Karen Diaz Ensanian has devoted her professional life to the dance education of people of all ages. Her extensive experience includes over twenty years as an early childhood educator.
 
Karen started her early career in New York City as a dancer with several choreographers, including dancing as a founding member with the Alvin Ailey Repertory Company. She later received her M.A. in Dance from The Ohio State University and then taught for nineteen years as Director of Creative Movement at The Episcopal School in The City of New York. Karen also enjoys leading guest workshops at colleges and various organizations. In recent years Karen facilitated Dance Education Laboratory professional development workshops for teachers with the Department of Education in New York City. At the same time, she began teaching herself to paint as a foundation for illustrating a children’s dance education book. Karen’s debut book I Can Make a Water Dance was published in 2021 and has inspired countless young dancers and educators to incorporate dance with the natural sciences. The Dancing Light is her second book, integrating the art of making dance with the science of light.
 
Karen currently lives with her husband in NYC where she raised two children.