A native of New York, Karen Henry completed her ballet training at the prestigious School of American Ballet. Among her teachers were Alexandra Danilova, Rosella Hightower and Tanaquil Le Clercq. At the age of 16 she was engaged at the famous Dance Theatre Of Harlem, where she danced solo roles in choreographies by George Balanchine, Michael Smuin and Royston Maldoom. After moving to Europe Karen Henry has participated in various works in musical theater (among others Theater an der Wien) and from 1996 to 1999 she was ballet master, training director and solo dancer at the Vienna Volksoper.

Karen has been a sought-after ballet teacher with an international teaching career for over 30 years. Since 2010 she has worked as a university professor for ballet at the Music and Art Private University of Vienna and as an educator at the Ballet Academy of the Vienna State Opera.