Lights, Music, Action. In the world of competitive dance, there is one name that stands out in our high school: sophomore Malena Koehn. Koehn has brought a blend of skill, dedication, and sheer passion to the dance floor. What truly sets Koehn apart from the rest is her ability to convey a story. She can stun a crowd by expressing her emotions through the performances. Whether it is a slower dance or a more upbeat pace, her performances pull the audience into her world of emotions.
Behind the scenes of her dancing career, we can see that it takes hundreds of hours to completely learn a dance routine. She will spend hours upon hours of practice at countless rehearsals showing her commitment to perfect her routine. Through the countless hardships, Koehn said that her family and friends at her dance studio are what keeps her going. Koehn has encountered her fair share of obstacles from injuries to fierce competition. “One of the worst fears of a dancer is getting an injury on stage,” Koehn said, “I have strained many muscles in my hip and back.” She stated that healing from the injuries and sitting out in class was one of the hardest things she had to get through, but she got right back to training the moment she was allowed to.
Through the many years that Koehn has danced in many different genres. She has seen the full picture of the ups and downs of all genres. She said that overall jazz was her favorite as she has done jazz the most out of any genres. “The dance routine ‘Ain’t No Other Man’ had my favorite costumes from any other routine,” said Koehn. When she performed the jazz routine in front of judges she completely astonished the judges.
Koehn has earned many awards for many different performances but she said that the most prestigious of all was one she earned at PAC (Precision Arts Challenge). There is a separate award in the dance competition called PAC Attack which you can earn with amazing energy and technique. “It was indescribable,” said Koehn. “It was so exciting the joy I felt when those sirens went off and the screaming from my coaches and teammates was the highlight of that season.” At that competition, she was awarded 3rd overall teen out of the many in the category of her solo.
As Koehn looks into the future she believes that her passion for dance will continue to burn for years to come. She is reaching far for her goals, aiming to leave a permanent mark in the community of dance; her journey is far from over. Koehn’s story in competitive dance serves as an inspiration, a reminder, that with talent and sheer dedication, anyone can overcome challenges to achieve greatness. Her journey is proof that anyone can pursue their passion with steady determination.
