Article written by dance company member, Robin Nunnally
Welcome to “Eight with a Katemate“, our blog format where we interview team members with eight questions and share their stories with YOU, our readers! So grab a seat
Today, we are excited to be featuring SKDC member, Kara Menzer! Kara is one of our longest dance company members – read on below to learn more about her!
1. How long have you been on Sister Kate Dance Company?
10 years – a full decade! I got the good news that I made the team on my birthday in 2009. Best birthday present ever!
2. Why did you want to be a chorus girl?
I love performing! Dance has been a part of my life since my earliest memories. In early college, I was obsessed with Lindy Hop and poured over classic movies like “Singing in the Rain”, “Swing Time” and “Gold Diggers of 1933”. I was a fan of Sister Kate before I auditioned for the team; I loved the idea of a group of strong and talented women recreating vintage dances as well as creating original choreography.
3. And you have a ballet background, yes? Tell us about that!
I do! At the age of 3, I started ballet when I adamantly asked my mom, “When do I start ballet lessons”? I aspired to be a professional ballerina through my early teens, but life had other plans for me. After high school I learned and taught ballroom dance styles. There’s very few styles of dance that I don’t love
4. What classic movies / dancers inspire you the most in your dancing?
My answer isn’t exceptionally original, but who doesn’t love Josephine Baker and Ginger Rogers?
5. What was your first performance with Sister Kate?
Auditioning for “America’s Got Talent” with our rendition of “All I Do” from Singing in the Rain! Haha, quite the experience!
6. Favorite Sister Kate routine and/or costume?
“Jungle Nights of Harlem“, our Josephine Baker inspired routine, has always been my favorite even though I’ve never performed it!
7. When not busy dancing up a storm with us, what else keeps you busy day to day?
I work as a Naturopathic Doctor with a focus in primary care, women’s health and family medicine. I love my job! I’m also a professor at the Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine and mom to a rambunctious 3 year old budding performance artist.
8. What’s your most memorable performance with Sister Kate?
My second performance with Sister Kate was “We’re in the Money” at the King Cat Theater. It was a beautiful experience to perform a routine inspired by one of my favorite film clips on such a gorgeous stage. That, and living out my tweenager dream of choreographing and performing a routine to “Smells Like Teen Spirit” complete with anarchist cheerleaders!
Photo by Priya Alahan Photgraphy