Kathy Meyers Leiner graduated in 1984 with honors from Towson State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography, returning later to pursue the education certification program. Since that time she has continued to grow as an educator, dancer, choreographer, and collaborative artist.

She has performed in both ballet and modern dance companies as well as in several festivals including international festivals in Cuba and Mexico, and was a member of Asheville Contemporary Dance Theatre from 2000-2007. Most recently she initiated the founding of the dance performance ensemble, Moving Women. Her concept for an original work for the Fringe Arts Festival and subsequent original full-length concert in celebration of Women’s History Month at UNCA prompted her interest in further collaborative projects.

Kathy has taught in private studios, several community colleges, public schools and Universities in the Northeast including Stoneybrook University in New York. Currently she is in her 6th year at the University of North Carolina and teaches Ballet I/II/III, Ballet Repertory, Concert Production and Workshop in Interdisciplinary Collaboration and was nominated for excellence in teaching her first year at UNCA. She also teaches and directs the modern based dance program at The Asheville School where she has created 14 original dance concerts with her students. Kathy not only choreographs with the students but also designs and creates all the costumes and lighting for the performances.

Throughout her career Mrs. Leiner has consistently created new work. Her choreography was chosen by Viola Farber to be part of the Maryland Showcase for Choreographers in 1992, where she spent one week with Ms. Farber and other dance makers from the area. In 2003 Kathy received a grant to direct, choreograph, and produce a full length concert Passages. The performance explored the personal journey from childhood through death and included, Remembrance, inspired by her recently deceased parents love letters, poetry and father’s World War II War journal. Included in the weekend show were dancers, musicians, singers, actors and her two children. Part of the profit was donated to Hospice and Habitat for Humanity. Some of this work led to her invitation to present work in North Carolina Dance Festival in 2004 and then again in 2005. She has pushed her creative envelope to present work in the Asheville Fringe Arts Festival since it’s inception in 2002 and has received several awards over the past 10 years. Her collaborations have included visual artists Shelley Pereda, J. Aaron Alderman, Dustin Spagnola, writers John Crutchfield and Erik Moellering and included many site specific works as well as several installations.

In February 2011 Kathy collaborated with her fiance, and local singer/songwriterTom Leiner to create "She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not, an evening of original song and dance celebrating love, or not.." The performance brought together many local musicians and dancersto a sold out enthusiasntic audience. The same artists graced Tom and Kathy with their talent later that year on October 9, 2011, as part of their wedding celebration. Mr and Mrs. Leiner  continue to collaborate in art and life as they enjoy their home in Asheville.

Kathy Meyers Leiner's involvement in Moving Women has opened the opportunity to share creative process and be inspired by the collaborative environment. She plans to continue her evolution as an artist through exploration of the cathartic benefits of dance.