financial challenge, life with children and the toll of aging. The desire to dance has brought me also to find a love of teaching which connects me to the next generation of artists and they are truly amazing. The rewards of this kind of life are many and the deep satisfaction of knowing one’s dancing spirit is a kind of joy that I find nowhere else, save for music. It is in bringing the music to my body in a wordless oneness that I find myself in the perfect moment.

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