My name is Kia Henriksen, and I'm thrilled to be working with The Arts Council this summer!
Art has always been a big part of my life. I love to draw and paint, but dance is where my heart is.
I started dancing at the age of three and explored every genre available to me. By eight years old, I was dancing for multiple hours each night, four to five nights a week. However, my true passion was unlocked at age sixteen when I began teaching. I love sharing my passion for dance with the next generation. The most rewarding part of my job is fostering students' creativity and providing them with a safe space to explore it.
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I’ve always been fascinated by choreography and the process of creating a piece. Ask my younger sister— I used to make her learn the dances I created in our living room or perform with me a play I had written. From song selection to costumes, from staging to every detail in between, there can be intention and purpose behind each element. Even better, everyone can interpret their own meaning and significance.
The ability to express oneself through movement and music has always felt like magic to me. But when I realized that I could “speak” on matters of importance through my choreography, that was when I truly began to appreciate the power of dance. The power of art. It is a universal language that requires no words. Essentially, art can express every aspect of humanity and the way we perceive our world. Art is life. Life is art.
This summer, catch me at the Art in Motion trailer during events and park days! I'll be busy assisting with our creative art activities, leading engaging Active Stories sessions by Literacy Merritt, and dancing every chance I get!