Valerie Salgado

I dance because it is what I have done my entire life. My mom put me in a creative movement class when I was two and it just stuck. Although I never played team sports growing up, I was very athletic and could always hold my own on the playground. It is the athleticism of dance that I enjoy the most. When running and jumping, I always try to push myself farther than I thought I could go. Although this may sound strange, I like the fact that there is no such thing as a perfect dancer. There is always a way to improve your art, make the steps better, and make you body stronger. I enjoy working hard and being a technician. The rhythms of music also appeal to me. A complicated rhythm is like a math problem. When you finally understand it, the answer seems so obvious. I love the feeling when you've mastered a rhythm and it becomes second nature to you body. Lastly, I dance simply because it feels good!