MONKTON — Longtime choreographer Karen Amirault, who is wrapping up a nine-day residency at Monkton Central School this Friday, has been dancing for five decades.
Amirault grew up in Melrose, Mass., and has been a dancer from the age of four, when she began taking lessons in ballet.
“Ballet is like Latin — it’s an incredibly strong base for any kind of dance,” Amirault said.
After 14 years with the same teacher, Amirault decided dancing was not a lucrative career. She came on a scholarship to Middlebury College, where she intended to major in French. However, Middlebury created a dance major her sophomore year, and hired Amirault to teach, in addition to her student commitments. In addition to ballet, Amirault became proficient in African, jazz and tap.
For two decades, Amirault has driven to all corners of the state to host short-term programs.
In addition to her time in schools, Amirault choreographs musicals for troupes like the Lyric Theatre Company in Williston and the White River Valley Players in Rochester. She has choreographed performances at Milton, Essex and Montpelier high schools.
Amirault also runs her own outfit, the Karen Amirault Dance Company and KIDZ.
— Zach Despart