Meet the Dancers of Ballet Vero Beach: Katherine Eppink’s Journey On and Off the Stage

Welcome to the very first edition of our revamped Notes From Backstage, Ballet Vero Beach’s new monthly blog series.

This series was born from the belief that the most meaningful connections happen when we share our stories. We are thrilled to expand the series and hear from the artists, staff, supporters, and guests who bring Ballet Vero Beach to life.

Each month, you’ll hear directly from the people who make our organization soar. Some stories will be funny, some inspiring, and some may surprise you, but all of them will offer a glimpse into the human side of our work.

Since this is our first post, I thought it would be fitting to introduce myself.

My name is Katherine Eppink, and if you’ve been with Ballet Vero Beach for a while, you might remember that I started working with the company in 2014 as one of the dancers who (happily) traveled from Omaha, Nebraska, to Vero Beach throughout the year to rehearse and perform with BVB.

I moved to Vero Beach in July 2020 to fulfill the company’s first full-time resident dancer contract, and I’ve seen the company grow from its tiny Season 1 roots into the cultural pillar it is today. Now, I have the unique privilege of serving Ballet Vero Beach in two very different roles: Principal Dancer and Director of Marketing.

When people hear that I dance professionally and lead the organization’s marketing efforts, they often ask me how I manage to do both. The honest answer is that some days are easier than others.

On any given day, I might spend the morning writing marketing emails, coordinating social media campaigns, or slowly chipping away at my Master’s Degree. By mid-morning, I am in the studio, warming up, taking class, rehearsing, and preparing for upcoming performances. Then I head home to my most important role of all, being a mom.

Balancing these responsibilities requires flexibility, organization, and a healthy sense of humor. Some days my schedule feels perfectly coordinated; others feel like relentless chaos. I’ve answered work emails during nap time, reviewed marketing materials between rehearsals, and spent countless evenings icing my feet while planning the next day’s priorities after my son has gone to bed.

What keeps me going is knowing these roles are connected by a common purpose: creating meaningful experiences through the arts.

As a dancer, I can share stories through movement. As Director of Marketing, I get to connect our audiences with those stories and invite new patrons into the theater. As a mom, I am constantly reminded of the importance of creativity, imagination, and building a vibrant community for future generations.

Ballet companies thrive because of dedicated teams of artists, administrators, volunteers, board members, donors, and audience members who believe in the value of the arts.

That is exactly why Adam and I have decided to expand Notes From Backstage.

Through this blog, we hope to introduce you to the remarkable people who make Ballet Vero Beach possible. You’ll meet dancers and staff members, learn about our community partnerships, discover what goes into producing a performance, and gain insight into the passion that drives our organization forward.

And as a patron of the arts, you are at the center of it all. Thank you for being part of our story. We’re grateful you’re here.

We look forward to sharing more with you in the months ahead.

Until next time,

Katherine Eppink

Principal Dancer & Director of Marketing

Ballet Vero Beach