# Kathi Martuza

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**Kathi Martuza** is an American former professional [ballet dancer](/source/Ballet_dancer) who was a [principal dancer](/source/Principal_dancer) with the [Oregon Ballet Theatre](/source/Oregon_Ballet_Theatre).[2] She previously danced with the [San Francisco Ballet](/source/San_Francisco_Ballet) for six years[3] and is also known as **Kathleen Martuza**.[4]

## Early life and education

Born in [Boston](/source/Boston), Martuza started her ballet training at the age of 12 at the Lexington School of Ballet in [Massachusetts](/source/Massachusetts). After moving to [Maryland](/source/Maryland) with her family, she continued with Maryland Youth Ballet in [Bethesda](/source/Bethesda,_Maryland). She spent two summers with the [Houston Ballet Academy](/source/Houston_Ballet_Academy) and one summer at the [American Ballet Theatre](/source/American_Ballet_Theatre) School. While a senior in high school, she took a master class with Betsy Erickson of the San Francisco Ballet and turned down an apprenticeship with the company in order to complete high school in Maryland.[4]

## Career

Martuza joined the [San Francisco Ballet](/source/San_Francisco_Ballet) at the age of 17[1] in 1997. She was a member of SFB's [corps de ballet](/source/Corps_de_ballet) (as Kathleen Martuza) until 2003.[5][6]

Martuza joined Oregon Ballet Theatre in 2003 and was ranked [principal dancer](/source/Principal_dancer) in 2007,[3] the year when OBT ranked its dancers for the first time.[7] She has had roles created for her by choreographers such as [Mark Morris](/source/Mark_Morris_(choreographer)), [James Kudelka](/source/James_Kudelka), [Christopher Stowell](/source/Christopher_Stowell), [Julia Adam](/source/Julia_Adam), and [Yuri Possokhov](/source/Yuri_Possokhov).[3]

In 2005, Martuza was named one of ["25 to Watch"](/source/Dance_Magazine's_%2225_to_Watch%22) by *[Dance Magazine](/source/Dance_Magazine)*.[1][8] She was also featured on the cover October/November 2007 issue of *[Pointe](/source/Pointe_(magazine))* magazine.[9] Martuza started teaching ballet at [Da Vinci Arts Middle School](/source/Da_Vinci_Arts_Middle_School) in Portland, Oregon, in September 2013, and is currently teaching there now.

## Personal life

In June 2003, Martuza married Kester Cotton, whom she met while both were dancing with the San Francisco Ballet.[1][4] Her husband, who also danced with OBT from 2003 through 2006, is now a [Doctor of Physical Therapy](/source/Doctor_of_Physical_Therapy)[10] and a consulting staff member at Oregon Ballet Theatre School.[11] Martuza and Cotton have a son, Roy, born October 2011.[12]

## References

1. Bartels, Eric (March 4, 2005). ["OBT ballerina with 'sparkle' turns heads, catches eyes"](http://www.portlandtribune.com/features/story.php?story_id=28585). *[The Portland Tribune](/source/The_Portland_Tribune)*. Retrieved February 25, 2012.[dead link]

1. [https://www.pdxmonthly.com/arts-and-culture/2017/02/with-fresh-talent-and-energy-oregon-ballet-theatre-makes-a-big-leap](https://www.pdxmonthly.com/arts-and-culture/2017/02/with-fresh-talent-and-energy-oregon-ballet-theatre-makes-a-big-leap)

1. ["Kathi Martuza"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120120135307/http://www.obt.org/company_bios/martuza.html). Oregon Ballet Theatre. 2011–2012. Archived from [the original](http://www.obt.org/company_bios/martuza.html) on January 20, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2012.

1. Timlin, Francis (May 15, 2004). ["An Interview with Kester Cotton and Kathleen Martuza of Oregon Ballet Theatre"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130621013504/http://www.ballet-dance.com/200409/articles/CottonMartuza20040515.html). *Ballet-Dance Magazine*. Archived from [the original](http://www.ballet-dance.com/200409/articles/CottonMartuza20040515.html) on June 21, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2012.

1. ["Company Artists: Corps de Ballet: Kathleen Martuza"](http://www.sfballet.org/about/company/corps.html). [San Francisco Ballet](/source/San_Francisco_Ballet). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20030416043744/http://www.sfballet.org/about/company/corps.html) April 16, 2003 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 25, 2012.

1. Wiegand, David (May 21, 2003). ["Ballet corps members take the leap: Chance to dance outside the line lures couple away"](https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Ballet-corps-members-take-the-leap-Chance-to-2646795.php). *[San Francisco Chronicle](/source/San_Francisco_Chronicle)*. Retrieved February 25, 2012.

1. ["2007-08 Company Roster and Dancer Rankings Announced"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150315085735/http://www.obt.org/news_links/press_releases/OBT_Exposed07_Release.pdf) ([PDF](/source/PDF)). *Press Release*. Oregon Ballet Theatre. August 13, 2007. Archived from [the original](http://www.obt.org/news_links/press_releases/OBT_Exposed07_Release.pdf) on March 15, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2012.

1. ["On the verge in 2005, DM's 25 to watch"](http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1083/is_1_79/ai_n8698065/pg_5/). *[Dance Magazine](/source/Dance_Magazine)*. January 2005. Retrieved February 25, 2012.[dead link]

1. ["October/November 2007"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110208083352/http://pointemagazine.com/issues/2009/november-12). *[Pointe](/source/Pointe_(magazine))*. Archived from [the original](http://www.pointemagazine.com/issues/2009/november-12) on February 8, 2011. Retrieved February 25, 2012.

1. ["Kester Cotton PT, DPT"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110918154248/http://www.therapeuticassociates.com/locations/oregon/portlandvancouver/southeast-portland/kester-cotton/). Southeast Portland Physical Therapy. Archived from [the original](http://www.therapeuticassociates.com/locations/oregon/portlandvancouver/southeast-portland/kester-cotton/) on September 18, 2011. Retrieved February 25, 2012.

1. ["Staff"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120223110236/http://www.obt.org/school/staff.html). The School of Oregon Ballet Theatre. Archived from [the original](http://www.obt.org/school/staff.html) on February 23, 2012. Retrieved February 25, 2012.

1. ["SOBT / UPDATED Schedule For This Week & Next"](https://schoolofobt.blogspot.com/2011/10/sobt-updated-schedule-for-this-week.html). The School of Oregon Ballet Theatre. October 28, 2011. Retrieved February 25, 2012.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kathi Martuza](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathi_Martuza) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathi_Martuza?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.