Listening to two young Japanese women speak to one another while sitting in a restaurant in Kobe was like listening to a song.

For those of us new to the enchanting world of dance in some ways it’s like listening to a beautiful foreign language that you don’t understand. You know it’s beautiful, you just can’t understand why.

That’s the challenge when it comes to understanding and distinguishing a great Dance Choreographer from a good one.

In enjoying the dance and choreography of the vibrant, passionate and sexy Cat Cogliandro, novice aficionado that I may be, we know that this young talent is extremely good.

There are clues and components that are the building blocks for enjoyable dance viewing.

First and foremost the Lead Dancer and Choreographer should have mad passion. That’s a bare minimum requirement. The costumes are a major plus and can be expensive thus I see many dance routines in T-Shirts and sports briefs. The setting is important as well. Let’s don’t forget the music and the movements.

Well done dance routines are extremely involved.

Choreography is mentally draining, but there’s a pleasure in getting into the studio with the dancers and the music.…..Alvin Ailey

Whatever great dance entails, Cat Cogliandro has it down pat.

I love her work and at Femcompetitor Magazine we sense you will two. As the world of inside female sports slowly blends together at the dojo, we would like to introduce you to another young brilliant dancer.

Her informative site catcogliandro.com it’s explained, “Cat Cogliandro, born and raised in Houston, Texas, received her BFA in Dance from SUNY Purchase. Since then, Cat has worked with choreographers such as Cherice Barton, Al Blackstone, Tyce Diorio, Ian Eastwood, Mike Esperanza, Jason Gorman, Juliette Irons, Sonya Tayeh, Teddy Tedholm, Jaci Royal and Andrew Winghart.

Her credits include So You Think You Can Dance, America’s Got Talent, The 2014 Gypsy Awards, and The Pulse on Tour. She was one of the featured “From Stage to Studio” teachers in Dance Teacher Magazine (Dec 2014), was named one of Dance Spirit Magazine’s “Fresh Voices: 13 of the Dance World’s Hottest Young Choreographers” (Nov 2014) and was one of the featured “Dancers With Degrees” in Dance Spirit Magazine (Sept 2015). You can also find her dancing in the movie “Supporting Characters” directed by Daniel Schechter and the newest The Neighbourhood music video, “R.I.P. To My Youth”, directed by Hype Williams.

Cat is currently on faculty at The Edge in Los Angeles, and guest teaches at studios such as Broadway Dance Center, Millennium Dance Complex (LA and Pittsburgh), Peridance and Movement Lifestyle, along with The Pulse on Tour Teacher Workshop and the 2015/2016 tour of Soul De Soul Dance Convention. Her work has been presented at The Young Choreographers Festival, Young! Tanzsommer, Sirens After Dark, Dancin’ Downtown at The Joyce, Riverside Church, RAW, Dixon Place, Club Jete, Carnival and The Pulse Showcase Finale in New York City. She recently choreographed The Pulse on Tour closing number and Start to Stage (Track 2) for the 2015 season.

Cat now travels between LA and New York, as she continues to teach nationally and internationally. She is also Artistic Director, Choreographer and Creator of her own dance company, catastrophe!, who placed 2nd Runner Up at the 2015 Capezio A.C.E. Awards! Her full length show will be in Los Angeles, summer 2016.”

Idol has pretty much taken me out of my recording and out of my choreography. I have managed to slip in some choreography jobs. And I’ve been writing songs for other artists.…Paula Abdul

The television show So You Think You Can Dance captured the imagination of a massive television audience and it was intriguing watching video of Cat who was disappointed that she didn’t win.

Being from the elite high school sports world, watching a competitor expressing disappointment in a professional way is still a good thing. It shows they care. There is nothing casual about losing when you are trying to achieve greatness.

Cat is trying very hard to achieve greatness.

She speaks about that on video. She is both a major dancer and choreographer. Cat smiles and sighs that she thinks she began dancing before she came out of the womb. Dancing at the tender age of three, she knew by eight that this was her life’s passion.

To follow her dream she moved to New York at 22 and was told by leaders in the industry that her light was choreography. She agrees. She sees choreography like an architect sees a house or building.

She smiles again, “I piece it together while I pick and paste until I see a structure.”

Her goal is to broaden her dance horizons and her desire is to choreograph videos and movies on TV, and Broadway Shows.

Sounds exciting. We can’t wait to see more.

You can see some of her work online. Here are a few links.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcDHF9eSihY

http://rawartists.org/catcogliandro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFitUIDKQjE

It’s time to travel to Cat’s home town of Houston, Texas.

Houston is the most populous city in Texas and the American South, and the fourth most populous city in the United States. With a census-estimated 2014 population of 2.239 million people within a land area of 599.6 square miles, it also is the largest city in the Southern United States, as well as the seat of Harris County. It is the principal of its metropolitan area Greater Houston, which is the fifth most populated metropolitan area in the United States.

The world of dance is international in flavor and so is this major southern city. The educational site houston.eater.com helps spread the international flavor. Here are a few Houston eateries and restaurants that stand out.

Songkran Thai Kitchen

Following a successful first year Songkran Thai Kitchen has opened a second location in Sugar Land. Chef Junnajet “Jett” Hurapan, along with Songkran’s resident pastry chef, Jira Hurapan (chef Jett’s wife) built a menu of robust flavors with traditional Thai recipes reminiscent of their mutual birthplace of Bangkok.

Sud Italia Ristorante

This new Southern Italian charmer is quickly winning over the neighbors who have been missing predecessor Bistro Des Amis. Get the fritto misto, the gorgeous pesto over rough-hewn strozzapreti, and the whole fish. Then angle for a patio seat. Pure warm weather bliss.

Flo Paris Bakery Cafe

French couple Florelle and Rabih Salibi opened an authentic Parisian bakery. That’s well worth the Galleria traffic. The chic aesthetic inside the space offers ample room for handling bags of baguettes to go and ogling the impressive pastry counter. Flo’s recipes have the extra benefit of Houston chef Philippe Schmit, dubbed the French Cowboy, menu consultation on all things savory and sweet.

The fantastic travel site lonelyplanet.com summarizes Houston well. “Houston may rank behind Chicago as the nation’s fourth most populated city, but it covers a greater area than all of New Jersey. Diverse residential neighborhoods and enclaves of restaurants and shops spread far and wide. You’ll miss out if you limit yourself to Downtown. The leafy Museum District is the city’s cultural center; Upper Kirby and River Oaks have upscale shopping and dining; Montrose contains cute bungalows, quirky shops and eateries; Midtown has up-and-coming condos and some good restaurants; Washington Ave is nightlife central and the Heights has historic homes and boutiques.”

My dancers expect me to deliver because my choreography represents their livelihood……Twyla Tharp

Cat was raised in an outstanding Southern village with charm.

Falling under Cat’s dance spell is confirmation that the sisterhood of Dance, Cheer, Gymnastics and our great submission grappling industry would create a wonderful ticket on one venue.

Cat Cogliandro inspires that kind of dream.

~ ~ ~

Sources: brainyquote.com, Wikipedia, fciwomenswrestling2.com, FCI Elite Competitor, photos thank you Wikimedia Commons.

http://www.edgepac.com/teachers/cogliandro_cat/cogliandro_cat.htm

http://catcogliandro.com/catfacts/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcDHF9eSihY

http://rawartists.org/catcogliandro

https://www.broadwaydancecenter.com/faculty/bios/cogliandro_cat.shtml

http://www.edgepac.com/teachers/cogliandro_cat/cogliandro_cat.htm

http://opencallcompetition.com/judges.php

http://rowlandballard.com/

http://houston.eater.com/maps/best-new-houston-restaurants-heatmap

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/texas/houston