Cristy Kahan

Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Cristy started her ballet career at the age of 3 with her mother Lilliam Catala and continued with her classical ballet training under Maria Carrera and Carlota Carrera. At the age of 13 she became part of the Ballet Concierto Company becoming the youngest dancer to be invited as a part of the company corp. In addition to Maria and Carlota Carrera, she received teachings under Lolita San Miguel (Company Artistic Director), Jose Pares, Sylvia Marichal and Vladimir Issaev.  At the age of 15, she was selected as one of the dancers to represent Puerto Rico in the Jackson, MS Ballet Competitions.  As part of the Company she was able to travel to Taiwan, Germany, Egypt as well as tour the United States and at the age of 17 she was promoted to soloist. Her repertoire includes Giselle, Swan Lake, Les Silphides, Don Quixote, Phantom of the Opera and Nutcracker to name a few as well as many contemporary and modern pieces.  She has performed Le Fille Pas de Deux, Le Corsaire Pas de Deux, Clara, Dew Drop, and Snow Queen as a soloist.  Cristy currently resides in Tampa, Fl with her two children, Amanda and Dale.  She has a Bachelors in Management and Marketing from Purdue University, joined the New Tampa Dance Theatre faculty as a ballet instructor in 2010, and is now  in her tenth season as NTDT’s Ballet Director and Dance Theatre of Tampa’s Resident Choreographer.

Cristy Kahan

Ballet Director

New Tampa Dance Theatre