Day 31 - Kris

Ms. Kim hired Kris to teach intermediate and advanced tap. Kris was a great teacher.

She was in her early twenties, had a third-degree black belt and her fiancee had a second-degree black belt. She also happened to be a phenomenal tap dancer. There were five of us in her advanced II tap class, we were all in middle school, but I was the youngest. The beginning of every class we'd stretch and talk about the past week and listen to whatever new record Kris had found or rediscovered. She would usually let us have a say in what song we would work on next. It was a really laid-back, but goal-oriented class.
Once, she took us to see a performance of 'Tap Dogs'. They were so inspiring and funny. It's rare to see tap dancing these days, especially when you're 12. It was the perfect thing to see five grown men doing it on a stage in front of thousands.

After that, my class went on to compete in a few things. We got third once. It was scary really. Kris was there through all of it. Encouraging us, listening to our stories and suggestions, laughing with us, but not taking any excuses for us not learning something.