Celine Petersohn’s endearment for dancing followed her across the world. All the way from Leipzig, Germany to her temporary home as a foreign exchange student in Springdale, Arkansas, dancing is something Petersohn couldn’t leave behind.
The desire to pursue her love for traveling, and her aspiration to be apart of another culture and learn their traditions is what brought her to America. She began her love for dance at the age of 5 and hasn’t stopped loving it since.
“Its a very important part of me,”said Petersohn.
Although dancing in the United States isn’t exactly equivalent to dancing in Germany, Petersohn is just happy to still keep hold of what she loves most.
“In Germany you dance with more feeling, here it’s all about the technique which is very different ,”said Petersohn.
She was quick to get involved in the American style of dancing, Celine now takes regular dance classes at a popular dance studio, Rhythm & Shoes in Springdale and is having no trouble picking up on the “technique” part of dancing.
Celine’s host home is the Boortz family, and her passion for dance fits right in with them. Mattie Boortz a sophomore silver star, and Gracie Boortz silver stars manager and cheerleader they live and breath dance, which gave Petersohn something in common to them both.
Celine recently had the opportunity to put on that known uniform, red lipstick, and blue eyeshadow, and be apart of the silver stars as they performed. Gliding on the new football field for the last regular season game on senior night , there was a new silver star kicking in sync with the rest.
“I was freaking out before, but it gave me the feeling that I was apart of this team,”said Petersohn. Hearing her name blasted over the sound system announcing the special addition to the team made her feel even more honored, “I thought did they really just say my name?,”said Petersohn.
Her determination to continue her passion for dance even though she far away from home was well deserved.
“It was my first kick dance ever, I practiced alone in the back gym while the team practiced, and stayed later with Coach Smith, to learn and prepare” said Petersohn. A million miles away she’s dancing and doing exactly what she loves most.
“I think it was one of the best memories in my dance life,” said Petersohn.