Director of The Conservatory

Katie Van der Mars is a Company Artist with Omaha’s professional ballet company, Ballet Nebraska. She began her training in classical ballet at Corvallis Academy of Ballet in Corvallis, Oregon as a child. Katie spent summers training with Atlanta Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and Ballet West. She is a graduate of the University of Utah, where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet Performance in 2012. During her time in Salt Lake City, she performed as a 3-year member of the University’s resident company, Utah Ballet, where she danced in La Bayadere,Giselle, Paquita, the pas de deux from Scheherazade, The Nutcracker, The Firebird, Fokine’s Ruslan & Ludmilla, and many contemporary works. At Ballet Nebraska, Katie has danced the lead in George Balanchine’s Valse Fantaisie, Snow Queen and the French soloist in The Nutcracker, and featured roles in Bournonville Divertissements-Napoli Pas De Six, Swan Lake Pas De Trois, Les Odalisques Pas De Trois, Erika Overturff’s Pizzicato Pas De Deux, Kennet Oberly’s Alice in Wonderland, Giselle Peasant Pas De Six, Cleopatra, Erika Overturff’s Go West! and many additional contemporary works in Ballet Nebraska’s mixed repertoire. She has also performed with Opera Omaha and the Omaha Symphony. Katie has taught dance classes in Omaha, Lincoln, and Missouri, and is looking forward to sharing her passion for dance with NBT’s students, our next generation of dancers. Katie has accepted the position as the Director of Nebraska Ballet Theatre's Ballet Conservatory Program.