Kat Files is a Birmingham, Alabama native and a distinguished dance artist, educator, and arts leader with a comprehensive background in performance, education, and community engagement. She refined her dance training at the Alabama School of Fine Arts and earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the Ailey/Fordham University BFA Program 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 and has earned Hootsuite certifications in Platform and Social Marketing. She is a member of the inaugural cohort of The Ailey School’s Teacher Certification Program in the Ailey Horton Technique. In 2025, Kat received the Women in the Arts & Media Coalition’s Collaboration Award for her choreography in DUSK!, created in collaboration with playwright Lynda Crawford. The award recognizes outstanding collaborative work among women artists and is presented by one of the nation’s largest arts and media alliances, representing more than 80,000 professionals.
As an educator, Kat has established herself as a dynamic teaching artist, mentor, and curriculum developer. Her teaching experience includes engagements with the Ailey Arts In Education Program, the Misty Copeland Foundation BE BOLD Initiative (as a member of its inaugural teaching artist cohort), Lake Placid School of Dance, Repertory Company High School for Theatre Arts, the University of Connecticut Stamford, Girls Inc., Atlanta Dance Connection, and Samford University, among others. She has also served as an adjudicator for festivals, intensives, and conferences, and most recently taught a Horton-based modern master class at the International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD) Conference in Atlanta, continuing her commitment to preserving and sharing lineage-based dance training.
Beginning with the 2026–2027 academic year, Kat will join Trinity School in New York City as a Dance Educator, where she will lead the development of a new K–12 Dance Program. In this role, she will design and implement a comprehensive sequential curriculum while expanding opportunities for students to engage in dance as both an artistic discipline and an educational experience.
Kat is also the Founder and Executive Director of The F.I.L.E.S. Arts Project (TFAP), a Birmingham-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to high-quality arts education and performance opportunities for underserved communities. Through TFAP, she has provided free programming to hundreds of young people while cultivating partnerships with schools, artists, and community organizations throughout Birmingham. She is also a participant in the Birmingham Creatives for Impact initiative through the City of Birmingham’s Department of Community Development.
From 2022–2026, Kat served as Director of Education for EMERGE125 (E125), where she led the organization's educational programming, strategic partnerships, and curriculum development. During her tenure, she expanded relationships with schools and community organizations, launched new educational initiatives, coordinated E125's first teacher training in partnership with the National Dance Institute (NDI), developed the company's inaugural Education Performance, and helped establish stronger connections between the company's professional and educational work. Prior to her leadership role, Kat was a founding company dancer with EMERGE125, performing with the organization from 2019–2024.
As a performer, Kat has collaborated with renowned choreographers and companies including Germaul Barnes/Viewsic Dance, Tiffany Rea-Fisher, Ebony Williams, and Sidra Bell. Her performance credits include productions with The Classical Theatre of Harlem, including Memnon, The Bacchae, Twelfth Night, and A Christmas Carol in Harlem. Additional credits include The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, FOX's Gotham, ABC's Deception, The Irishman, and New York Fashion Week. She currently serves on staff at The Classical Theatre of Harlem as Database Administrator.
In addition to her work in dance and arts administration, Kat is an actress and model represented by MMG and Parts Models. She is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and Actors' Equity Association.
As an educator, Kat has established herself as a dynamic teaching artist, mentor, and curriculum developer. Her teaching experience includes engagements with the Ailey Arts In Education Program, the Misty Copeland Foundation BE BOLD Initiative (as a member of its inaugural teaching artist cohort), Lake Placid School of Dance, Repertory Company High School for Theatre Arts, the University of Connecticut Stamford, Girls Inc., Atlanta Dance Connection, and Samford University, among others. She has also served as an adjudicator for festivals, intensives, and conferences, and most recently taught a Horton-based modern master class at the International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD) Conference in Atlanta, continuing her commitment to preserving and sharing lineage-based dance training.
Beginning with the 2026–2027 academic year, Kat will join Trinity School in New York City as a Dance Educator, where she will lead the development of a new K–12 Dance Program. In this role, she will design and implement a comprehensive sequential curriculum while expanding opportunities for students to engage in dance as both an artistic discipline and an educational experience.
Kat is also the Founder and Executive Director of The F.I.L.E.S. Arts Project (TFAP), a Birmingham-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to high-quality arts education and performance opportunities for underserved communities. Through TFAP, she has provided free programming to hundreds of young people while cultivating partnerships with schools, artists, and community organizations throughout Birmingham. She is also a participant in the Birmingham Creatives for Impact initiative through the City of Birmingham’s Department of Community Development.
From 2022–2026, Kat served as Director of Education for EMERGE125 (E125), where she led the organization's educational programming, strategic partnerships, and curriculum development. During her tenure, she expanded relationships with schools and community organizations, launched new educational initiatives, coordinated E125's first teacher training in partnership with the National Dance Institute (NDI), developed the company's inaugural Education Performance, and helped establish stronger connections between the company's professional and educational work. Prior to her leadership role, Kat was a founding company dancer with EMERGE125, performing with the organization from 2019–2024.
As a performer, Kat has collaborated with renowned choreographers and companies including Germaul Barnes/Viewsic Dance, Tiffany Rea-Fisher, Ebony Williams, and Sidra Bell. Her performance credits include productions with The Classical Theatre of Harlem, including Memnon, The Bacchae, Twelfth Night, and A Christmas Carol in Harlem. Additional credits include The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, FOX's Gotham, ABC's Deception, The Irishman, and New York Fashion Week. She currently serves on staff at The Classical Theatre of Harlem as Database Administrator.
In addition to her work in dance and arts administration, Kat is an actress and model represented by MMG and Parts Models. She is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and Actors' Equity Association.
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.