Kim Karalekas

I was never a dancer in high school, so I’ve always wondered why I recently became so interested. The best conclusion I’ve reached is that because I was once “hardcore” involved in music, basically from the 2nd grade through high school – towards high school when I became more serious, between early bird rehearsals, sections, classes, private lessons, symphony rehearsals, practicing, concerts, etc., I was spending on average at least 4-5 hours each day playing the violin/singing in choir/playing piano. The summer after my senior year we had daily rehearsals that lasted about 6 hours each, beginning the week after we graduated through July, when we left to compete the the Vienna Youth and Music Festival. (which, p.s. we won! …I had to throw that in…)

Anyway, the point is once I came to the U of O, with school and work, I didn’t have the hours to dedicated to music. Enter my newfound passion: dance! I figure it’s a way to fill the musical/artsy void I’ve been missing!! (except for this year I formed/joined a string quartet which is beginning to come together nicely!!!!) Anyway, thus far I’ve taken swing, hip hop, tap, salsa, meringue when I studied in Mexico (we were also taught this dance native to the Michocan region, but gosh knows if I remember it’s name)…

So this past term I took tap and salsa – my friend took a video unbeknownst to me; however, I now have my hands on the videos, so here they are!!! One final side note…as I am still an amateur, don’t judge me (yet) on my dancing abilities!!