Senior Karine Kim is a talented dancer with a promising future ahead of her. Having just finished one of her last performances at the Casa del Prado theater, Kim is sad but looks forward to what her bright future holds.

   Kim began dancing at the age of six and hasn’t stopped since then. It all started with her mother signing her up for a simple ballet class and it grew into an entire dance career. “Karine is a phenomenal dancer who has achieved pre-professional proficiency in various dance styles including tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, modern, contemporary, acro-dance and Bollywood. She has a passion for and long-term commitment to dance that has defined who she is as a person. My family and I love her dearly,” said Dance Instructor Andrea Feier.

   “Karine is literally perfect! She is so smart; she actually got a 1530 on her SAT. She is an amazing dancer; her extensions and just everything are unbelievable. She is so focused. Every single time people are just like ‘I wish I was Karine,’” said Senior Rebecca Garcia, who is in the same dance company with Kim.    

   Kim explained that dancing has taught her a number of life skills, skills that she can use in day-to-day life. “Being a dancer has taught me time management, not only because I have to balance school and dance but also because when we have shows we always have to keep track of what time it is. We have to warm up on time and get ready on time. It has also taught me teamwork and to be able to think on my feet, because when we do shows, people get injured sometimes and then we have to make last minute changes, but as long as we work together it always comes through.”    

  Outside of school and dance, Kim likes to cook, bake, and do little artsy things like calligraphy. “She is extremely artistic — hand drawing the most beautiful cards, baking the most delicious layered cakes, and she is stunning onstage when expressing herself physically as a dance artist,” said Feier.

   Kim could have a bright future in dance.However, she plans on going into the field of medicine. “I want to become a doctor, because I love the human body, but I think dance is what sparked that because when I go to dance I am always amazed with what my body can do,  and with muscle memory,” said Kim. Apparently, dance hasn’t sparked something in Kim alone. “Our program has turned out many doctors. The discipline of dance translates well to the discipline needed for medicine,” said Feier.

  Though Kim doesn’t want to pursue dance as a career, she does want it to be a part of her future. “My personal goal for dance is to continue doing it and have it as my minor for college. I always want to have it as something I can go back to and would like to keep dancing my whole life,” said Kim.

   Not only is Kim remarkably skilled, but she is also a joy to be around and work with. “She gets along well with everyone — fellow dancers, staff, volunteers and guest choreographers alike. She is a joy to work with as she always gives 200 percent,” said Feier. “Every moment that we are together is memorable, because we have such a good time together, on and off stage. We have a really good bond,” explained Garcia.

   Dance gives her an outlet to express herself and it makes her happy. She walks away with a smile on her face. “Dance takes a lot of time and energy but the payoff  I get from everything I have learned from the SDCA and everything I get from the program makes it all worth it,” explained Kim.   

   Dance has been both time and energy consuming, but it has been worth it for Kim. She will no doubt have a bright future — both on and off the stage.