About me
Kathie originates from south-eastern Pennsylvania, USA. She attended Bard College, upstate New York where she graduated in 1981 as a drama/dance major. After college she moved to NYC to pursue acting. However after just a few months living in the city she was offered a job clowning in a traveling circus. This job took her to the Netherlands where she fell in love with a Dutchman and decided to stay. Her handicap of speaking Dutch with a foreign accent was adapted to Kathie’s clown character. Assuming the role of “Kettie de Klown” she performed hundreds of shows throughout the Netherlands as well as in other European countries. While performance was her passion, teaching drama and designing theatre arts projects played an important role in her early career.
In recent years Kathie, along with her Dutch husband Aloysius, have developed and coordinated educational and community based projects focusing on environmental issues.
This work has takes her to schools and colleges as well as communities centers in Rotterdam and surrounding areas in the Netherlands where she lives and works. Their current project ‘Operation Trash’ also has her working in Baltimore, MD. Together with the Baltimore Rotterdam Sister City Committee Kathie visits schools and communities in the Curtis-Bay area of Baltimore for performance and teaching activities.
In recent years Kathie, along with her Dutch husband Aloysius, have developed and coordinated educational and community based projects focusing on environmental issues.
This work has takes her to schools and colleges as well as communities centers in Rotterdam and surrounding areas in the Netherlands where she lives and works. Their current project ‘Operation Trash’ also has her working in Baltimore, MD. Together with the Baltimore Rotterdam Sister City Committee Kathie visits schools and communities in the Curtis-Bay area of Baltimore for performance and teaching activities.
Kathie diStefano, Frans Gordijn, director The Globe, Ed Goverde, councilman Rotterdam presenting Avalanche Arts' Eco Memory, a game designed to teach recycling Rotterdam 2012
Operation Trash workshop at Montfort College Rotterdam 2016
'Operation Trash' has taken Kathie to schools and colleges as well as community centers in Rotterdam and surrounding areas in the Netherlands. Since 2011 she has been visiting Baltimore, MD, regularly with Operation Trash for middle and high schools, and Playing in a Cleaner Neighborhood for elementary schools. Through a collaboration with the Baltimore Rotterdam Sister City Committee Kathie shares her educational programs with schools and communities in Baltimore. Operation Trash Virtual Exchange is the most current project linking middle school and/or high school students in Baltimore with Dutch students in the greater Rotterdam area.
Operation Trash presentation at Bard High School Early College Baltimore 2017
Early Career
Kathie diStefano originates from south-eastern Pennsylvania, USA. During her study of drama/dance at Bard College, upstate New York, she discovered clowning. Upon graduating in 1981, she performed as clown with Janus Circus. After performances in Dutchess County, NY, a European tour was set up and operated out of Rotterdam. What was intended to be a summer job clowning and touring through Europe, turned into a life changing experience. Quite charmed by her surroundings, and especially her soon to be Dutch husband, she decided to stay in the Netherlands. Speaking Dutch with a foreign accent, this ‘handicap’ was adapted to Kathie’s clown character. Assuming the role of “Kettie de Klown” she performed hundreds of shows throughout the Netherlands. While performing was her passion, teaching drama and performance arts at schools played an important role in her career.
Jiminez the Clown, Janus Circus Dutchess County, NY, 1981
Kathie diStefano and clown partner/husband Aloysius van Saus have developed and coordinated many educational and community based projects Rotterdam 2002
About
Avalanche Arts is founded by Kathie diStefano (USA) and Aloysuis van Saus (NL). This American-Dutch connection has been bringing people together through performance arts for over 30 years. Shedding light on important social themes to audiences both large and small has been a consistent part of their work throughout their careers. Their current projects ‘Operation Trash’ and ‘Playing in a Cleaner Neighborhood’, revolve around sustainability, trash management, recycling and how important it is to be informed about the consequences of our trash behavior. They promote “Think global and act local’. In recent years Avalanche has been focusing on green themes. “Learning through laughter”, the company motto, combines comedy with Eco-education. Avalanche strives to “tickle their audiences into change” so that people learn how to deal with trash in a way that does not continue to damage our environment.
Highlight
Charlois 550 years award pin
Kathie diStefano received the "Charlois 550 years" pin from the council for her efforts in trash & trash-managment education and enviormental awareness.
Leaders for a Living Planet
Together with her Avalanche Arts’ team she has developed educational curricula tailored to every grade level. She has won an award from the World Wildlife Fund for her educational projects about the dangers of trash. With her cross-cultural background, and insights on differences and similarities between people, her programs have inspired audiences to broaden their perspectives.
