Dancing is an activity that keeps adults healthy and youths out of trouble.
“The island is so small and there’s so much drugs out there that we’d rather have a dance studio for kids to come to be safe,” said Mary Rapacon, mother of one of Kauai’s hippest dance instructors.
The island’s newest studio, Ky Dance Studio, was started about two months ago by her daughter, Kylene Rapacon, an experienced choreographer and passionate dance instructor.
“I love dancing,” Kylene Rapacon said. “Dancing is my outlet I will always go to whenever I have a problem or I can’t really express how I’m feeling. I bring everything to the dance floor.”
She began dancing and cheerleading at the age of 5, before visiting Excel Dance Studio in Lihue, where she was mentored by Sherri Sanchez-Holcomb. Rapacon got involved in the dance camp and soon became a dance coach and team member, traveling the world for various competitions.
Competitive dancing took her to Italy, Japan, Spain, Singapore, Las Vegas and Florida, allowing her to improve her dancing as an international champion, as well as experience a variety of world cultures.
“I would record her practices,” Mary Rapacon said. “She would be sitting down for hours watching what she did wrong so she could correct herself before the next practice.”
Her mother was always a big supporter, helping push her daughter to excel and organizing fundraisers to help pay expenses for travel. With three brothers, one of them her twin, the family’s main focus was always football, until she discovered dancing.
“She was born to do it from when she was very, very little,” her mom said. “She was watching cheerleaders at Pop Warner games since she was 3 years old.”
When Excel Dance Studio closed, Rapacon was bummed she no longer had a place to exercise and express her feelings. So she started her own.
“I was missing that big part of my life, and I just wanted to start something that I can continue doing and share with other people,” Rapacon said.
Specializing in a mix of hip-hop and contemporary dance styles, the 19-year-old’s casual-yet-high-energy lessons are held twice a week at the Kalapaki Canoe Club building, attracting as many as 20 students.
Eight-year-old Hailey Ramos was the first dancer to arrive at last week’s class, eager to bust her moves on the shiny dance floor.
The smiling girl, dressed in a pink heart shirt and hot pink sneakers, loves dancing “because it’s fun.” Her dark, braided pig tails bounced in unison with the music as she warmed up with her instructor while waiting for the older, advanced dancers to arrive.
One of the students, sixth-grader Amanda Jardin, likes dancing to hip-hop music at the studio. “It takes me away from the stress at school,” she said.
“I’m glad that they’re taking this challenge on with me,” Rapacon said. “We’re all like family. They can just come here and express themselves.”
Her dedicated students are mostly girls — and a couple boys — from the ages of 7 to 14.
“She really doesn’t make any money off of it after paying for insurance and the facility,” Mary Rapacon said. “With whatever is left over, once a month she has a party for everyone, and makes goodie bags and that kind of stuff.”
The monthly cost for weekly lessons is $55. Beginner/intermediate classes are held Mondays from 5 to 6:30 p.m., while advanced classes take place Tuesdays from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Sign-ups are currently being held for adult classes that will be announced when scheduled.
“I just love to dance, so I might as well share it with other ones who love to inspire and dance,” Rapacon said.
Info: kydancestudio.kylene@gmail.com, 278-2011
