Catherine Messina, a graduate of Emory University, is the Founder and Director of rogue wave. She has danced throughout New York and Atlanta for Yoshito Sakuraba, Emmy Wildermuth, and One Day Dance, previously for Yuki Ishiguro, Anna Paterson, Fern Katz, Jillian Mitchell, Ruben Julliard, George Staib, and more. Her company, rogue wave, has performed at venues and festivals across New York, Atlanta, Richmond, New Jersey, and Philadelphia, her hometown. She has been commissioned for original works by companies Suttle Dance, One Day Dance, Open Dance Ensemble, unbound, and Covington Regional Ballet. She is a recipient of grant support and artist-in-residences including Everwood Artist Retreat, Hambidge Cross Pollination Lab, Harlem Pilates, and Dragon’s Egg, and has experience in arts administration, teaching at the university level (Sacred Heart University, Nazareth University, West Chester University, Emory University), and technical production. Community work is important to her and seen through her creation of a multiple dance festivals - Fall for Fall, Spring for Spring, and the unKEMpT Dance Festival (in collaboration with Emmy Wildermuth), running affordable class series, and volunteering for DanceATL and Dance/NYC.