The University of Kentucky Dance Team is mourning the loss of dancer Kate Kaufling. The college sophomore died on March 31, nearly three months after finishing chemotherapy treatment for osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. She was 20. The school’s athletics department confirmed Ms. Kaufling’s death in a statement shared online. The
UK Dance Team’s head coach, Dawn Walters—who announced her retirement in March after leading the program for 15 years—said the team was saddened by Ms. Kaufling’s tragic death and sent their “thoughts, prayers, and love” to her entire family. “Kate was a joy to coach and to be around. Her smile could light up a room and she was beloved by all of her UKDT teammates,” said Ms. Walters. “We will remember her for the tough battle she fought with osteosarcoma over the past year. She was brave until the very end and all of us can draw inspiration from the courageous battle that she fought.” Ms. Kaufling was a nursing student and Delta Delta Delta sorority member who achieved a 4.0 grade point average. She and her twin sister, Abbey, joined the Kentucky Wildcats Dance Team in the fall of 2023. “In addition to being a talented dancer, Kate was also an amazing student, in the College of Nursing, who took her academics very seriously,” Sandy Bell, executive associate athletics director for the University of Kentucky, shared. “Even during her
cancer treatments, Kate kept up with her studies, setting an amazing example for her teammates,” she added. “Kate was beloved by all who knew her and she will be deeply missed.” Ms. Kaufling’s sorority also expressed sadness over her loss. “Kate was an incredibly bright light in our chapter, one whose presence will be felt for years to come,” an account for the University of Kentucky’s Tri Delta wrote in an April 2
Instagram post, noting that “she was loving, genuine, and passionate.” The sophomore’s cancer began in her femur, or thigh bone. However, a PET scan found it had spread to other parts of her body. This form of bone cancer most commonly affects children, adolescents, and young adults, with an average of 800 new cases diagnosed each year—half of which are reported in children and teens. However, the five-year relative survival rate for children up to age 14 is 69 percent. The rate is only slightly lower among adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19, at 67 percent. “In honor of today marking the date of ringing the bell for the end of chemo, I felt it was a good time to post. Being the perfectionist I am, I refused to post about this before. For it would show my true weaknesses which I hate to let people see. 2023 was by far not the year I had in mind,” she candidly penned. “My plans of returning to UK with my best
Friends to dance and start nursing school had made a sharp unexpected turn. I had no choice but instead to spend the past 7 months undergoing an intense chemotherapy treatment full of many hospital stays. 7 months later I’m proud to say, ‘it’s over,’” she wrote. “Cancer is a curse I wish on no human being, but it did change my outlook on life. Hold on to your loved ones as long as you can. Those hugs might be the only thing making them feel safe right now. Embrace your friends who treat you no differently because you’re ill,” Ms. Kaufling continued. “Thank God everyday for everything around you. Today I’m proud to share I’m officially done with chemotherapy and ready for a better chapter of my life to begin,” she concluded her post. According to the University of Kentucky’s athletics department, funeral arrangements for Ms. Kaufling are still pending. In addition to her twin sister, the late dancer is survived by her parents, Holly and Steve.