Sisters fill lives with dance
Jenni, a seventh-grader at Mountain View Middle school, and her sister Kati, a fourth-grader at Otis Orchards Elementary, share a dream. They want to be professional ballerinas. Lots of girls have dreamed of that, but the Smanse sisters are working hard to make their vision a reality.
They both started dancing three years ago. Before that, they attempted different sports but once they started dancing, they were captivated.
They took to the sport quickly and have already won several scholarships and awards. They have traveled to Seaside, Ore., Santa Clara, Calif., and Canada for competitions.
Kati’s awards include Dance Magic’s beginning champion 2005 and Los Angeles Junior Danceforce champion. Jenni’s include first-place high score solo and first-place high score overall intermediate division at Dance Magic in Canada.
The sisters practice six days a week with instructors Ceci Klein at Ballet School of Coeur d’Alene and Judy Reavis and Jessie McDonald at Dance Unlimited in Newman Lake. Their core style of dance is ballet, which gives them agility, strength and grace and transfers easily to tap, jazz and hip hop, the styles of dance they primarily compete in.
They work hard and it shows in their posture and confidence. The sport is a combination of athleticism and artistry, and both girls agreed that dancers are as strong or stronger than most athletes. They work hard, stretch their limits, then transform that power into something beautiful.
Besides learning the physical aspects of dance, they also learn to express themselves.
“A lot of it is acting without speaking,” said Jenni.
“Yes,” said Kati, “dance is creating a feeling with facial expressions.” When they dance, they want their audience to feel their passion and emotions and be inspired to try new things.
Kati also likes to read and search for frogs in her back yard. Jenni likes to draw. The girls play the violin and love to sing.
Is there a Valley youngster in your life with an interesting hobby, unique achievement or is just an all-around neat kid?