Work Study, Elaine Wong, recently sat down with Dance Complex student, Karen Klein, to learn more about her experience here at The Dance Complex. At 81 years of age, Karen is still a student of life and of dance, eager to learn, grow, and perform.
Q&A has been condensed and edited for clarity
Name: Karen Klein
Age: 81
Years at The Dance Complex: 18 years
Preferred dance form: modern and contemporary
Three words to describe her dance style: eclectic, powerful, rooted
Karen restarted her dance career at age 64 (in 2001) when she was introduced to Joan Green’s class for people over 55 years old at The Dance Complex. She has been coming to The Dance Complex ever since. Karen now performs with three dance companies: teXtmoVes, Prometheus Dance Elders Ensemble, and Across the Ages Dance.
Q: What makes The Dance Complex a special place for you?
A: It’s a multi-dimensional community of supportive people. Dance is part of every culture and The Dance Complex tries to represent as many forms of it as possible. The Dance Complex is special to me because it has a very welcoming environment where people support each other, get to know each other in classes, and are ultimately a non-judgmental zone. People are always hanging out in the front and there’s always someone to talk to. It feels like home away from home for me.
Q: What was your first performance experience?
A: My first performance was at the WDAY Fargo North Dakota Radio Station in the 1940s. I sang and performed to the song “I’m a Little Teaport Short and Stout.” Back then, we didn’t have kindergarten so I had gone to a lady’s house to audition for my part. This was 76 years ago!
Q: What inspired you to found teXtmoVes?
A: I founded teXtmoVes to collaborate with people who want to work with a poem and transform the words by embodying it. teXtmoVes incorporates words with movement, which is a challenge to do both simultaneously. The rules are that there must be a real poem and start where the poem starts and end when the poem ends. The verses can be repeated, chanted, and changed, but it has to follow the arc of the poem. Using words and movement, you’re bringing the body into the poetry.
Q: Can you describe Prometheus Dance Elders Ensemble and Across the Ages?
A: The Prometheus Dance Ensemble originated from a group of dancers who performed at Apokalypsis, which had its first rehearsals here at The Dance Complex. I joined in 2002 when they needed some older dancers (Karen was in her 60s) and we’ve now graduated to be The Prometheus Dance Elders Ensemble which now has dancers of ages 61-87. We’re still active moving! Our mission of the group is to perform in assisted living homes, senior centers, and apartment complexes. We are now in our 13th year of performing and rehearsing.
I’ve also been very fortunate to have danced in all 7 seasons of Across the Ages, which brings together an intergenerational group of choreographers. Usually the choreographers are asked to include an intergenerational focus which includes young and old dancers. I am very grateful to learn from such diverse and different choreographers who push me out of my comfort zone of modern and contemporary to learn other styles.
Q: What do you find more inspiring: dance or poetry?
A: Creativity is what is inspiring; whether it is expressed through words or movements or visual arts, it doesn’t matter. As a dancer, I get inspiration from listening to my own body and watching the movement of others. But similarly, poetry has its own tone and rhythm and needs to be expressed in the voice and body. It should never be simply read. Ultimately, I’m a scavenger for art and will draw inspiration from anything.
We’re grateful to welcome students of all styles, all ages, and all experiences here at The Dance Complex. Take a look at our Class Schedule, and we’ll look forward to welcoming you soon!
