Our Story
The FILES (Future Inspired Leaders Exemplifying Success) Arts Project (TFAP) was created by Dancer/Choreographer Kat Files. Kat has always believed that arts training and performance opportunities should be inclusive, available, and accessible to all students. The FILES Arts Project recognizes that traditionally underserved and underrepresented communities will become stronger through arts education. This project was born out of Ms. Files' desire to expose participants to dance masterclasses in various techniques such as Horton, Jazz, Limon, and Graham in her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama.
Kat has worked with acclaimed choreographers Felice Lesser, Sidra Bell, Darrell Moultrie, Norbert De La Cruz III, Astrid Von Ussar, Troy Powell, Sylvia Waters, Ronnie Favors, Matthew Rushing, Ronald K. Brown, Sonia Dawkins, Germaul Barnes, Hope Boykin, Darshan Bhuller, Alexandre Proia, Allyne Gartrell, Carlos Dos Santos, and Camille A. Brown. To thoroughly prepare participants for careers in the arts and to provide them with the dance skills necessary to work with professional choreographers, Kat created The FILES Arts Project. It provides participants with performance opportunities in dance and music as well as educational segments such as "the healthy artist initiative" and "the business of being an artist."
Since the Summer of 2014, The FILES Arts Project has successfully presented these workshops to participants at no cost. During the Summer of 2015, Kat collaborated with her brothers, Royce Files (Master Saxophonist) and Christian Files (Businessman/Trombonist) as well as Kyra McCarty (Dancer/Choreographer), Coreisa Lee (Flutist), and Lisa Altamirano (Physical Therapist) to present a one week workshop at the historic Carver Theatre in Birmingham, Alabama.
During the Summer of 2016, Kat collaborated with fellow New York City dancers Mecca Allah, Chelsea Parron, and Caci Pritchett at the Carver Theatre. Royce Files held a music masterclass at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. Physical Therapist, Lisa Altamirano focused on proper posture alignment for dance and musicians. The 2016 Showcase culminated in a performance of "Nineteen Sixty-Three", a piece originally performed in NYC, which was choreographed by Ms. Files. The piece pays tribute through dance to the Civil Rights Movement and the four little girls (Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley) killed in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama.
During the Summer of 2017, The FILES Arts Project was held at the Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA). Kat collaborated with California dancer, Chelsea Parron and New York City dancer, Rivkins Christopher. The 3 day Intensive included Horton, Contemporary, and Jazz techniques and concluded in a studio showing. Lisa Altamirano presented the "Healthy Artist Initiative" by emphasizing healthy choices as an artist.
During the Summer of 2018, TFAP held a week-long Dance and Music Workshop at ASFA. Kat collaborated with New York City dancers, Rivkins Christopher and Terri Wright, in Contemporary, Horton, and Commercial Jazz techniques. Co-Founder, Royce Files (Los Angeles), Music Director, collaborated with New York City Flutist, Coreisa Lee, and Birmingham Clarinetist, Aundrenee Jemison. Co-Founder, Christian Files (Milwaukee), presented the "Business of being an Artist" Seminar which emphasized artist branding/marketing and audition preparation. Physical Therapist, Lisa Altamirano presented interactive sessions with an emphasis on injury prevention and proper stretching techniques for dancers and musicians.
The Founders' passion for the performing arts comes from their family, which can be traced back to their grandfather, the late Curtis Files Jr., who was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame as a Legendary Blues Artist in 2014.
Kat has worked with acclaimed choreographers Felice Lesser, Sidra Bell, Darrell Moultrie, Norbert De La Cruz III, Astrid Von Ussar, Troy Powell, Sylvia Waters, Ronnie Favors, Matthew Rushing, Ronald K. Brown, Sonia Dawkins, Germaul Barnes, Hope Boykin, Darshan Bhuller, Alexandre Proia, Allyne Gartrell, Carlos Dos Santos, and Camille A. Brown. To thoroughly prepare participants for careers in the arts and to provide them with the dance skills necessary to work with professional choreographers, Kat created The FILES Arts Project. It provides participants with performance opportunities in dance and music as well as educational segments such as "the healthy artist initiative" and "the business of being an artist."
Since the Summer of 2014, The FILES Arts Project has successfully presented these workshops to participants at no cost. During the Summer of 2015, Kat collaborated with her brothers, Royce Files (Master Saxophonist) and Christian Files (Businessman/Trombonist) as well as Kyra McCarty (Dancer/Choreographer), Coreisa Lee (Flutist), and Lisa Altamirano (Physical Therapist) to present a one week workshop at the historic Carver Theatre in Birmingham, Alabama.
During the Summer of 2016, Kat collaborated with fellow New York City dancers Mecca Allah, Chelsea Parron, and Caci Pritchett at the Carver Theatre. Royce Files held a music masterclass at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. Physical Therapist, Lisa Altamirano focused on proper posture alignment for dance and musicians. The 2016 Showcase culminated in a performance of "Nineteen Sixty-Three", a piece originally performed in NYC, which was choreographed by Ms. Files. The piece pays tribute through dance to the Civil Rights Movement and the four little girls (Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley) killed in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama.
During the Summer of 2017, The FILES Arts Project was held at the Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA). Kat collaborated with California dancer, Chelsea Parron and New York City dancer, Rivkins Christopher. The 3 day Intensive included Horton, Contemporary, and Jazz techniques and concluded in a studio showing. Lisa Altamirano presented the "Healthy Artist Initiative" by emphasizing healthy choices as an artist.
During the Summer of 2018, TFAP held a week-long Dance and Music Workshop at ASFA. Kat collaborated with New York City dancers, Rivkins Christopher and Terri Wright, in Contemporary, Horton, and Commercial Jazz techniques. Co-Founder, Royce Files (Los Angeles), Music Director, collaborated with New York City Flutist, Coreisa Lee, and Birmingham Clarinetist, Aundrenee Jemison. Co-Founder, Christian Files (Milwaukee), presented the "Business of being an Artist" Seminar which emphasized artist branding/marketing and audition preparation. Physical Therapist, Lisa Altamirano presented interactive sessions with an emphasis on injury prevention and proper stretching techniques for dancers and musicians.
The Founders' passion for the performing arts comes from their family, which can be traced back to their grandfather, the late Curtis Files Jr., who was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame as a Legendary Blues Artist in 2014.