Sara Burke was the Founder of The City Studio Dance Center in St. Louis, Missouri which she founded in 1986. Sara is a choreographer, dancer, dance instructor, photographer,painter, author and arts diversity consultant. Sara consults for local dance companies and works with young dancers helping them start Company's. Sara relishes her role as “mentor”. One of her most important and impactful accomplishments was to learn Dunham Technique from the legendary Katherine Dunham. She studied with Miss Dunham in East St. Louis in the 1970's and danced with the Dunham Company. Sara's experiences studying and dancing the Dunham Technique changed her life and she has been committed to promoting diversity through the Arts even since. Her experience was life changing. She danced with artists who could not eat or sleep where they performed. Sara never forgets to use her voice at every turn.

Sara was a Commissioner on the Regional Arts Commission (RAC) appointed by Mayor Francis Slay. She served on the Executive Committee as Secretary of The Regional Arts Commission. Sara also serves on the boards of: Dance St. Louis, Diversity Awareness Partnership (DAP) Executive Committee: Development Director, DanceBrazil in New York City and she is also on the National Board of Directors for the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Company in Denver .She is on the board of the St. Louis Visionary Awards for women in the arts. Sara serves on the diversity and equity council for Opera Theatre St. Louis. Sara serves as an advisor to the Big Muddy Dance Company. Sara is also a member of the Americans for the Arts and a member of the International Association of Blacks in Dance (IABD). Sara is on the Advisory Board of Pulaski Bank.

Combining the Arts with her business has been a challenging and rewarding experience.Sara received both a Mayoral Proclamation and an Aldermanic Proclamation for her contributions to the life of the Arts in the City of St. Louis. Sara additionally received the prestigious Links Award for her: "Outstanding Leadership in Culture and Arts for the betterment of St. Louis. Sara also received the 2012 Grand Center Visionary Award for outstanding Arts Professional.Sara received the rare and prestigious award from the Urban League of Saint louis for her Cultural and diversity leadership. She also received the prestigious Woman of Achievement award. Sara's passion for the Arts is never ending and her enthusiasm is infectious.

Sara is a co-founder of "Calling All Dancers" a regional consortium of dancers and dance organizations designed to foster cooperation and support to enhance the visibility and viability of the local dance community. As an advisor to the "One River Mississippi Project", Sara was instrumental in including dancers from the East St. Louis Dance Community, including Master Teachers and dancers from the SIUE Katherine Dunham Performing Arts Training Center.

Her enthusiasm and passion extends to her commitment to diversity in the Arts. Sara is Chairwoman of the SIU East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts Advisory Council which is committed to preserving the legacy of

Katherine Dunham. Sara was Chair of the Diversity Initiative Committee for the Regional Arts Commission and was instrumental in the development of RAC's Diversity and Access Policy. Sara founded and endowed a paid fellowship in arts administration for African Americans studying for a degree in Arts Administration.

The fellowship is life changing and in its 15th year.

Sara named this internship after Katherine Dunham and in January 2011 the first fellowship was awarded.

Sara's experiences as a dancer in East St. Louis with Miss Dunham and as a working artist in the St. Louis Community have contributed to her focus on fostering inclusiveness in the arts. She is committed to seeking out all voices in the development, nourishment, and presentation of the Arts in the St. Louis Community.

Sara holds a Masters Degree in Urban Affairs and an undergraduate degree in English, Theatre and Dance from Saint Louis university. She has a minor in French.