Artistic Staff
Kathryn Drake McDowell, Artistic Director
Kathryn Drake McDowell grew up in Shreveport and received her initial classical ballet training under Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet founder Marion Mills. After graduating from Caddo Magnet High School, Kathryn went to the University of Oklahoma where she continued her training in classical ballet and other forms of dance under Mary Margaret Holt, Allan Kinzie, Donn Edwards, Kathleen Burnett, Richard Shi, and Denise Vale. While in Oklahoma, Kathryn also had the opportunity to perform leading roles in performances with the Oklahoma Festival Ballet, including Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Swanhilda in Coppelia, and principal roles in several original contemporary ballets. She was also chosen as a member of two Oklahoma Festival Ballet international touring companies to France. After earning a BFA in ballet performance with a math minor from Oklahoma, Kathryn danced professionally with the Lexington Ballet Company in Lexington, Kentucky, and the Universal Ballet Company in Seoul, South Korea.
In 2001, she made a special guest appearance with SMB, dancing the title role in Cinderella. In 2003, Kathryn returned to Shreveport as Artist in Residence with SMB, performing in principal roles in The Nutcracker, Swan Lake Act II, and Sleeping Beauty Act III; and originating the title role in SMB’s original 2003 production of Snow White. Since 2009, Kathryn has appeared as a special guest performer in SMB’s original ballets Wizard of Oz, Aladdin, and Peter Pan, and has delighted many Nutcracker audiences with her lively portrayal of Dr. Drosselmeyer. Kathryn has taught ballet and choreographed in Oklahoma, Kentucky, and most recently in Shreveport at Shreveport Dance Academy.
She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from Centenary College and is currently the chair of the math department at her high school alma mater, Caddo Magnet High School, teaching AP Calculus and Statistics.
Avery Avant, Assistant Artistic Director
Avery Avant is honored to return to the art of dance as Assistant Artistic Director for Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet. With a lifelong passion for movement and performance, Avery brings a deep appreciation for the power of dance to connect, transform, and inspire.
She received her foundational training under Carol Anglin at Carol Anglin Dancenter and performed extensively as a member of Louisiana Dance Theatre. Her training also included years of deep study with Dianne Maroney-Grigsby. She later joined Power & Grace School of Performing Arts as both a student and teacher, working under Christy Holden. Currently, she continues her lifelong learning as an adult student at Shreveport Dance Academy, directed by Keeley Pratt.
Her performance credits include appearances at the Jazz Dance World Congress, Regional Dance America/Southwest, Tanzsommer Innsbruck International Ballet Festival: Stars of Tomorrow, Moscow State Ballet’s The Nutcracker, and William Joyce’s The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs—all made possible through the guidance of Carol Anglin. Most recently, Avery expanded into musical theatre with her debut in Stage Center’s production of Hairspray.
This new chapter marks a meaningful homecoming—one rooted in joy, dedication, and a renewed sense of purpose. Avery is deeply grateful to be creating and contributing within the Shreveport dance community once again.
Grace Matthews, Assistant Artistic Director
Grace Matthews is honored to serve as Assistant Artistic Director for Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet, the company that helped shape her love for dance and storytelling. A Shreveport native, Grace trained at Shreveport Dance Academy for sixteen years. She spent ten of those years as a competition team member and eight as a company dancer with SMB, earning the role of soloist in her final two seasons. Her performances with SMB include memorable roles such as Fritz and Dew Drop Fairy in The Nutcracker and Glinda in The Wizard of Oz- roles that allowed her to explore both the technical and expressive sides of ballet.
In addition to her performance experience, Grace taught ballet to young dancers ages 2–8 at Shreveport Dance Academy for four years. Through teaching, she developed a deep appreciation for the developmental and emotional impact of early dance education.
Grace graduated from Louisiana State University in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Science. During her time at LSU, she worked in the mental health field for over two years, supporting adolescent females in a psychiatric residential treatment facility. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Social Work and is passionate about integrating movement, mentorship, and mental health into her future work with young people.
Since graduating, Grace has returned home and is excited to step into this new role with SMB. She is especially passionate about helping people discover their silent strengths and use their potential to become more than a product of their environment- a mission she hopes to bring into both the company and the community.
