Artistic Manager
Teaching Artist Statement
Catherine believes dance education should nurture both technical excellence and artistic expression. Through thoughtful instruction, individualized guidance, and a commitment to safe and inclusive training, she creates an environment where dancers develop confidence, creativity, and a lifelong appreciation for movement. Her goal is to help each student discover their unique artistic voice while building the skills, discipline, and joy that make dance a meaningful part of their lives.
Teaching Bio
Catherine Piazza is Program Manager of the SSC School of Dance, and an internationally trained dance educator, performer, and arts leader with more than 30 years of experience in professional performance, dance education, and program development. In her role at SSC, she leads curriculum development, faculty collaboration, student programming, and artistic initiatives supporting dancers of all ages and abilities.
Originally from England, Catherine completed her professional conservatory training at Northern Ballet School in Manchester, where she studied classical ballet, contemporary, jazz, modern, tap, musical theatre, character dance, anatomy, and dance history in an intensive three-year program preparing dancers for professional performance and teaching careers.
Catherine enjoyed an 11-year international performing career with Carnival Cruise Lines’ award-winning entertainment division. She was featured soloist and lead dancer for elite inaugural production casts aboard the Carnival Spirit, Carnival Conquest, and Carnival Liberty, as well as the Carnival Fantasy reinstallation teams, contracts reserved for the company’s highest-caliber performers. Catherine danced principal roles in world-premiere productions by acclaimed choreographers George Reich, Joan Palethorpe, and Minnie Madden, appearing before audiences worldwide. Catherine also served as Dance Captain, leading casts of dancers and production singers while collaborating with production leadership to maintain the highest artistic standards in Broadway-style entertainment.
Following her performing career, Catherine developed an extensive teaching career throughout the United Kingdom and United States, working with students from preschool through adult in studios, public schools, community arts organizations, and pre-professional programs. She is a Member Plus of the Royal Academy of Dance, an Imperial Classical Ballet Associate, certified Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) instructor, Registered Yoga Teacher (200-hour), and LaBlast® instructor, with additional training in dancer health, wellness, mental health, and safe dance practices.
Catherine joined South Shore Conservatory’s faculty in 2019 and is honored to share her knowledge and experience for dance while helping students develop confidence, artistry, musicality, and a lifelong appreciation for movement in her work at SSC. Catherine is a Music Together instructor and is dedicated to expanding access to the arts through literacy-based movement and music programs in underserved communities. She is also passionate about making dance accessible across the lifespan, leading seated ballet and ballroom dance programs for older adults, including seniors and community members living with dementia.