Family Spotlight: Dana & Ken J.

Name: Ken and Dana J.
 
Dancers at SRL: Magnus “the Tall” and Greta “the Red-Haired”
 
How long has your family been with SRL?
 
Greta is in her 6th year and Magnus is in his 4th.
 
Why Irish dance?
 
Greta quit soccer, basketball, ballet, tap, AND jazz! We were just hoping something would stick. Courtney offered a week long mini camp that gave Greta a chance to try it out before committing to anything long-term. Magnus saw how much fun Greta was having!
 
Favorite winter family activity?
 
Skiing and board games.
 
What’s your favorite dance-related memory?
 
Dana: The hours in the car driving to class and to feiseanna, there is a lot of time to chat.
 
Ken: Watching both kids dance a 4 hand with another sibling duo at the Yardgoats game.
 
How do you think dance has positively affected your dancers? So many things! They have learned how to set long term goals and create plans to achieve them, time management and how to take corrections, the importance community and volunteerism, these are just a few.
 
If you could meet any famous person, living or dead, who would it be and why?
 
Dana: The person that invented the dishwasher. I owe them so much.
 
Ken: Donald MacPherson, Scottish legendary piper, teacher and one of the most successfully competitive solo pipers of all time.
 
What’s your secret talent?
 
Ken: Sarcasm.
 
Dana: Gifted in the campfire starting arts.
 
How did you choose your dancers’ names? Why?
 
We wanted uncommon, but easy to pronounce names. There was a pro cyclist, Magnus Backstedt that gave us the inspiration for the boy's name. The name Greta goes well with Magnus…especially when shouting.
 
What’s the most important quality to have in life?
 
Integrity.
 
What advice would you give parents who are looking to try out Irish dance?
 
Do it! At least try it out. They will learn so much and it is a great opportunity to make friends outside of school. And always bring snacks.
 
This post is part of a series. Meet our last spotlighted parent, Andrea K., here. Check out the blog every Monday and Thursday for more posts about Irish history, dance culture, community news, and spotlights on our dancers, staff, and families—among other fun projects! And don’t forget to dance along with us on both Facebook and Instagram.

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