Karen Peterson and Dancers (KPD)

KPD is Florida’s only full-time dance organization that features choreography performed by dancers with and without disabilities and has been a role model for the arts and disability community in Miami Dade County for twenty-five years. Under the dedicated direction of Artistic Director Karen Peterson, the company provides educational programming for children with special needs and provides inclusive rehearsal and performance opportunities for professional dancers with and without disabilities.
KPD is the only organization south of Georgia that has a committed history of providing “mixed-ability” dance workshops, lecture demonstrations, and performances to thousands of audience members, teachers, therapists, and special needs students. The organization has provided a positive “can-do” visual role model for both the disability and dance communities through education and outreach. Artistic Director Karen Peterson is the only choreographer in Florida who has won four dance fellowships, two from the State and to from Miami Dade, for her choreographic vision. She shares her tradition and knowledge of contemporary, conservatory dance training with individuals, who despite their disabilities, have a professional desire to perform. It is the collaborative and creative spirit within dance that makes this effort possible.