Today we’d like to introduce you to Karla Hardaway.
Hi Karla, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is Karla Hardaway, and I was born in Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico, but raised in Monterrey. When I was 12 years old, my mother, an incredible woman and survivor of domestic violence, brought me and my siblings to Dallas, Texas, in search of a better life. This event in my life was very challenging. I didn’t speak English, didn’t have any friends, and often I felt I didn’t belong. Still, through the power of dance in public education, I began to find a sense of belonging, make friends, and learn skills, laying the foundation for who I am becoming as a mother, wife, educator, artist, and advocate.
My passion for dance was always present. I grew up dancing Ballet Folklórico in Mexico, but it wasn’t until my freshman year at Sunset High School that I felt the true spark. During a P.E. class, Dallas Black Dance Theatre did a residency, and that moment inspired me to pursue dance seriously again. When Moisés E. Molina High School opened in 1997, I made sure dance was part of my schedule. It was there, under the guidance of my dance teacher, Diana Elizabeth Gallego, that I truly fell in love with dance and culture. We studied concert, traditional, and social dance forms from around the world, and it completely changed the course of my life.
After graduating, I attended Mountain View College to pursue my basic studies. At that time, I was an architecture major, but I was taking dance classes for fun. Eventually, during a college fair, I discovered that Texas Woman’s University had an International Dance Company, and I knew I had found my path. I transferred and earned my B.A. in Dance with a minor in Education in 2008. Upon graduation, I moved to Playa del Carmen, Mexico, where I performed in the Xcaret Noche Espectacular show with the Ballet Folclórico Nacional de México de Silvia Lozano. That experience deepened my knowledge of folklórico dance and allowed me to learn from maestros of this discipline. Returning to Dallas, I began my teaching career at my alma mater, Molina High School, while also serving as an adjunct professor at Mountain View College.
My first 6 years as an educator were very challenging. I was navigating the complexities of public school education, college instruction, and even coaching cheerleading. Around year 5, I needed to expand both my choreographic and educational practices. I was accepted into the MFA Dance Choreography program at Jacksonville University, and that experience transformed the way I teach, research, view movement, and cultural identity.
While preparing to attend grad school full time, I received an unexpected invitation to apply for a position at Creekview High School. Though I had never directed a drill team, something about the community and the strong fine arts department drew me in. I accepted the position, and it’s been a wonderful chapter in my life. At Creekview, I serve as the Dance Instructor, Drill Team Director, and Folklorico Dance Company Director. I’m very fortunate to work at a district and school where the arts are valued, with passionate administrators, colleagues, engaged parents, and incredible students supporting the program.
In addition to my teaching career, I’ve had the honor of presenting at national, state, and local conferences about K-12 choreographic practices, cultural curriculum, dance and literacy, and community projects. I am a co-author of Mexican Folkloric Dance and a contributor author to Dance Teaching Methods and Curriculum Design published by Human Kinetics. I have also received several recognitions for my contributions to dance education in the state of Texas. 2019 TAHPERD K-12 Dance Educator of the Year, 2020 TDEA Dance Educator of the Year, 2023 Creekview Staff of the Year, and 2025 UTEACH Fine Arts Outstanding Educator of the Year.
In 2023, I founded the Texas Association for Dance and Culture (TADC). This new statewide nonprofit organization emerged from a need to provide resources for Title I schools and advocate for the inclusion of artistic and cultural dance education in Texas schools. TADC is only 11 months old, but we’re already making a meaningful impact, most notably in our efforts to have Ballet Folklórico recognized as a UIL-sanctioned performing arts event. I am also the co-founder of the North Texas Ballet Folklorico Contest, which serves as an assessment for schools with folklórico dance programs. Additionally, I contributed to the development of the new course, Dance Appreciation: African American and Mexican Folklorico Studies, approved by the Texas Education Agency.
Through every role I’ve taken as a dancer, choreographer, educator, and advocate, my work is grounded in helping students discover their artistic voice, embrace their identity, and recognize the transformative power of dance and culture. Volunteering and collaborating with organizations dedicated to empowering the arts and students across the state is one of my passions.
None of what I’ve accomplished would have been possible without my amazing husband, my children, and family, as well as colleagues, teachers, mentors, and the community who have believed in me along the way. From my early dance teachers who nurtured my curiosity, to colleagues and advocates who have shared a collective vision for DANCE & CULTURE education, I have always moved forward through the power of community. Every project, program, and performance I’ve led has been rooted in collaboration with outstanding educators who uplift one another, with students who bring their stories to the classroom, and with organizations committed to providing access and equity in dance and culture. I believe in the power of supporting and elevating each other. When we come together with a shared purpose, we create space for meaningful change and lasting impact in our students, schools, and community.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road at all. One of the biggest and most constant struggles I have faced in my 18 years in public education has been funding. In education, especially in public schools, budgets are often limited, and we are always fundraising to provide the essentials we need in the dance department. Whether it’s buying costumes, paying for competition fees, or covering transportation, I’ve had to be creative and resourceful. I’m constantly writing grants, hosting fundraisers, or seeking ways to help sustain the dance program. And now, with the creation of the Texas Association for Dance and Culture, that same challenge continues on a broader scale. We’re working hard to raise funds so that we can offer accessible programming to educators and students across Texas. It’s a huge responsibility I take seriously.
When I first started teaching, I didn’t have a strong support system to guide me through my first few years, which, in my opinion, are the most challenging years of teaching. I was overwhelmed trying to figure it all out on my own: lesson planning, choreography, grading, performances, costuming, classroom management, all of it. And what no one tells you is that it takes about four to five years before you begin to see the results of the work you’re putting in. It takes time to build relationships, establish a program, and create a culture where students feel safe to learn and express themselves.
Another challenge has been time management. As a teacher, choreographer, director, executive director, and now a mother, I’ve had to learn how to protect my time and energy. Before I had kids, I said yes to everything, but motherhood has taught me that saying no is sometimes necessary, not just for my well-being, but for the people who depend on me the most. I’m still learning to balance all the roles I carry, but I’ve come to realize that being present and intentional matters more than being everywhere at once. But through every obstacle, I’ve drawn strength from my mother. She brought us to a new country as a single parent, relying solely on courage and faith. If she could face that kind of challenge and create a new life for us, I know I can face anything. Her strength has taught me perseverance and grit. I’ve learned that when I don’t know the answer, I can ask questions, do research, talk to colleagues, and explore creative solutions. I’ve learned to build a community of support and lean into collaboration. I may not always have the resources, but I’ve never let that stop me from finding a way forward. Every setback has been a setup for growth, and I carry that lesson with me in everything I do.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Texas Association for Dance and Culture?
The Texas Association for Dance and Culture (TADC) is a nonprofit organization founded just 11 months ago with a mission to empower communities by advancing dance education and cultural appreciation. We are educators, directors, artists, and community advocates who believe deeply in the transformative power of dance and culture.
In our first year alone, we’ve launched school residencies to help campuses build or strengthen their Ballet Folklórico programs, especially in areas where resources or curriculum might be limited. These residencies provide hands-on support for schools seeking to celebrate culture through movement, offering high-quality, standards-based dance instruction that meets the Dance TEKS. One of our programs is the Adopt-a-School Program, which enables us to partner directly with businesses to sponsor under-resourced schools that seek to establish or expand their dance programs and incorporate artistic and/or cultural dance. Through this initiative, we provide support, including costumes and curriculum guidance. This program ensures that all students, regardless of their location or financial situation, have access to dance and culture in their classrooms.
We’re proud to have hosted our first-ever Professional Development Workshop for Educators in June 2025, in collaboration with the Texas Woman’s University International Dance Company Director, Professor Elisa De La Rosa. This workshop marked the beginning of our long-term goal to build a dance and culture curriculum, with this year’s focus on Mexican and Colombian folklore. Our vision is to include artistic and world dance pedagogy practices and techniques. We plan to continue the expansion to all cultural forms of dance. One of our strongest advocacies is the integration of dance fundamentals such as choreography, improvisation, and performance quality into the practice of dance and culture. Our goal is to build upon what has already been established in public schools and enhance it through training, exposure, and academic alignment.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
TADC is committed to being a welcoming and inclusive space for all educators, stakeholders, including private studio directors, counselors, administrators, and artists from every discipline. We believe dance is not just movement; it is a powerful form of expression that supports academic, emotional, social, and cultural development. Whether you are in language arts, social studies, or wellness initiatives, TADC offers a unique way to enrich dance and cultural learning, fostering connections.
Above all, we are proud to create spaces where DANCE AND CULTURE are celebrated. TADC is about celebration, equity, expression, and opportunity. Our programs are designed to empower educators, students, and the broader community.
The Texas Association for Dance and Culture (TADC) is currently seeking corporate sponsors to help expand our mission and amplify our impact. For more information, visit our website.
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Contact Info:
- Website: https://txdanceandculture.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/txdanceandculture/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562281895978#
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/texas-association-for-dance-and-culture-530053325/
Image Credits
Headshot- Photographer : Dennis Webb Jr.
Picture 2- of male folklorico dancers and pictures 6-8 of children and teacher with the costumes : Photographer: Jay Simon. Courtesy of AT&T Performing Arts Center.
