Kat Files is a Birmingham, Alabama native and a New York City–based dance artist, educator, and arts administrator with a comprehensive background in performance, education, and digital marketing. She trained at the Alabama School of Fine Arts and earned her BFA from the Ailey/Fordham University Program in Dance as a four-year Glorya Kaufman Foundation Dance Scholar. Kat also holds a Graduate Certificate in Digital Marketing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, has earned Hootsuite certifications in Platform and Social Marketing, and was selected as a member of the inaugural cohort of the Ailey Teacher Certification Program in the Ailey Horton Technique.
Kat serves as Director of Education at EMERGE125 under the artistic direction of Tiffany Rea-Fisher, where she has played a pivotal role in expanding and formalizing the organization’s education initiatives. Her work includes managing long-standing partnerships with Repertory Company High School for Theatre Arts and The Stars of Tomorrow Project, expanding residencies at Trinity School and PS 481 (The STEAM Bridge School), launching a Masterclass series, redesigning the E125 Summer Series, and coordinating the inaugural participation of education partners in the 2025 EMERGE125 Company Season. A founding company dancer, Kat performed with EMERGE125 from 2019–2024 and continues to work as a freelance artist on independent projects.
In addition to her work with EMERGE125, Kat is the Founder and Executive Director of The F.I.L.E.S. Arts Project (TFAP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering arts education and increasing access to dance, music, and performance opportunities for underserved communities in Birmingham and surrounding areas. Her commitment to community engagement includes early volunteer work with organizations such as Woodlawn Ballet, Scrollworks/Metropolitan Youth Orchestras of Central Alabama, and Birmingham City Schools, and ongoing support for educators through choreography, masterclasses, and resource sharing. Kat was also selected to participate in the Birmingham Creatives for Impact program through the Department of Community Development.
As a teaching artist, Kat works with the Ailey Arts In Education Program and has taught nationally with the Misty Copeland Foundation’s BE BOLD Initiative (first cohort), Lake Placid School of Dance, Repertory Company High School for Theatre Arts, University of Connecticut at Stamford, Samford University, Girls Inc., Atlanta Dance Connection, and other institutions. Her collaborative credits include work with Germaul Barnes/Viewsic Dance, Tiffany Rea-Fisher, Ebony Williams, Sidra Bell, and EMERGE125.
Kat’s performance credits include Classical Theatre of Harlem’s Memnon, The Bacchae, Twelfth Night, and A Christmas Carol in Harlem, with television appearances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Gotham, Deception, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. In 2025, she received the Women in the Arts & Media Coalition’s Collaboration Award: Women Working With Women for her choreography in DUSK!, created in collaboration with playwright Lynda Crawford. She recently joined the Classical Theatre of Harlem’s staff as a Database Administrator.
Kat is a member of SAG-AFTRA and Actors’ Equity Association and is represented by MMG and Parts Models.
Kat serves as Director of Education at EMERGE125 under the artistic direction of Tiffany Rea-Fisher, where she has played a pivotal role in expanding and formalizing the organization’s education initiatives. Her work includes managing long-standing partnerships with Repertory Company High School for Theatre Arts and The Stars of Tomorrow Project, expanding residencies at Trinity School and PS 481 (The STEAM Bridge School), launching a Masterclass series, redesigning the E125 Summer Series, and coordinating the inaugural participation of education partners in the 2025 EMERGE125 Company Season. A founding company dancer, Kat performed with EMERGE125 from 2019–2024 and continues to work as a freelance artist on independent projects.
In addition to her work with EMERGE125, Kat is the Founder and Executive Director of The F.I.L.E.S. Arts Project (TFAP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering arts education and increasing access to dance, music, and performance opportunities for underserved communities in Birmingham and surrounding areas. Her commitment to community engagement includes early volunteer work with organizations such as Woodlawn Ballet, Scrollworks/Metropolitan Youth Orchestras of Central Alabama, and Birmingham City Schools, and ongoing support for educators through choreography, masterclasses, and resource sharing. Kat was also selected to participate in the Birmingham Creatives for Impact program through the Department of Community Development.
As a teaching artist, Kat works with the Ailey Arts In Education Program and has taught nationally with the Misty Copeland Foundation’s BE BOLD Initiative (first cohort), Lake Placid School of Dance, Repertory Company High School for Theatre Arts, University of Connecticut at Stamford, Samford University, Girls Inc., Atlanta Dance Connection, and other institutions. Her collaborative credits include work with Germaul Barnes/Viewsic Dance, Tiffany Rea-Fisher, Ebony Williams, Sidra Bell, and EMERGE125.
Kat’s performance credits include Classical Theatre of Harlem’s Memnon, The Bacchae, Twelfth Night, and A Christmas Carol in Harlem, with television appearances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Gotham, Deception, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. In 2025, she received the Women in the Arts & Media Coalition’s Collaboration Award: Women Working With Women for her choreography in DUSK!, created in collaboration with playwright Lynda Crawford. She recently joined the Classical Theatre of Harlem’s staff as a Database Administrator.
Kat is a member of SAG-AFTRA and Actors’ Equity Association and is represented by MMG and Parts Models.
Royce Files is a saxophone teacher and performer based in Los Angeles, CA. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree from the University of Southern California in 2024, and studied under Dr. Jessica Maxfield at the Thornton School of Music. Mr. Files obtained his Bachelor of Music (BM) degree in Saxophone Performance from the University of Dayton in 2012. He was awarded his Master of Music (MM) degree and Artist Diploma (AD) at The University of Cincinnati - College Conservatory of Music (CCM) in 2014 and 2016. Royce Files was the recipient of a 4-year renewable Presidential Scholarship and music scholarship at the University of Dayton. Additionally, Mr. Files was a recipient of a Jazz Graduate Assistantship and a Graduate Scholarship at the CCM. He has also studied with James Bunte, Nathan Nabb, Willie Morris III, Paul Cohen, Jim Flowers, Dwight Houston and Angel Negrin. He is currently working at USC in the IT field while performing with LA based chamber ensembles and teaching private lessons.
Mr. Files has performed in a multitude of music ensembles, including the Thornton Wind Ensemble, CCM Wind Orchestra, CCM Jazz Lab Band, and the University of Dayton First Flight Saxophone Quartet. In 2017 Mr. Files performed with Solange Knowles and StarChild on several tour dates, including FYF Fest, The Hollywood Bowl, and Camp Flog Gnaw.
In 2012, Mr. Files’ University of Dayton-based First Flight Saxophone Quartet was invited to perform at the International Society for Music Education World Conference in Thessaloniki, Greece.
In addition to his collegiate activities, Mr. Files has served as the Vacation Bible School Music Director for his Church, has taught music at Birmingham City Schools and Homewood City School band camps, and has been a guest performer at many civic organizations and area churches. He is currently working with the Thornton Community Engagement Program (TCEP); an outreach program aimed at mentoring students in disadvantaged schools without music programs. He has also worked with the CCM Whiz Kids organization and the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of Central Alabama/Scrollworks as a saxophone instructor. When he was younger, he toured Paris, France and Genoa and Rome, Italy as a member of the Magic City Boys Choir. His passion for music was kindled by his Grandfather, the late Curtis Files Jr., who was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame as a Legendary Blues Artist. Mr. Files is originally from Birmingham, Alabama where he attended Homewood High School.
Mr. Files has performed in a multitude of music ensembles, including the Thornton Wind Ensemble, CCM Wind Orchestra, CCM Jazz Lab Band, and the University of Dayton First Flight Saxophone Quartet. In 2017 Mr. Files performed with Solange Knowles and StarChild on several tour dates, including FYF Fest, The Hollywood Bowl, and Camp Flog Gnaw.
In 2012, Mr. Files’ University of Dayton-based First Flight Saxophone Quartet was invited to perform at the International Society for Music Education World Conference in Thessaloniki, Greece.
In addition to his collegiate activities, Mr. Files has served as the Vacation Bible School Music Director for his Church, has taught music at Birmingham City Schools and Homewood City School band camps, and has been a guest performer at many civic organizations and area churches. He is currently working with the Thornton Community Engagement Program (TCEP); an outreach program aimed at mentoring students in disadvantaged schools without music programs. He has also worked with the CCM Whiz Kids organization and the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of Central Alabama/Scrollworks as a saxophone instructor. When he was younger, he toured Paris, France and Genoa and Rome, Italy as a member of the Magic City Boys Choir. His passion for music was kindled by his Grandfather, the late Curtis Files Jr., who was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame as a Legendary Blues Artist. Mr. Files is originally from Birmingham, Alabama where he attended Homewood High School.
Christian Files is employed in corporate finance in Milwaukee, WI and holds an MBA from Marquette University with a concentration in marketing. Christian initially joined Rockwell Automation’s Finance Leadership Development Program, where he transitioned between four finance and accounting roles at the Milwaukee and Cleveland offices with a focus on financial planning and analysis. He also supported the Internal Audit team as a Finance Auditor, ensuring the company’s internal controls and compliance efforts were effective. After being promoted to Senior Finance Auditor and completing numerous international assignments, Christian spent time working in Corporate Financial Planning & Analysis at Clarios, Molson Coors Beverage Company, and Zurn Elkay Water Solutions. Christian now works at ABB as the Sales Controller for the Motion - Drive Products division, supporting sales and business shared services teams with reporting on key performance metrics, accounting, and internal controls.
After graduating from Marquette University, Christian collaborated with his marketing professor Rev. Nicholas Santos, S.J., PhD, to write the academic paper “The Food Industry and Obesity in the United States: A Virtue Ethics Approach for the Common Good”, which Rev. Santos presented at the 24th International Vincentian Business Ethics Conference in 2017. Prior to being employed in Milwaukee, Christian completed two Finance internships in Tucson, Arizona.
In 2012, Christian earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio, graduating magna cum laude with a concentration in Finance. During his time at Dayton, he was a trombonist for several of the university’s music ensembles, serving as the principal trombonist for the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and a member of the Dayton Jazz Ensemble. In addition to his academic and musical pursuits, Mr. Files was elected to the executive committee for the University of Dayton chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars as Vice-President. In this role he facilitated workshops for students focusing on professional development and organized community service events to benefit the Dayton Metropolitan Area.
Christian gained experience teaching trombone to high school students as a summer band instructor at Homewood High School, where he was the brass section leader and selected to the Alabama All-State Band. He also has vocal experience as a former member of the Magic City Boy's Choir. His time with the choir was what opened his eyes to the opportunities excellence in the arts can provide as he was able to perform with the group in Paris, France and Rome, Italy at a young age. The passion he has for music and the performing arts comes from his family, which can be traced to his grandfather, the late Curtis Files, Jr., who was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame as a Legendary Blues Artist. Christian is originally from Birmingham, Alabama.
After graduating from Marquette University, Christian collaborated with his marketing professor Rev. Nicholas Santos, S.J., PhD, to write the academic paper “The Food Industry and Obesity in the United States: A Virtue Ethics Approach for the Common Good”, which Rev. Santos presented at the 24th International Vincentian Business Ethics Conference in 2017. Prior to being employed in Milwaukee, Christian completed two Finance internships in Tucson, Arizona.
In 2012, Christian earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio, graduating magna cum laude with a concentration in Finance. During his time at Dayton, he was a trombonist for several of the university’s music ensembles, serving as the principal trombonist for the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and a member of the Dayton Jazz Ensemble. In addition to his academic and musical pursuits, Mr. Files was elected to the executive committee for the University of Dayton chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars as Vice-President. In this role he facilitated workshops for students focusing on professional development and organized community service events to benefit the Dayton Metropolitan Area.
Christian gained experience teaching trombone to high school students as a summer band instructor at Homewood High School, where he was the brass section leader and selected to the Alabama All-State Band. He also has vocal experience as a former member of the Magic City Boy's Choir. His time with the choir was what opened his eyes to the opportunities excellence in the arts can provide as he was able to perform with the group in Paris, France and Rome, Italy at a young age. The passion he has for music and the performing arts comes from his family, which can be traced to his grandfather, the late Curtis Files, Jr., who was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame as a Legendary Blues Artist. Christian is originally from Birmingham, Alabama.