Forest Grove student dances her way to a plum college opportunity

Karina Ramirez plans to enter George Fox University and become the first in her family to graduate

By Leanne Lei Santella

The Forest Grove News-Times, May 13, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Karina Ramirez, who mentors young dancers with Ballet Folklorico, will be the first in her family to attend college.

Courtesy of Portland Community College

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A group of fifth-graders stands in the empty gymnasium. Some are still, while others fidget with their full, colorful, skirts and bright white boots. They face a young woman who demonstrates a dance step and reminds them to keep smiling while they perform.

Karina Ramirez has been working with these students for several months now as part of her senior project at Forest Grove High School. They come from Tom McCall Upper Elementary School to meet in the Cornelius Elementary gymnasium for their after-school activity: Ballet Folklorico.

Ramirez has been performing the “Folkorico” (a dance originating from Vera Cruz, Mexico) since she was in the third grade, involved with the same after-school program as the students she now instructs.

“I began Ballet Folklorico when I was in the third grade,” she said. “I’ve loved dancing since I was little. Ballet Folklorico has become a huge part of my life. I love performing in front of people and it is another way for me to grow as a person.”

‘It’s a blast’

She still dances with a community dance group, Ballet Folkorico Lo Nuestro, which means “everyone’s dance team.”

“It’s a blast. I love dancing,” said Ramirez. “I wish I could do it more.”

Ramirez teaches the students alongside Manuel Ramos, who instructed her as a young girl and dances with her in the community dance group.

Ramirez presented her senior project at Forest Grove High School on April 1, but continued to work with the fifth-graders for a few more weeks, gearing up for a performance last Friday, with Ballet Folkorico Lo Nuestro, at Cornelius Elementary.

The performance was part of a morning assembly in front of the Cornelius Civic Club, whose members had been invited to the school’s annual Mother’s Day celebration.

Since she juggles school and other extra curricular activities, Ramirez isn’t able to give all her free time to dancing, especially this semester while she is on the track and field team at the high school. But she does plan on continuing to dance even while in college.

Moving to Newberg

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