As BalletX launches our 2026-2027 Season, we’re highlighting members of our donor family whose passion and support help BalletX thrive both onstage and throughout the community.
This month, we’re thrilled to feature Kathyna Williams. As a donor, subscriber, and self-proclaimed BalletX District of Columbia (D.C.) Super Fan, Kathyna embodies the company’s adventurous spirit both onstage and off.
Tell us a little about yourself. What inspires you to seek out new experiences?
I’m Kathyna Williams, born and partially raised in the great state of Indiana. I spent 30 years in the Air Force working in military intelligence, which gave me the opportunity to live and explore around the world, from England and Greece to Japan and Hawaii. I love moving and exploring, and using each new home as a launching point for even more discovery.
Around the time of the pandemic, I retired from the Air Force and began working at the Pentagon. After that chapter of my life, I felt like I needed to do something new, and so I learned how to sail. I quickly fell in love with it. I live with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, and interestingly, sailing became one of the few times when I was completely free of headaches and my pressure would drop.
New adventures aren’t just something I seek out, they’re a lifestyle.
How did you first discover BalletX, and what made that first experience memorable?
Once a year, my daughter, my two nieces, and I meet in Philadelphia for a week to spend time together. I call it “Ballet Week” and they call it “Cousin Camp.”
During our first Cousin Camp, we were searching for things to do when BalletX popped up in a Google search. We bought tickets, showed up, and you had me from the very beginning. The first ballet was set to boogie, with Marvin Gaye as the first artist on the soundtrack.
I played in orchestra growing up, so while I don’t dislike classical music, I’m definitely picky about it. What immediately struck me about BalletX was how it challenged my expectations of what ballet could be. Seeing movement paired with music I connected with, rather than a traditional classical piece, was exhilarating.
And so BalletX became part of the family. That first performance started a tradition that continues today. Every Cousin Camp, we make a point of attending a performance, usually at the Highmark Mann. BalletX has been a wonderful way to get my family together.
Was there a defining moment that inspired you to become a donor? What made you want to invest in BalletX’s journey?
It was really that first season that hooked me. The performances were incredible. At the time, I was dealing with undiagnosed Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, so there were few places that brought me happiness or gave me a break from the pain. But I could lose myself at a BalletX performance and it became the second place where I didn’t have headaches.
I felt that if BalletX could give me relief from my pain, then there was something truly special happening – and something worth supporting.
How has your relationship with BalletX changed or surprised you over the years?
When BalletX began offering VIP Backstage ticket packages at the Highmark Mann, I was surprised by just how much work goes into creating each performance. There’s so much happening behind the scenes that an audience never gets to see.
I remember Christine explaining all these detailed elements of the production. I had no idea there were so many little tricks and technical details involved in making everything come together. It opened my eyes to how much thought, creativity, and precision go into what we see onstage.
Getting to know some of the dancers and staff has made that experience even more meaningful. You begin to understand the intricacies of what makes BalletX happen.
I’ve always loved the videos at the beginning of each performance because they give you a glimpse into the world behind the work. But building personal relationships with the dancers and staff has taken that understanding to another level.
What is one performance or moment that felt like an unexpected discovery for you?
There’s a sense of wonder in almost all of the performances.
I was shocked during one performance when a piece was set to bluegrass music. It was such an unexpected combination, two things I never would have thought to associate with each other, but it worked beautifully.
As BalletX embarks on a new season of bold artistic adventures, what are you most looking forward to experiencing?
I can’t wait to see who will be choreographing this year. That’s always one of my favorite parts of the season: discovering which new and returning choreographers are joining BalletX. I always look them up and love learning more about their work.
It’s also exciting to see what’s happening with the dancers and to watch the BalletX family grow. Since each dancer is on a 52-week contract, I enjoy following them throughout the season and seeing who will take on which role in each piece.
I love that sense of curiosity leading up to each performance. Then, when I finally show up, it’s exciting to see all of those pieces come together onstage.
As both a donor and subscriber, I even schedule my medical appointments around the performance schedule to make sure I’m back in the U.S. for every BalletX performance.
When you think about the impact of your support, what makes you most proud?
I like to believe that I help keep BalletX connected to its community. As your self-proclaimed D.C. Super Fan, I love reading about all the ways the company engages with Philadelphia. I especially love seeing BalletX connect with children and get them moving, dancing, and experiencing the joy of dance.
So, if I can help support that mission in any way, I think that’s pretty awesome.
If you could invite someone to join you on the BalletX adventure, what would you tell them?
I always tell people, “You’ve got to come with me to BalletX – and forget what you think you know about ballet.” It’s different from what you might expect. The dancers are incredibly talented and athletic, and it’s such a fun way to experience ballet from a fresh perspective.
