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katie@katieballoons.com 202.262.2160 New York, DC & the World |
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Who is KatieBalloons how did she become a balloon artist and balloon fashion designer?At the impressionable age of 7, little Katie Laibstain received a balloon twisting kit for her birthday. She took to balloons like a duck to water -- Katie even made some balloon ducks, as well as the requisite dogs and giraffes. But after running out of balloons, Katie forgot her new hobby and flitted off to dance class and other creative pursuits. It would be 15 years before she twisted another balloon, but throughout her childhood and adolescence Katie continued to sculpt with more traditional mediums. She had no idea that the brief balloon encounter of her youth would be the beginning of her life's work. As a teen, Katie discovered her gifts as a performer. She impressed her teachers and peers with boundless energy and a natural command of the stage. Rather than taking on typical teenager jobs, Katie sang for tips in her local coffee shop. After graduating from high school, Katie moved to Richmond, Va., to train as an actor. She spent four years honing her improvisational skills, comedic timing, and ability to interact with an audience as a cast member of Mystery Dinner Theater. She also worked as a solo performer with The Carpenter Science Theater Company at the Science Museum of Virginia, where she crafted original multi-character stories for all-age crowds. Though Katie enjoyed acting, she wasn't completely fulfilled. A chance encounter with local balloon artist Mike Klee made Katie realize that balloon twisting could allow her to combine all of her passions. By apprenticing with Klee, attending conferences, and applying herself tirelessly to learning the art and magic of balloon twisting, Katie has transformed herself into a true balloon artist. Now, she can make anything out of brightly-colored, air filled orbs -- ball gowns, menorahs, ballerinas -- you name it. At the same time, she can command the rapt attention of teens or two-year-olds with her stage shows that involve color, whimsy and even diving headfirst into an enormous balloon. Since discovering her talent and passion for balloon twisting and performance, Katie has taken her show on the road: thrilling audiences across the United States and abroad, including the Kim Tom Clown Festival in Shanghai and the Powhattan Plantation Family Resort in Williamsburg, Va. In addition to working on national television, Katie's show and her balloon sculptures have brought color to many parties and events, especially in the Washington D.C., New York, and Los Angeles areas.
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