Karen Oldham, (BFA in Dance Education, BYU), has been a dance educator, program director and supporter of emerging choreographers in Utah County for decades.

She has directed Dance Company Festival, (formerly DCFA), a festival featuring choreography by high school students, since 2010. Dance Company Festival is designed as both a performance platform and educational event which features unique lectures and seminars in topics like stage lighting for dance, costuming, body mechanics, and injury prevention.

Karen enjoyed a varied performing career prior to teaching: she toured and won awards as a member of the UVSC Ballroom Team, danced as a member of the BYU Dance Ensemble Modern Company, was a BYU Young Ambassador, performed as a guest with Repertory Dance Theater and was an assistant choreographer for the 2002 Olympic ceremonies. She honed her approach and expertise with BYU's Children's Dance Program, as the Dance Department Chair at Timpanogos High School and most recently as a company director for both Center Stage and Utah Conservatory of the Performing Arts. Karen places a special emphasis on helping her students to find their own unique ways to create.