Cathleen McCarthy, originally from San Mateo, California, received a Ford Foundation Scholarship from Violet Verdy at age twelve. In 1983, she received her B.F.A. from Purchase College. In New York City she danced with the companies, Kevin Wynn Collection and Larry Clark and Dancers.  In 1985 she returned to the Bay Area and danced in several local companies--New Dance Co/San Jose (Cliff Keuter-Director), Zaccho Dance Theater (Joanna Haigood-Director), Della Davidson Dance Co. and also as a guest artist with local companies, Macfarland/Whistler/DanceArtCompany and Ruth Langridge Dance Company. In 1988, she assisted Emily Keeler in choreographing “The Awakening” for the Oakland Ballet. In 1994, she co-choreographed “Our Town” with Emily Keeler, for the Oakland Ballet.  In 1992 and 1993 she was awarded Dance Bay Area Commissioning Project Grants for her choreography. The Zellerbach Family Fund has also awarded her grants for choreographic projects. In 1992, Ms. McCarthy founded Summerfest/Dance and was a Director for 10 years.  In 2003, she was commissioned by the Composers- Choreographers Consortium for a collaboration with composer Daniel David Feinsmith to create “Leviticus”.  She has taught at School of the Arts as an Artist in Residence, San Francisco Arts Education Project, Shawl-Anderson Dance Center, and is currently on faculty at San Francisco State University as a Lecturer in the School of Music and Dance, teaching advanced Modern Dance, Dance Medicine, Dance Conditioning, Organizational Strategies, and is a Director of the University Dance Theater. The company tours to local colleges, high schools and to the American College Dance Festivals. She is also a certified Pilates and GYROTONIC  instructor with her own private practice.