Karen Love '94
Founder/Artistic Director, UMOJA Dance Company

Education: B.F.A. from Montclair State University and a M.F.A. from New York University Tisch School of the Arts

What she learned at MSU: How to be versatile and humble. Montclair State gave me the foundation to move on and accomplish so much. OSAU (Organization of Students for African Unity) enabled me to study my African-American history and to share it with the community. The world is a beautiful place and we need to allow the good to overshadow the bad.

Montclair State's Dance Department: The Dance Department is the strongest in New Jersey. My senior class consisted of 13 dance majors. Now I believe that number has grown to more than 50. Professor Lori Katterhenry (of the Theatre and Dance Department) is a kindred spirit who knows how to pull out what's deep inside. Her choreographic eye is fabulous and she's helped me in so many ways.

Why she decided to come back to MSU: It's the place that nurtured my craft. It's where I developed my foundation of hard work. The Dance Department became my second family, and even though it's grown, Lori still makes everyone feel special.

How she keeps her composure under pressure: The dancers I'm blessed to work with are responsible and mature individuals who know how to conduct themselves during the rehearsal process.

What motivates her unbridled passion for the art of African dance: I'm fortunate enough to have studied with a lot of wonderful teachers, especially those who danced with Les Ballet Africains, one of the first African dance companies to come to the United States. African dance is a communal and powerful expression of individuality because each dancer's approach to the movement is unique. The grace and fluidity of the movement is breathtaking. Every time I take a class I'm left in awe by my teachers. They are a true inspiration.

The future of the Umoja Dance Company: We plan to present New Jersey's first West African Dance and Drum Festival, and to open a cultural center in Montclair that offers classes, workshops and performances of all cultures. This will be a year of abundance and transformation, and we look forward to pressing through into greatness.

Memorable MSU moment:  My senior year I went to Lori Katterhenry to talk about doing my own work and starting a company. She gave me all the support I could have ever asked for. When I was ready to give it all up, she called me into her office and told me I had so much to offer, and I was only scratching the surface of my greatness. From that moment on she's been in my corner and MSU has been my home away from home.

Love was named one of the 50 women you should know in Montclair. Why we should know her: As founder/artistic director of UMOJA Dance Company, Karen and her staff have created seven educational and development programs, including African Heritage School Initiative, African Heritage Early Education Initiative, and UJIMA and African Arts & Culture Summer Experience. Love has been commissioned for her choreography and presented at Symphony Space, Danspace Project, Duke University, Joyce Soho, Aaron Davis Hall, Northern Illinois University, the Baltimore/Chicago Dance Theater, DTW Freshtracks, the Dance in Education Fund, and MSU. UMOJA, recognized as one of New Jersey's premier dance companies, also appeared on "NBC Today" celebrating Black History Month. 

Thoughts on her experience performing in Gambia West Africa: Africa is the most beautiful place in the world. The people are extremely welcoming and humble. I was able to study with people from the community and members of the national company. It was a transforming time in my life and I am so grateful to Baba Chuck Davis for making the trip a success. It is overwhelming to learn specific dances from teachers here in the United States and then to travel to Africa and see the same dances being performed by the community.

Perks of the job: I treasure the children. They are our future. The time will come for me to sit back and watch, and I want to be able to do that with confidence knowing I have passed on everything I know. I treasure the interaction with the audience and seeing their expressions of joy and release. I treasure watching dancers bring to life an idea that was once on paper.

Favorite Dancers: Male--Ron Brown and Desmond Richardson, Female--Camille Brown and Renee Robinson.

Awards and Accomplishments: Commissioned by the Westfield Symphony Orchestra and NJ Chamber Music Society. Represented the MSU Dance Department in Australia performing and teaching in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Love performed in the musical "Jubilee" by Cole Porter in Carnegie Hall. She was given a New Jersey State Council on the Arts Fellowship Grant in 1995 and the Harkness Choreographers Space Grant at SUNY Purchase in 1993 and 1994. Love was invited to the Bates Dance Festival in Maine as an Emerging Choreographer in 1997 and is the director of the Hillside High School dance program.

–By Jeffrey R. Barilli '04